Published October 22 2015
The City of Bellevue is partnering with SEA VR LLC to host the 2015 SEA VR Conference at the Meydenbauer Center on Oct. 28. The one-day only event will feature local companies and showcase the latest advances in virtual reality and augmented reality technologies.
SEA VR is being organized by a group of like-minded developers along with business leaders who are working together to promote the growing VR community in the Pacific Northwest. The inaugural event was created last year by Bellevue-based Envelop VR in collaboration with Paul Allen’s Vulcan Ventures and the Allen-funded Living Computer Museum.
"Hosting the conference here in Bellevue, is a natural fit for the community," said James Henderson, economic development director for the city. "Virtual reality has the potential to dramatically alter the way we interact with technology. Bellevue and the Pacific Northwest region is very fortunate to have such a large concentration of talented companies and individuals already working on this technology. Our goal is to encourage this type of research, development, and commercialization here in Bellevue through exciting events like the SEA-VR Conference."
For 2015, conference organizers chose Bellevue to host SEA VR because of the city's close proximity to large companies developing emerging technologies ranging from head-mounted displays for seeing virtual environments to haptic gloves that provide users with simulated feedback for sensations such as heat and vibration.
"I absolutely believe the Pacific Northwest, and specifically Bellevue, will become a hotbed for virtual reality," said Bob Berry, CEO of Envelop VR. "It's the perfect market because we have so many video game companies here, which means a wealth of real-time 3D graphics talent. This area is positioned to be a major player and, I believe, will lead the way in software development and content."
The event's 30-plus exhibitors and presenters have a large Eastside presence with groups like Epic Games, Microsoft, Uber Entertainment and Unity among them. The program is slated to include 15 breakout sessions and a Shark Tank-like pitch session for local VR startups sponsored by Madrona Ventures and Vulcan Capital. The event will also feature a variety of networking and recruitment opportunities with a wide spectrum of companies.
The day will be punctuated with a keynote address by Award-winning science fiction author David Brin entitled "A (virtual) world where everyone knows your name: Can we remain human and free, when a village spans the globe?"
To register and learn more about the 2015 conference, visit SeaVR2015.com.
About Bellevue
Bellevue is a gateway to the Pacific Rim, the economic heart of Puget Sound's Eastside, and a technology innovation center. Its diverse, well-educated workforce attracts a wide range of industries from high-tech startups to video game studios and software giants. In 2014, the city was rated #2 in 24/7 Wall Street's national list of "Best Cities to Live." Bellevue, a great place to live, learn, play and work.