The County of Maui is extending an open invitation to residents for its second Innovation Lab Address and Meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. The event will take place at the Kalana O Maui county building, specifically in the Mayor's Conference Room, as noted in an announcement from the County of Maui's Office of Innovation & Sustainability (OIS).
Tom Furness, a notable figure in the field of virtual and augmented reality, will be headlining the event with a talk entitled "Building Pathways to Transcendence: Harnessing XR, AI, and the Metaverse to Shape a Better Future." In his address, according to the County of Maui announcement, Furness will discuss the potential of technologies such as extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence (AI), and the metaverse to impact mental health, education, and social resilience, aiming to inspire innovation within Maui County.
Referred to as the "grandfather of virtual reality," Furness brings a rich history as professor emeritus at the University of Washington and as the founder of the Human Interface Technology Laboratory. His influential career has led to the spawning of more than 27 companies with a combined market capitalization reaching $16 billion.
Following the talk by Furness, the Innovation Lab meeting will shift focus to issues of food sovereignty. A panel of local leaders, planning to share various innovative strategies, will tackle the enhancement of food security and sustainability throughout Maui Nui.
The Office of Innovation & Sustainability, operating under the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, stands committed to fostering environmental and social growth through strategic policy-making and program development aimed at cultivating a resilient and prosperous Maui community. For those looking for additional details or wishing to attend, they can reach out to [email protected] or call (808) 270-7710.
