💓 In the #MAGICademy S2E10 story, we are having a conversation with Anna Belova, founder and CEO of DEVAR (Canva for Augmented Reality). Anna explores the concept of "Phygital" (physical + digital) experiences that fuse the tangible and the virtual, creating an immersive 360-degree multi-sensory playground for audiences, customers, and learners alike.

As we navigate this new frontier, we're not just entertaining or educating; we're unlocking a deeper understanding of each other, peeling back layers of interaction to build more authentic connections. We also explored the power of curiosity & imagination by asking the question “What If…?” daily to help our brain get comfortable with always expanding its perceptions and open to new possibilities.

#Phygital #ImmersiveTechnology #DemocratizedCreativity #Imagination #Curiosity #OpenOurMind #WhatIf #BrandEngagement #AR

🎯Story Takeaways

1️⃣ “Phygital” experiences blend physical and digital elements to create a whole new level of multi-sensory engagement between audiences/learners and digital content, enhancing accessibility and fostering active collaboration. It also creates an abundance of intimate interaction data to power design and decision-making.

2️⃣Ask "What if" questions daily, we can condition our minds to constantly explore possibilities and accelerate learning by stimulating creativity, critical thinking, and cognitive flexibility. This approach challenges assumptions, fosters curiosity, and promotes innovation, enabling individuals to expand their perceptions and adapt quickly to new ideas and situations.

3️⃣ In the age of AI, the ability to “imagine” and articulate ideas has become more crucial than technical skills. Understanding AI's capabilities, iteratively refining descriptions, and creatively problem-solving with AI-generated outputs are key to bring human creativity into reality and democratize the creative process.

4️⃣ Anna’s MAGIC? Falling in love with what we do every day.

🍀Conversation Outline

00:00 Anna's Journey in Augmented Reality

05:12 Examples of AR in Marketing and Education

13:33 Phygital’s Power in Digital Marketing to Close the Emotional Gap

16:43 AR in Skill Development and Communication

19:17 The Role of Curiosity in AR and the Future

28:57 Envisioning a Future with AR and Imagination

33:33 Challenges and Risks of AR

39:56 Anna's MAGIC

☕ Connect with Our Guest Here

Anna Belova, the CEO of DEVAR, a pioneering augmented reality (AR) company. Recognized as a Forbes U30 entrepreneur, Anna leads a team creating immersive experiences for businesses and brands. Her journey began with AR children's books, selling over 15 million copies across 75 countries. She later launched a no-code XR platform, attracting major clients like Google and McDonald's. DEVAR is one of only five companies with a full in-house computer vision technology stack for AR. Anna's mission is to democratize AR, making it accessible and exploring its potential in various fields. Her work fuses art and technology, aiming to inspire creativity and transform spaces, people, and companies through immersive technologies.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aibelova

DEVAR: https://mywebar.com/ref/17

Anna on Forbes: https://councils.forbes.com/profile/Anna-Belova-CEO-Founder-DEVAR/22433cd3-103b-4af1-b8d8-3e0a2be3972c

📚Reference:

• Prajapati, S.P. (2023). Designing an immersive collaborative active learning experience through Phygital textbooks: Envisioning the artefact and its impact in the classrooms. Companion Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces.

• Prajapati, S.P., & Das, S. (2023). Designing a Phygital Interface for Textbooks to Support Active Collaborative Learning. Companion Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces.

  Bevolo, M., & Amati, F. (2023). The future of business events in the “phygital” age: development of a generative tool. World Leisure Journal, 66, 92 - 115.