Caecilia and Ronald CRe-AM Interview

Name : Caecilia Charbonnier and Ronald Menzler

Job Title : Research Director and Business Development

Organisation : Artanim

Sector : Virtual Reality Environments for Video Games

Web Link : www.artanim.ch

Interview Date : 30/9/2015

Location : Skype

Short Biography

Caecilia Charbonnier obtained a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Computer Graphics at EPFL and a PhD degree in Computer Science at MIRALab - University of Geneva. She is currently President and Research Director at Artanim Foundation and co-founder of Artanim Interactive, spin-off of the foundation. She is also lecturer in biomechanics and 3D imaging at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva. Her work focuses on the interdisciplinary use of motion capture from 3D animation, VR applications, live performances to movement science, orthopedics and sports medicine.

Ronald is a serial entrepreneur who has dedicated his life imagining innovative projects where cutting edge technology is used to create out of the ordinary customer experiences. Trained as a business strategist in Switzerland and the UK, he started by creating 2 production companies organising some of the greatest events in Switzerland in the 90’. He pursued an international career in the banking industry launching and running the Deutsche Bank eCommerce department worldwide. After having spent almost 10 years in planes flying around the world he “officially retired” from the corporate world to sail around the planet… Since then he has created one international oceanographic expedition with part of the Cousteau team, 3 foundations for the protection of nature and several companies active in nanotechnology, audio-visual services and HNWI extraordinary experiences. All things Ronald does have one thing in common: they are thought out of the box. This allowed him to create some of the coolest campaigns and events for the European Union, UNESCO, IUCN, the United Nations or Sony. He entered the Virtual reality world developing technology to map our Oceans but since then has also brought a new point of view of our planet to the public making films from the back of eagles that went viral and that were seen more than a billion times. Within Artanim Interactive he is responsible for project design and business development.

CURRENT INTERESTS:

1. What current technologies and tools fulfill your needs in your practice?

Desktop PCs Various Interface devices, Autodesk and Adobe Creative software, Unity 3D and Unreal games engines

2. What technologies do you see emerging in the next 5-10 years?

Optical motion capture, Hololens, Haptic devices, intelligent interactive objects, reflective devices for motion capture

3. Could you identify any strengths and weaknesses with these technologies?

Likely to be expensive and designed for high end systems, not consumers

FUTURE INTERESTS:

4. Do you think there are additional technologies or tools needed, or that you would wish for?

Total sensory technology to recreate all senses (touch, smell etc), advanced haptic devices, neuro & EEG devices measuring brain activity and moods

 

5. If these were available what would you be creating?

Immersive experiences for multiple applications including architecture, medical applications (phobias), multiple locations connected for shared experience, story telling experience

6. Can you see any strengths and weakness involved?

Depends on the usage (for good or bad) – potential loss of social interaction

7. What do you recommend to fill the gap between creators and technology providers?

Greater collaboration between creative and technologists