The NYT VR project from The New York Times won not one, but two Grand Prix awards at Cannes Lions Festival last month, with the individual virtual reality film "The Displaced," earning the top prize in the revamped Lions Entertainment contest and the Grand Prix in Mobile that the NYT VR app itself won.

2016 was my 20th year in Cannes, and it sure has changed over the years! What was once, effectively, a celebration of the world’s best TV ad in a town full of ‘Mad Men’, now sees the arrival of technology companies. This is merely a natural response to the increased role and impact that technology has in our lives as well as the changing expectations of today’s consumers with how they want brands to interact with them.

I'm often asked the difference between augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).  Put simply, AR brings digital content into the real world via a screen, whether that is a tablet, smartphone or poster, whereas VR uses a headset to place us in an altogether different and virtual environment.

Science and art are different manifestations of the same human urge to enquire, explore, and understand our place in the Universe. Recently I wrote a blog about the #fashtech movement, which charts and celebrates the convergence of fashion and technology.

Let’s now look at 5 examples of how #arttech is impacting the way that we experience, create and consume art. 

Just recently I’ve noticed the increased popularity of the #fashtech movement, which charts and celebrates the convergence of fashion and technology.  When you think about it, the two have much in common; both constantly reinventing themselves to stay relevant, desirable and innovative.

At Dubai Lynx 2016, my keynote, 'VR with a Happy Finish', streamed live on TVAE and posed the question, "VR - Is it just a fad?".  Well at last year’s Cannes Lions, virtual reality headsets could be seen everywhere. You couldn't walk onto a beach or into a bar without seeing someone rotate their head like an owl, staring into a headset and uttering the words, "Wow! This is so cool!". The same can be said of Dubai Lynx, at which most speakers included virtual reality at some point within their presentations.

Virtual reality isn't new. In the early 90s, I remember going to The Trocadero in London and experiencing Virtuality’s VR Racing Game; sitting in a plastic racing car, sporting a virtual reality headset the size of a trash can, and driving around a racetrack in a polygonal, CGI racing car, which looked like it had been plucked from Dire Straits', "Money For Nothing" music video. Whilst I've never forgotten that first taste of virtual reality, I was disappointed that the image didn't keep up with my head movement and the quality was so basic. However, I do recall enjoying the experience and thinking that one day this would to be the way we will be entertained. I wondered if that day would be in my lifetime. In my opinion, that time is now. 

Photograph by ©Nikola Krtolica used with kind permission of http://nikola-photographe.com

Last week, I was kindly invited by Cristal Festival to give a keynote presentation about VR & AR, in which I:

• Explored the ways in which these new technologies enable brands to communicate with consumers in new exciting and immersive ways.
• Shared with the audience some projects Happy Finish has created, with our clients and partners, throughout 2015.
• Discussed how VR is already maturing, developing its own storytelling and narrative styles.
• Looked at the impressive cost savings and ROI stats that brands can enjoy with VR solutions and campaigns.

A round-up of my experiences at Spikes Asia 2015

Having just returned from Spikes Asia with Jimi Gu, our Shanghai Studio General Manager, I wanted to share the buzz and creativity from the event.  Spikes Asia is where Asia Pacific’s creative community comes together for a spectacular three-day celebration of creativity in communications. From forward-thinking seminars by the industry's most influential figures to superb networking events, training and exhibitions of the region's best creative work, it's an opportunity not to be missed.