Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

Dot Cannon: Public Speaker & New-Media Reporter
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Would you like to know more about the art of twenty-first century "cool stuff" that's changing our world? Such as: robots, space exploration, new media, wearable technology and other innovations that will be making people go, "Wow!" in the future? Along with the ways new technologies, new ways of thinking and new opportunities are influencing social change? Two Maverix® Multimedia presents Over Coffee®. Arts-oriented STEAM enthusiast Dot Cannon used to daydream through science class and dread math class. And now, she sees how both of these can be painless when applied to making wearables, programming robots, telling a spacecraft what to do or creating a VR entertainment experience. She and her interview guests will show you how the intersection of art and science can mean opportunities to express your creativity, find new resources for learning, and see what's coming next.

  1. Oct 20

    "So Many Magical Moments"

    IMMERSIVE X Organizer/Curator Thomas Zorbach is about to do something amazing--again. Thomas, who is the Founder and CEO of Berlin-based immersive branding agency vm-people, is working with his team to put the final touches on the sixth edition of the IMMERSIVE X annual Global XR Festival. This completely-free, and all-virtual, three-day special event explores all the ways virtual reality can change the future for the better: in education, the arts, healthcare, the corporate world--and the list goes on, for a total of nine presentation tracks. This year's guiding theme, for the three days' sessions: "Reclaim the Future". And not only are you invited, but Thomas would love to have your help, as a volunteer! The experience Now, what is IMMERSIVE X like? Inspiring, fun--and unlike any other conference or festival we've ever attended. Our 2025 experience spanned three days of highly imaginative and interactive events. World tours, virtual skating, a workshop that took place in the clouds and a very festive closing party were just a few aspects of three days that flew by too fast. However, Thomas says, he and his team have added new elements to that experience. "We decided to take a different path this year," he says. "We invited our community to take part in a workshop...in March, where we told (them) about that guiding theme and asked for their involvement, bringing their ideas on the content, on the whole journey (and) what they would like to take away from (it)...and based on (these insights) we created our sixth edition." Starting off creative Accordingly, a look at the IMMERSIVE X website reveals a number of new workshops, world cafes, salons--and opportunities to create something new, all the way through. "This year this is going to be much more experiential, even in this very first session..." Thomas says, previewing Day One of IMMERSIVE X 2026. "Every participant in this session will have the chance to develop something which he or she can take away from it. And as this is the first session, this gives people direction for the three days that will follow." Here's the link to register for IMMERSIVE X, if you haven't already. Opportunities inside the magic If you'd like to help with the event, Thomas says he'd like to have some additional volunteers for the help desk, to welcome guests to the spawn points or, if you're more technical, as stage managers. Here's the link for volunteer information. In addition, if you would like to support the Festival as a sponsor, here's where to reach out to Thomas and his team. And expect the second week of November to be incredible. "During last IMMERSIVE X there were so many special moments, magical moments," Thomas says. "...That really stayed with me and motivated me to take on this journey again." Thomas offered a preview of this year's IMMERSIVE X festival, talked about the ways he and his team are expanding on the experiential nature of the festival and explained ways participants can contribute to the immersive community.

  2. Oct 14

    Footprints in the Stardust

    Can you imagine a time when people thought spaceflight impossible--or at least, unlikely? Just over seventy years ago, three teams of visionaries embarked on a major challenge: to prove that perception wrong. Their stories are the subject of the book The First Space Race: Launching the World's First Satellites. Author, science writer, historian and naturalist Matt Bille, who co-wrote The First Space Race with Erika Lishock, takes readers behind the scenes of the dawn of the space age in the 1950s. The First Space Race shares the stories behind the facts of the innovators, on both the Russian and U.S. teams, who put the world's first satellites into orbit. Mapping out the future Interestingly, many of today's space science concepts were part of the vision back then. Readers get to meet Russian Chief Designer Sergey Korolev, who helmed the launch of Sputnik I, and who predicted, in 1946, that, "in about 30 years, a human will be on the moon." And, on the U.S. side, The First Space Race offers a look at the brilliant and diplomatic Werner von Braun, who envisioned ultimately sending humans to Mars The book also takes an unflinching look at the missteps and foibles along the way, and the lessons learned from them. Matt shared the story of writing The First Space Race, offered a closer look at what was happening, in both the U.S. and the USSR as teams raced to get the first satellites into space, and discussed the ways those early satellites paved the ways for some of our twenty-first century technology.

  3. Oct 7

    An AI-Native Gamechanger

    Stemuli has pioneered yet another educational innovation: the world's first AI-native learning platform! And students get to learn AI literacy, problem-solving and math skills for their roles in a future economy, through a new video game called Founder Tycoon. Dallas-based educational technology company Stemuli, which started in 2016, created the first game-based learning metaverse in the United States. The goal: to engage and provide opportunity for all students--particularly those in underserved areas--to prepare for their dream jobs. Stemuli Founder and CEO Taylor Shead continues to expand those opportunities for engagement and success, through new ideas and applications.. AI at their service In Founder Tycoon, students create a business based on a need they've seen and researched. Then, as entrepreneurs, they run that company, in a live economy. They'll create products and make real decisions, with AI assistants carrying out their directions. These actions have consequences, as each "entrepreneur" competes with others for resources and a finite number of clients. Taylor explains that the new game came about through a collaboration with nonprofit Heartland Forward, with the goal of preparing students across rural Arkansas for future careers in an AI economy. The design process involved collaboration with a group of about 50 students, over, as Taylor says, "18 to 24 months". 2026 saw the rollout of the game in 13 high schools across rural Arkansas, as well as a launch in Cleveland during the summer. "And then we're expanding to Oklahoma," Taylor says, "and we have a list of about eighteen other states out there...that we want to hit, and make sure have access to Founder Tycoon." Even more is coming--including a launch of algebra-related Founder Math by LAUSD and possibly, a version of Founder Tycoon for adults, in 2027! Taylor talked about her recent experiences with Stemuli, shared the story of creating Founder Tycoon, and offered a closer look at what participants get to learn and do.

  4. Sep 29

    Getting "Fun and Playful" With STEAM

    Where do YOU fit into the math, science or computer-science community? Count Play Explore is making these topics accessible to everyone. And their content is fun, easy and free--for children ages birth to eight, their teachers and their families. An initiative led by the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Early Care and Education Department, Count Play Explore offers playful math, science and computer science lessons. And they start with storytelling or other fun activities. Count Play Explore's website features more than 150 guides to children's books. These include lessons on money, problem solving, spatial thinking, geometry, life science and growth science. In addition, there are videos, approximately two minutes each, of various everyday activities which can incorporate STEAM lessons. "We want people to recognize that these things are fun to do, and you're doing them all the time," explains Fresno County Office of Education Director of STEM Education and Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Early Math Jonathan Dueck. Opening STEM to all The goal, Jon says, is for all participants--students, parents and teachers--to see themselves as belonging in the areas of math, computer science and science. "We want...people to have a good attitude about (these subjects) and not say things like, 'I'm not a math person,' or 'I'm just no good at science'," Jon says. "Because we are. We are good at it; we just don't recognize how often we're taking advantage of the knowledge people see as 'everyday'." On their website, Count Play Explore offers a tab with resources specifically for families, as well as one geared to educators. They also have a newsletter, to which everyone is welcome to subscribe. In addition, they host training events, throughout the year, for educators--and in fact. for anyone who interacts with children. Many of these are free! One upcoming virtual event, "Early STEAM Fall Forum", is happening October 20th. Jon shared the story of Count Play Explore, offered a closer look at some of their content and discussed what's coming next.

  5. Sep 22

    "Try New Things"

    For AI and XR developer Andre "Dre" Smith, virtual reality, brain-computer interface technology and AI are artist's tools. And to describe him as "prolific", would be an understatement. Dre is always exploring, experimenting and creating something new at the edge of immersive computing. Dre's projects include apps, immersive experiences, games and real-time neurofeedback systems. One of his most intriguing current projects, Octobot, is a multiplayer experience in which players use a brain-computer interface to outsmart a robotic octopus! But there's also the Zenquarium app, which transforms a room into an AI-powered reef. As well as Hydroverse, a free (and highly addictive!) game in which players pilot an armed speedboat and battle to be the last one floating in tropical waters. Plus Dre's work in immersive medical technology. And his "Gridiron Hangout" in Horizon World...the list goes on! In addition, Dre works as an independent consultant, with clients creating something new at the edges of immersive computing. Dre talked about his background, offered a closer look at some of his games and apps, and offered some guidance on the use of AI as a tool to enhance creativity.

  6. Sep 12

    Celebrating a Milestone: Part II

    As we celebrate Over Coffee®'s 500th episode, we've had a very enviable "problem". Too many great guests, and great stories, to include everyone in ONE episode! Consequently, here is our second installment of our Show 500 special. Thank you again to all the incredible interview guests who generously took the time to share their stories, and we're looking forward to spotlighting many more creative innovators at the intersection of art and science.

  7. Aug 31

    Celebrating a Milestone

    "What are you going to do for Show 500?" People were asking me that question, as Over Coffee® approached that number of episodes this year. The answer was pretty easy. Without our incredible guests, the Over Coffee® podcast wouldn't exist. So, here is both a retrospective, and an update on just a few of the amazing innovators who have starred in our show, over our years of production. And a quick note--this is only a sampling, highlighting just some of the amazing creative guests with whom I've had the pleasure of speaking, so far. As production continued through the summer, a fact quickly became clear: we had more audio than any one episode could comfortably cover. Unless, of course, anyone wants to sit through a one-hour-plus episode--but we don't know anyone with that much time on their hands! Accordingly, here is the first installment of Over Coffee®'s 500th episode. More to come, next week!

  8. Aug 24

    Lexilens®: Reading Without "Noise"

    Over Coffees® is on hiatus as we complete production on a special-edition episode. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes from earlier this year. "I wish somehow to contribute to a better world," says Abeye Co-Founder and CEO Michael Kodochian. And a number of students--and adults--would almost certainly agree that that's exactly what his Lexilens® technology is doing. Michael started by inventing patented smart glasses, to help users with dyslexia read more smoothly. These glasses, Michael explains, work as a filter, correcting the brain's visual processing. “It cleans the input (of information you're reading),” Michael says. He is quick to point out that Lexilens® doesn't increase reading speed, nor distinguish letters. What it does, though, is "clear" the input of the text the user reads, to allow them to acquire better reading capabilities. In effect, it can cancel out the "noise" of dyslexia. And earlier this year, Abeye began shipping another new visual-processing technology in the U.S.: their Lexilens® LED monitor! Expanding ease in reading At the time of our conversation in January, Michael had just exhibited the monitor at CES® 2026. The new monitor, he explained, incorporated the Lexilens® technology. Users could comfortably and inconspicuously use the technology for work, school or at home without needing a hardware device. Michael mentioned, at the time, that Abeye intended to make the new monitor available in the U.S. by March. A quick check of their website shows that the monitor is now available for purchase! This is going to continue to change some lives--and the world--for the better. Michael shared the story of his smart-eyewear startup Abeye, explained how the technology works, and offered a closer look at some of the results he's seen, among users of his innovation.

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Would you like to know more about the art of twenty-first century "cool stuff" that's changing our world? Such as: robots, space exploration, new media, wearable technology and other innovations that will be making people go, "Wow!" in the future? Along with the ways new technologies, new ways of thinking and new opportunities are influencing social change? Two Maverix® Multimedia presents Over Coffee®. Arts-oriented STEAM enthusiast Dot Cannon used to daydream through science class and dread math class. And now, she sees how both of these can be painless when applied to making wearables, programming robots, telling a spacecraft what to do or creating a VR entertainment experience. She and her interview guests will show you how the intersection of art and science can mean opportunities to express your creativity, find new resources for learning, and see what's coming next.

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