Is The Metaverse Dead? Dauntless XR CEO Talks Extended Reality’s Next Big Break

Extended reality isn't just for gaming; it's changing how we train, fight and explore space. Tech buzzwords like XR and the Metaverse have left many skeptical, but while consumer hype fizzles, industries like defense and aerospace are pushing XR to the next level training soldiers, simulating missions and preparing for deep space travel. Working with NASA and the Air Force has shown us XR can solve real world problems, not just create digital playgrounds. Lori-Lee Elliot, Co-Founder and CEO of Dauntless XR, helps us explore a brand new reality.  

🎧 Episode Highlights  

• [00:00] Podcast Begins 
• [02:18] Technology Gaps & Too Much Paper: What inspired the launch of Dauntless XR? 
• [07:37] Hardware Headache? Complex headsets make mass adoption of XR hard 
• [11:12] Aerospace & Defense: Familiar training tools lead to increased tech interest 
• [18:52] Government Contract Essentials! How Dauntless XR entered the contract space 
• [23:32] Stall or Breakthrough? What’s next for the metaverse 
• [28:38] Immersive Tech’s Next 5 Years: Learn what’s on the horizon for XR, VR & AR 

🔑 Key Takeaways  

• “We started off assuming that the technology we were building was going to be for oil and gas, industrial construction, engineering, but the universe had other plans,” Lori-Lee explains, talking about the construction engineering inspiration behind Dauntless XR. “If we could just see all of this technical data available to you hands free, we could do all this work so much faster.” 
• “I think the industry underestimated how comfortable and unobtrusive a headset is going to have to be to see mass adoption,” Lori-Lee admits, pointing out the barriers to virtual reality being used outside of certain industries. “We’re starting to see more and more smart glasses style headsets come around, but it’s not fully immersive virtual reality.” 
• “I don’t think the metaverse is dead, but I do think it’s growing in places people aren’t necessarily interested in looking,” Lori-Lee says, joking that the metaverse and related technology isn’t always as “sexy” as people think. “[We’re not] going to be living in this virtual world, it’s like, here’s how to do a training scenario with hyper realism.” 

👤 Guest Spotlight 

Lori-Lee Elliot 

Lori-Lee Elliot is a tech founder, web3 advisor, futurist, speaker, former journalist and YouTuber building technology that allows people to unlock their full potential and solve problems that only humans can tackle. 

As the co-founder & CEO of Dauntless XR, Lori-Lee leads a world class team to build and launch two XR apps - Katana XR and Aura. Dauntless XR has worked with companies like Magic Leap and Microsoft to serve customers, including the US Air Force, Navy and NASA, as well as private aviation and space companies. 

Connect with Lori-Lee: 

LinkedIn: Lori-Lee Elliot 

Websites: Dauntless XR | dauntlessxr.com 

🌟 Resources & Links 

• SBIR/STTR Proposal Resources:  www.intrepidgovproposals.com 
• Explore past episodes: Forging the Future Episodes 
• Learn about Softeq: softeq.com 

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