Welcome to “Beyond the Curtain: Creating Interactive Experiences with Hardware and Software.” In this captivating session, you’ll dive into the fascinating world of highly interactive custom characters brought to life with modern AI.

In this talk David Bates will guide you step by step through the process, revealing the secrets behind creating enchanting experiences without breaking the illusion. Don’t worry, there’s no heavy math involved—well, maybe just a little. ;)

Get ready to uncover the magic behind the technology and see how APIs, whimsical characters, and seamless hardware-software integration come together to create something truly magical.

*Key Takeaways*
1. Accelerate Your Prototyping with APIs:
• Understand how APIs can streamline the development process and reduce the time to create a proof of concept.
• Learn practical examples of leveraging APIs to quickly bring ideas to life.

2. Crafting Whimsical and Interactive Characters:
• Discover the techniques and tools used to develop engaging characters, like the Pumpkin King, a real-time weatherman and more!
• Explore the role of AI in enhancing character interactivity and realism.

3. Seamless Integration of Hardware and Software:
• Gain insights into interfacing hardware with software to create immersive and magical user experiences.
• See real-world applications of beam break sensors and other technologies in interactive projects.

4. Inspiration and Practical Applications:
• Leave with ideas and inspiration to apply these technologies in your own projects, whether for fun, education, or innovation.

This talk is geared towards a technical audience but anyone interested can take away how these characters are created.

This is an adaptation from two previous talks "PHD: The Pumpkin Human Detector" & "Warming up with Weather" and some new content. This is suitable for an hour long session geared towards a technical audience.