The Spatial Computing Podcast

#7 - The 40-Gram Rule: Cayden Pierce and Mentra’s Vision for Lightweight Spatial Computing

Description: In this episode, Cayden Pierce—founding member of Mentra and an open-source innovator in smart glasses software—discusses the company’s strategic approach to building a truly wearable operating system for spatial computing. He shares insights into the core philosophies shaping the hardware market, from the critical "40-gram rule" for daily wearability to why heavy headsets continue to fail in enterprise and consumer markets alike. Cayden also offers his vision for a future where smart glasses serve as a seamless extension of human cognition, providing AI with the real-world spatial context it needs to become a true daily partner. This conversation offers a ground-level perspective from a builder pushing the software boundaries of wearable tech, and is essential listening for anyone interested in the practical, everyday future of smart glasses.

#6 - The Engine of Spatial Computing: Ziad Asghar and Qualcomm’s Vision for Spatial Computing

Description: In this episode, Ziad Asghar—Senior Vice President & General Manager of XR, Wearables and Personal AI at Qualcomm, and one of the key architects pushing to make spatial computing a reality—discusses the company’s strategic approach to AI-powered smart glasses. He shares insights into the core philosophies shaping the market, from the open vs. closed ecosystem debate to the critical role of device constellations and lessons from the smartphone era. Ziad also offers his vision for a future where an "AI orchestrator" creates a deeply personalised spatial internet, elevating smart glasses from a simple display to a true cognitive partner. This conversation offers authoritative insights from one of the sector’s most influential leaders, and is essential listening for anyone interested in the future of spatial computing. Transcript: https://www.notion.so/the-spatial-computing-podcast/Transcript-for-Pioneering-the-Next-Frontier-Ziad-Asghar-and-Qualcomm-s-Vision-for-Spatial-Computing-26ab6f708b428045a2a8c80abce35fe6?source=copy_link Timestamps: * (00:13) – The AI Strategy: Why Smart Glasses are the Ultimate AI Interface * (04:48) – Ecosystem Philosophy: Balancing Power, Access, and Openness * (08:51) – The "Superpowers" Use Case: Solving Real Problems with AR * (12:00) – The Vision: Device Constellations and the "AI Orchestrator" * (19:00) – The Infrastructure: How 6G and Edge Computing Will Power the Future * (24:00) – Lessons from the Smartphone Era: How Past Transitions Inform the Future * (27:00) – The Path to Mainstream Adoption Episode Links: * Ziad’s LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziad-asghar-794404/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziadashkar/] * Ziad's Twitter: https://x.com/ziad_asghar * Qualcomm XR Website: ⁠https://www.qualcomm.com/products/application/xr⁠ [https://www.qualcomm.com/products/application/xr] * Qualcomm Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/Qualcomm⁠ [https://twitter.com/Qualcomm]

#5 - Fixing AR’s Fundamental Flaw: The Power of Light-Field Displays with Tomas Sluka at CREAL

Every major AR and VR headset today shares the same fundamental flaw: the vergence-accommodation conflict, the visual mismatch that causes the eye strain and nausea holding the industry back. Tomas Sluka, co-founder and CEO of CREAL, calls this a "dead-end" problem—and he's dedicated his company to solving it. In this episode, Tomas explains how CREAL's pioneering light-field display is solving this industry-wide challenge by creating technology that doesn't just project an image, but reconstructs light itself to be indistinguishable from reality. Discover how this breakthrough enables natural, continuous focus, unlocks the revolutionary possibility of digitally simulating prescription lenses, and ultimately forms the foundation for the ultimate human-AI interface. This is an essential listen for anyone building the future of spatial computing. Timestamps: * (00:00) – Introduction and Tomas's background. * (00:46) – The "Seasickness" Origin: How a personal experience with flawed 3D revealed a fundamental industry problem that others were ignoring. * (03:53) – The 5% Flaw: Why today's 3D is 95% right, and how the missing 5% creates the visual conflict that causes motion sickness. * (05:19) – Light-Field Explained: Thomas breaks down light-field technology, explaining why it's the "normal" way of seeing and how it differs from every flat screen we use today. * (06:34) – The Innovator's Dilemma: Why big tech companies are designed to hit dead ends, and how focused startups are better positioned to solve deep, fundamental problems. * (07:53) – The "Glasses-First" Strategy: How partnering with the traditional eyewear industry (like Meta with Luxottica) creates a critical foothold in the market. * (10:39) – Why True AR Isn't Here Yet: Why the biggest challenge for AR isn't finding a market, but solving fundamental hardware problems like power, pixels, and brightness. * (12:30) – The Smartphone Replacement: The roadmap to replacing the smartphone, moving from today's "desktop PC" VR to a true, all-day wearable AR device. * (17:20) – The Killer Human-AI Interface: Thomas's ultimate vision for AR as the ultimate interface between human intelligence and AI, providing contextual information in the real world. EPISODE LINKS: * Tomas's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomassluka/ * CREAL's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creal-tech/ * CREAL's Website: https://creal.com/

#4 - Inside Zappar’s Vision: CEO Caspar Thykier on Democratising XR

Description Caspar Thykier, CEO and Co-founder of Zappar, joins the show to discuss his 15-year journey building accessible XR tools for the real world. From early bets on mobile AR to Zapbox’s “Magic Leap for £30” vision, we unpack the challenges and breakthroughs in bringing spatial computing to mainstream users. Caspar shares insights on WebAR, creator tooling, ethical infrastructure, and why retail may be the real launchpad for XR. If you care about building the spatial web beyond the hype, this one’s essential. Transcript: https://the-spatial-computing-podcast.notion.site/Transcript-for-Inside-Zappar-s-Vision-CEO-Caspar-Thykier-on-Democratising-XR-The-Spatial-Computin-240b6f708b4280a69a19dee05fbade9d?pvs=141 Timestamps: * (00:00 – 00:44) – Intro & Guest Introduction: Meet Caspar Thykier, CEO and co‑founder of Zappar, a Cambridge spin‑out that has spent 15 years advancing mobile‑first XR. * (00:44 – 03:47) – The Early Vision & Unlocking Mobile AR: How early smartphone cameras let Zappar move AR from the desktop to every pocket. * (03:47 – 06:14) – Zapbox, Google Cardboard & “Magic Leap, Magic Cheap”: Developing a US$30 mixed‑reality kit and lessons on consumer adoption. * (06:14 – 08:30) – Designing AR for Utility, Not Novelty: Why the future lies beyond filters and Pokémon Go—toward everyday, problem‑solving use cases. * (08:30 – 10:03) – Entertainment Meets Immersion: Disney and Universal campaigns that merge storytelling with real‑world spatial tech. * (10:03 – 11:46) – The “Great Reversal”: Spatial AI starts augmenting the physical world instead of simply overlaying digital layers. * (11:47 – 14:35) – WebAR’s State & Future: How browser‑based AR lowers friction, rivals native apps, and drives mass adoption. * (14:35 – 17:24) – Interoperability & the Mattercraft Platform: Inside Zappar’s tool suite—Designer, SDKs and Mattercraft—for no‑coders to Unity pros. * (17:24 – 19:56) – Making XR Accessible for Creators: Onboarding flows, AI assistants, and ecosystem‑wide empowerment. * (19:56 – 22:37) – AI, 3‑D Content & the Data Flywheel: How AI and AR feed each other, improving 3‑D accuracy through Mattercraft’s feedback loop. * (22:37 – 26:25) – Retail as Spatial‑Computing Launchpad: Navigation aids, blind assistance, and planogram compliance powered by spatial AI. * (26:25 – 27:29) – Real‑World Efficiency Gains: 40 % staff‑route reductions and daily 15‑minute savings via AR logistics. * (27:29 – 30:32) – Ethics & Infrastructure of Spatial Data: Domain sovereignty, opt‑ins, and avoiding Web 2.0‑style surveillance capitalism. * (30:32 – 33:58) – Smart Glasses & What’s Next: Why phones remain, and how audio‑centric, accessible glasses may be XR’s true mass‑market entry. * (33:58 – 35:46) – Final Vision: Staying present while scaling XR responsibly—balancing ethics with newly unlocked possibilities. GUEST LINKS: * Caspar’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casparthykier [https://www.linkedin.com/in/casparthykier] * Zappar’s Website: https://www.zappar.com * Twitter (Zappar): https://x.com/zapparapp

#3 - Shaping the Future of Spatial Computing with David Fattal at Leia Inc

Description In this Episode, David Fattal, founder and CTO of Leia Inc, discusses the company's innovative approach to spatial computing, which leverages advanced optics and AI to create immersive 3D experiences on everyday devices. He shares insights into the early challenges faced in developing this technology, the importance of smartphones as a medium for immersive content, and how telecom operators could accelerate adoption of spatial computing. David also offers his vision for a future where spatial computing becomes as ubiquitous as today's touch interfaces fundamentally changing how we interact with digital content. * Transcript: https://the-spatial-computing-podcast.notion.site/Transcript-for-Shaping-the-Future-of-Spatial-Computing-with-David-Fattal-at-Leia-Inc-The-Spatial-C-240b6f708b42805e8d64c0856e396df0?pvs=141 Timestamps: * (00:00:10) – Introduction to Lear Inc and Spatial Computing: Taza introduces David Fattal, discussing his role at Lear Inc and the company's focus on spatial computing. * (00:02:15) – Eureka Moment and Early Gambles: David shares the story of discovering 3D screen technology at HP Labs and the initial risks taken to develop it. * (00:05:30) – Technology Behind 3D Screens: Explanation of how Lear Inc's technology turns 2D screens into immersive 3D experiences without glasses. * (00:09:00) – Use Cases and Market Adoption: Discussion on the primary applications of immersive displays, including gaming and video conferencing, and their market potential. * (00:12:45) – Challenges in 3D Content Creation: David talks about the hurdles in creating and sharing 3D content and the importance of making it as prevalent as 2D content. * (00:16:20) – Future of Spatial Computing: Insights into how spatial computing will become a natural part of everyday technology and its potential impact on various industries. * (00:20:00) – Role of Telecom Operators: Exploration of how telecom operators can drive the adoption of spatial computing technology through infrastructure and device subsidies. * (00:23:30) – Vision for 2030 and Beyond: David shares his vision for the future, where spatial computing becomes as ubiquitous as touch technology. * (00:27:00) – Final Thoughts and Predictions: Concluding remarks on the evolution of spatial computing and its transformative potential over the next decade. EPISODE LINKS: - David's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dfattal/ - Leia Inc's Website: https://www.leiainc.com/ - Twitter: https://x.com/leiainc