Virtual Reality & Life After Meta

Virtual Reality & Life After Meta

What happens when someone who helped build the future of virtual reality inside Big Tech decides to walk away from it and finds purpose. "If you are in a position where you can speak up, then I feel you have a responsibility to do so.” — Britta Hummel Key Takeaways * The core technical challenges behind modern VR systems are largely solved — the bigger challenge today is finding meaningful and sustainable use cases. * Virtual reality has enormous potential in healthcare, trauma therapy, education, and professional training — especially when designed intentionally around human needs instead of engagement metrics. * Building inside Big Tech can create incredible opportunities for experimentation and innovation, but also environments where dissent and critical feedback become increasingly difficult. * Humane technology is not about rejecting technology altogether, but about building and consuming it with more moderation, thoughtfulness, and responsibility. * Many people in tech are searching for deeper meaning in their work, and purpose-driven technology can fundamentally change how work feels. Learn more about Britta's work: * Britta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittahummel/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittahummel/] * Waven: https://waven.app/ [https://waven.app/] * Why I Left - Britta's Article on Substack: https://brittahummel.substack.com/p/why-i-left [https://brittahummel.substack.com/p/why-i-left] If this episode made you rethink how you can use your own voice to make tech more humane, how virtual reality is adding real value, or to create a crowdfunded VR headset, let us know in the comments or spread the word. More episodes & shownotes: https://www.hello5050.world/podcast [https://www.hello5050.world/podcast] Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Hello5050World [https://www.patreon.com/c/Hello5050World] Producing partner: Tess Marketing Consulting & Stephan Germann https://www.tess-marketing.ch/ [https://www.tess-marketing.ch/] https://videopodcast.studio/ [https://videopodcast.studio/]

Open Source: The Power of Collaboration

How open source software shaped today’s digital world and what we can learn from its evolution “Open source is an immune response to the denial of access to society through technology.” – Aaron Seigo Key take aways * Early open source communities were built around collaboration, shared learning, and the belief that access to software should not depend on permission from large companies. * Small groups of contributors helped create foundational internet technologies, including browser engines that later influenced products like Safari and Chrome. * AI-generated contributions and large language models are creating new ethical and practical challenges for open source communities. * Open source is not only for developers. People with skills in communication, outreach, business, design, documentation, and community building also play an essential role. * Technology shapes who can participate in society. Open access, transparency, and collaboration are not just technical questions, but societal ones. Learn more about Aaron’s work * Aaron Seigo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronseigo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronseigo/] * KDE: https://kde.org/ [https://kde.org/] If this episode made you rethink the role of openness, collaboration, and human contribution in technology, share it with someone in your environment and join the conversation in the comments. More episodes & shownotes: https://www.hello5050.world/podcast [https://www.hello5050.world/podcast] Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Hello5050World [https://www.patreon.com/c/Hello5050World] Producing partner: Tess Marketing Consulting & Stephan Germann https://www.tess-marketing.ch/ [https://www.tess-marketing.ch/] https://videopodcast.studio/ [https://videopodcast.studio/]

Social Media Architecture: Breaking the Addiction Loop

Why engagement-driven platforms shape our behavior and what it takes to build healthier tech “It's not just one feature — it's a whole system designed to keep us engaged.” – Vardon Hamdiu Key take aways * Platforms rely on engagement-driven algorithms, variable rewards, and behavioral patterns that are designed to keep users scrolling and interacting for longer. * When platforms optimize for engagement, they tend to amplify extreme, emotional, or polarizing content, influencing how we perceive reality and interact with others. * Younger generations understand how tech affects them, but knowledge alone is not enough. The real challenge is translating awareness into action and behavioral change. * Sparkable experiments with alternatives such as bridging algorithms and pro-social design to align technology with human and societal well-being. * While reflecting on our own habits matters, real change requires structural shifts in how platforms are built and what they optimize for. Learn more about Vardon's and Sofiia's work: * Vardon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vardonhamdiu/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vardonhamdiu/] * Sparkable: https://sparkable.cc/ [https://sparkable.cc/] * Sofiia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiiakaminska/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiiakaminska/] * Option Control: https://hub.hslu.ch/design-film-kunst/katalog/sofiia-kaminska/ [https://hub.hslu.ch/design-film-kunst/katalog/sofiia-kaminska/] If this episode made you rethink how social media is designed and how it shapes your behavior and those of others, share it with someone in your environment and join the conversation in the comments. More episodes & shownotes: https://www.hello5050.world/podcast [https://www.hello5050.world/podcast] Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Hello5050World [https://www.patreon.com/c/Hello5050World] Producing partner: Tess Marketing Consulting & Stephan Germann https://www.tess-marketing.ch/ [https://www.tess-marketing.ch/] https://videopodcast.studio/ [https://videopodcast.studio/]

Data, AI & Health: Risks & Opportunities

Why context matters when building AI for health and how data can both help and harm "All tech operates in context and it's good for one context. Think about what's the right place for AI, and what is not the right place for this technology." - Lisa Falco Key take aways * Data can change how we understand our bodies: Tracking cycles, sleep, or health metrics can reveal patterns but it should support, not replace, personal awareness. * Health data is never neutral: The same data that helps improve care can also be used in ways that affect people’s access to insurance, privacy, or even legal protection. AI can unlock access where systems are limited: In places with few medical specialists, AI can help detect diseases earlier and guide next steps in care. * Real impact depends on the full system: Detecting a disease is only useful if people can afford and access the next step in diagnosis and treatment. * The gender health gap is built into historical data: Women’s health has long been under-researched, but increased awareness and new data are starting to close that gap. * Context decides how AI should be used: The same AI system can act as support in one place and as a primary solution in another. Learn more about Lisa’s work * Lisa Falco on LinkedIn * Lisa Falco's website * Book: Go Figure! * Company: N23 Health If this episode made you rethink the role of context and the personal experience when building AI or tech solutions, share it with someone in your environment and join the conversation in the comments. More episodes & shownotes: Hello 50:50 World Podcast Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Hello5050World [https://www.patreon.com/c/Hello5050World] Producing partner: Tess Marketing Consulting & Stephan Germann https://www.tess-marketing.ch/ [https://www.tess-marketing.ch/] https://videopodcast.studio/ [https://videopodcast.studio/]

Designing AI for Humans: The Psychology of Trust & Relationships

Why understanding human-AI relationships is the most overlooked skill in tech "AI is no longer just a tool. It’s part of our social world and the way people relate to it shapes their behavior.” - Dr. Marisa Tschopp Key take aways: * Most users don’t experience AI as a tool: Humans naturally humanize systems that talk back, applying concepts known from human interactions such as trust, emotion, and social scripts. * As product builders, you are designing for roles, not just functionality: AI is perceived as a servant, friend, or co-pilot, depending on the user and use case. * Trust is multidimensional and needs calibration: Good AI design helps users understand when to rely on the system and when not to. * Inclusion gap in AI usage: Non-technical users are more likely to overtrust, misinterpret outputs and are more exposed to risks and harm. * High-risk contexts need clear boundaries: AI is already being used in vulnerable moments but current systems are not safe enough (yet) for mental health use. * AI literacy = agency: Understanding how AI works is one of the strongest protections against misuse and overtrust. Dr. Marisa Tschopp is a corporate researcher at scip AG, a cybersecurity company based in Zurich. She specializes in both academic and corporate research on AI, focusing on human-AI relationships, trust, agency, and gender issues in AI. Since April 1st 2026, she is Head of Subject Area Humans & AI at ZHAW Angewandte Psychologie. Learn more about Marisa's work * Marisa Tschopp on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marisa-tschopp-0233a026/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marisa-tschopp-0233a026/] * Marisa Tschopp on ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marisa-Tschopp [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marisa-Tschopp] If this episode made you rethink how you design or use AI from the perspective of the human psychology, share it with someone in your environment and join the conversation in the comments [https://www.patreon.com/posts/designing-ai-for-155208687]. More episodes: https://www.hello5050.world/podcast [https://www.hello5050.world/podcast] Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Hello5050World [https://www.patreon.com/Hello5050World] Producing partner: Tess Marketing Consulting & Stephan Germann https://www.tess-marketing.ch/ [https://www.tess-marketing.ch/] https://videopodcast.studio [https://videopodcast.studio]