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Helen Papagiannis, Ph.D.

CEO and Founder at XR Goes Pop

Toronto, Canada

Recognized as a world leading expert, Helen has been working with Augmented Reality (AR) for nearly 15 years as a designer, researcher, consultant, and technology evangelist.

Helen is a proud invited member of the Global Future Council on Virtual and Augmented Reality, a brain trust serving the World Economic Forum.

She is the author of “Augmented Human: How Technology Is Shaping The New Reality” published by O’Reilly Media (2017). “Augmented Human” is currently available in 5 languages (English, Korean, Russian, Chinese traditional script, and Chinese simplified), and it was the first title in the VR Book Club where 100 participants from 6 continents met in Virtual Reality to discuss the book weekly. “Augmented Human” is an inspirational and trusted resource around the world, included on syllabi at prestigious institutions like MIT.

Helen is also the host and creator of the wildly popular interactive social media game “Real or AR” launched in 2018 and played with audiences around the globe.

A top requested professional keynote speaker represented by The Lavin Agency, Helen shows audiences the fantastical future of AR, framing it within the needs of a diverse range of industries and objectives. Her SXSW 2019 sold out opening talk on Augmented Reality was the #1 requested presentation with 3200 people vying for 300 seats.

Helen was named among the NEXT 100 Top Influencers of the Digital Media Industry and as an influential pioneer shaping the next wave of computing. She has presented her interactive work and research at global conferences and invited events including 2 TEDx talks (Technology, Entertainment, Design); annual juried papers and demos at ISMAR (International Society for Mixed and Augmented Reality); multiple keynotes and art installations at AWE (Augmented World Expo); a juried presentation at ISEA (International Symposium for Electronic Art); and a solo exhibition at the Ontario Science Centre. Her TEDx talk was featured among the Top 10 talks on Augmented Reality and Gamified Life.

Helen’s past roles include Chief Innovation Officer at Infinity Augmented Reality Inc. (acquired by Alibaba)(New York, Toronto, Tel Aviv); Senior Research Associate at York University’s Augmented Reality Lab (Toronto); and Project Lead at Bruce Mau Design Inc. on “Massive Change: The Future of Global Design” a best-selling book published by Phaidon and 20,000 square foot traveling exhibition (Toronto, Vancouver, Chicago).

Available For: Authoring, Consulting, Influencing
Travels From: Toronto, Ontario
Speaking Topics: Augmented Reality, Future of Work, Emerging Technologies

Helen Papagiannis, Ph.D. Points
Academic 20
Author 136
Influencer 197
Speaker 60
Entrepreneur 20
Total 433

Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.

Thought Leader Profile

Portfolio Mix

Company Information

Company Type: Company
Business Unit: Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Emerging Technologies, Retail
Minimum Project Size: Undisclosed
Average Hourly Rate: Undisclosed
Number of Employees: Undisclosed
Company Founded Date: Undisclosed
Media Experience: 14

Areas of Expertise

AI 31.04
AR/VR 81.63
Big Data 30.15
Business Strategy
Creativity 31.08
Culture
Customer Experience 30.01
Design 32.54
Design Thinking
Digital Disruption 33.34
Digital Transformation
EdTech
Emerging Technology 31.62
Entrepreneurship
Future of Work 31.28
Healthcare 30.37
HealthTech
Innovation 31.07
IoT 30.13
Leadership
Marketing
Mobility
Retail
Social 30.11
Startups

Industry Experience

Consumer Products
High Tech & Electronics
Higher Education & Research
Media
Other
Professional Services
Retail
Telecommunications
Travel & Transportation

Publications & Experience

1 Academic Fellow / Scholar
Global Future Council on Virtual and Augmented Reality
World Economic Forum
October 01, 2019
The Global Future Council is an invitation-only community that serves as a brain trust for the World Economic Forum and the world at large. It aims to challenge assumptions and introduce fresh ideas to reshape global systems for the benefit of humanity and the planet.

As a council member, I work with other leading experts to develop new insights and innovative ideas to inform decision-makers around the world. We develop recommendations and integrate our findings into World Economic Forum activities such as the Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters and regional and industry events, as well as global decision-making processes.

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Tags: AR/VR

16 Article/Blogs
Advisor
JLR
May 22, 2022
Advisor to the board and CEO on emerging and immersive technologies across the house of brands including Range Rover, Defender, Discovery, and Jaguar.

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Tags: AI, AR/VR, Emerging Technology

Times Square
Augmented Stories
June 17, 2021
My name in lights across Times Square billboards and the Brooklyn Bridge.

It was a dream come true to have my Augmented Reality artwork featured across multiple billboards in Times Square and on the Brooklyn Bridge. Honoured to have been a part of the historic Artifex Project. Grateful to the team and Illkoncept for these incredible photographs!

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Tags: AR/VR, Creativity, Innovation

Augmented Human named "Best AR books of All Time" by BookAuthority
Augmented Stories
June 26, 2019
As featured on CNN, Forbes, and Inc, BookAuthority identifies and rates the best books in the world.

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Tags: AR/VR, Emerging Technology, Innovation

Augmenting (Sur)Reality
Augmented Stories
May 12, 2019
In honour of Salvador Dalí’s 115th birthday, I recreated his 1934 collage, “Mae West's Face” in Augmented Reality.

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Tags: AR/VR, Design

Dear Anna Wintour: The Met Gala 2019 Was ‘Off’
Augmented Stories
May 07, 2019
From a blinking eye to double vision, the Met Gala’s best dressed guests were especially CAMP.

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Tags: AR/VR, Creativity, Design

LAMY specs vol.4: Taking On New Perspectives
Augmented Stories
March 26, 2019
The latest issue of LAMY specs is out! Vol. 4 explores the theme of taking on new perspectives and it's fittingly AR enabled.

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Tags: AR/VR, Creativity, Design

#1 Requested AR VR Talk at SXSW
Augmented Stories
March 18, 2019
My SXSW opening talk in the AR VR track and book signing was a massive success! It was the #1 requested talk with 3200 people vying for 300 seats. A warm thanks to SXSW for inviting me and the audience for joining me.

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Tags: AR/VR

Opening talk at SXSW AR VR MR track
Augmented Stories
February 25, 2019
I’m thrilled to be giving the opening talk in the AR VR MR track at SXSW Interactive this year! Thank you SXSW for the invitation—I’m honoured to be part of such an incredible line-up.

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Tags: AR/VR

Have you played my game "Real or AR"?
Augmented Stories
February 21, 2019
Have you been playing my game “Real or AR” on Instagram? Join me weekly for this wildly popular game in my Instagram story @AugmentedHuman and test your virtual muscle!

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Tags: AR/VR, Creativity, Emerging Technology

Augmented Reality Top 8 of 2018
Augmented Stories
December 21, 2018
These AR projects, apps, products, and tools are helping to rewrite reality and the way we engage with our immediate surroundings and world at large.

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Tags: AR/VR, Design, Emerging Technology

AR Storytelling: The Body and Memory Making
Augmented Stories
February 24, 2018
When designing Augmented Reality experiences and AR stories, we too often forget something very important: the human body.

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Tags: AR/VR, Design, Emerging Technology

AR: Beyond Conventional Time and Space
Augmented Stories
August 22, 2017
Augmented Reality has the potential to rethink and present a new way of seeing and interacting with our world.

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Tags: AR/VR, Emerging Technology, Innovation

How VR Can Make the World a Better Place
Augmented Stories
October 07, 2015
Virtual reality (VR) can make the impossible possible — the rules of physical reality need no longer apply.

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Tags: AR/VR, Healthcare, Social

Designing Beyond Screens
Augmented Stories
August 13, 2015
AR presents the opportunity to design beyond the screens we use today and create new experiences that better embody the full human sensorium.

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Tags: AR/VR, Emerging Technology, IoT

Augmenting the Human Experience
Augmented Stories
July 04, 2015
As augmented reality technologies emerge, we must place the focus on serving human needs.

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Tags: AR/VR, Customer Experience, IoT

AR and VR: Our Deep Wish to Make the Virtual Real
Augmented Stories
May 01, 2015
When we close our eyes at night we enter a virtual dream world. We can fly, see loved ones who've passed, and defy the limits of physical reality. Time, space, and our bodies are different in our dreams. Anything is possible and the rules of the physical waking world no longer apply. Our imagination reigns supreme here. In that moment, it is all real.

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Tags: AR/VR, Creativity, Emerging Technology

2 Books
Augmented Human
O'Reilly Media
October 01, 2017
Augmented Reality (AR) blurs the boundary between the physical and digital worlds. In AR’s current exploration phase, innovators are beginning to create compelling and contextually rich applications that enhance a user’s everyday experiences. In this book, Dr. Helen Papagiannis — a world-leading expert in the field — introduces you to AR: how it’s evolving, where the opportunities are, and where it’s headed.

If you’re a designer, developer, entrepreneur, student, educator, business leader, artist, or simply curious about AR’s possibilities, this insightful guide explains how you can become involved with this exciting, fast-moving technology.

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Tags: AI, AR/VR, Digital Disruption

Augmented Human: How Technology Is Shaping the New Reality
Amazon
August 31, 2017
Augmented Reality (AR) blurs the boundary between the physical and digital worlds. In AR’s current exploration phase, innovators are beginning to create compelling and contextually rich applications that enhance a user’s everyday experiences. In this book, Dr. Helen Papagiannis—a world-leading expert in the field—introduces you to AR: how it’s evolving, where the opportunities are, and where it’s headed.

See publication

Tags: AR/VR, Future of Work

1 Founder
Emerging and Immersive Tech Pioneer, Advisor, & Keynote Speaker 20+ years
Augmented Stories Inc.
September 01, 2005
AR and immersive tech expert providing research, design, consulting, and keynote presentations.

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Tags: AR/VR, Emerging Technology, Innovation

6 Keynotes
Professional Speaker, AI, Wearable Tech & Spatial Computing
Speakers Spotlight
June 01, 2023
Dr. Helen Papagiannis is a globally recognized thought leader in emerging technologies, specializing in AI and spatial computing and their transformative impact on industries. With over two decades of pioneering experience, she explores how these cutting-edge innovations expand human intelligence and enhance human possibility. Her work connects advanced technologies with the needs of diverse industries, providing compelling insights into the future of AI and extended reality (XR).

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Tags: AI, AR/VR, Emerging Technology

Augmented Human
DevLearn Annual Summit
October 26, 2019
DevLearn 2019, Mirage Hotel and Convention Centre, Las Vegas

In this truly cutting-edge talk, Dr. Helen Papagiannis helps us understand the significance of augmented reality (AR), and how it is being organically integrated into our everyday lives. What opportunities does AR present for business and learning? How can we contribute to and help define this new technological era? And how will it forever change the way we live, work, and play?

Photo: Lee Miller

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Tags: AR/VR, Emerging Technology, Future of Work

Augmented Reality: Amplifying Human Intelligence
SXSW
March 11, 2018
Sold out opening talk on Augmented Reality in the AR VR track was the #1 requested presentation with 3200 people vying for 300 seats.

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Tags: AR/VR, Digital Disruption, Innovation

Advancing AR for Humanity at AWE 2015
youtube
June 06, 2015
AWE 2015 featured over 200 companies leading the charge in augmented and virtual reality, wearable tech and the internet of things. Nearly 3,000 tech professionals engaged in over 20+ workshops, 170+ AWE-inspiring talks, 200+ interactive demos including a VR experience powered by UploadVR. AWE is about giving superpowers to the people and making them better at anything they do in work and life.

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Tags: AR/VR, Future of Work, IoT

Designing the Future of Augmented Reality
Pechakucha
February 24, 2015
Augmented Reality (AR) is typically defined as a layering of digital information over the physical world as experienced through a smartphone, tablet, or digital eyewear. AR is quickly advancing into a new phase of contextually rich personalized experiences that combine sensors, wearable computing, big data, machine-learning, and artificial intelligence. This second wave of AR will surpass novelty and extend our human capacities to better understand and experience our world in new meaningful ways. AR is no longer about technology, it’s about living in the real world and creating meaningful experiences that are human-centred. How do we want to live in and with AR, and how will it shape our lives?

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Tags: AI, AR/VR, Big Data

How Does Wonderment Guide the Creative Process?
YouTube
July 01, 2010
What happens when technology breaks or behaves in unexpected ways? Why is this important to embrace? Papagiannis will speak to her PhD research in interactive art installations in Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality.

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Tags: AR/VR

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