I first became interested in virtual reality during the late 90s, when I was about 7 years old. I fondly remember downloading browser plugins from blaxxun interactive and awkwardly stumbling into 3D chat worlds such as Cybertown and Odyssey. Some of the users in these worlds encouraged me to learn more about Virtual Reality Modeling Language or VRML, and I briefly jumped into the world of 3D avatar creation. I found everything so exciting and fun, but the lack of true immersion at the time was frustrating.
Most of my adult life, I’ve actually worked in various sectors of the music industry. I’ve played music ranging from funk to grindcore, produced both studio and live recordings for bands around the world, and worked at pressing plants to manufacture vinyl records for various labels.
It wasn’t until 2017 that I finally tried a modern VR headset, and it stunned me. I was finally *there*, and I could hardly believe the progress that was made. I bought myself a Rift, and VR quickly become one of my favorite activities. While I knew I wanted to pursue this as more than a hobby, I wasn’t sure how, until I downloaded Unity. Before I knew it, I was developing my first game and running an immersive tech meetup.
Interactive development is now my biggest pursuit. I love to explore interactive systems, prototype new ones, and piece assets together to create something new. I believe my early glimpse of the future from my childhood has given me an amazing foundation and intuition about the space, as it often feels so familiar and nostalgic to work in.
I love to apply myself in projects where I can make a difference, whether it’s a game to have fun in, an application to teach a new skill, or an experience to widen your perspective.
Jason Gluck 