Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Christian.
Mike, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At the risk of going too far back in time, my motivation for being where I am today started where I was raised on a dairy farm in Oklahoma. When not working, I was very bored, so I taught myself how to program computers. I was motivated to create video games and was very interested in artificial intelligence. Eventually, I worked my way through several companies and landed a job at Paradigm Entertainment in Dallas, where I was a tech lead and AI expert on several large console games. At different times the studio was owned by Atari and THQ. In 2008 I formed From the Future with three other people that I had worked with – Stephen Hess, Joey Bryant, and Kyle Rives. All were video game experts in art and programming. We took those skills to make a name for ourselves in the area as a technology problem solvers. This experience led us to pioneer work in virtual reality and to the present day, where we do groundbreaking work in VR training and Autism therapy.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m convinced smooth roads do not actually exist, at least in the life-struggle, metaphorical sense. It’s a part of life. The experience I and my teammates have gained has required a huge amount of time, dedication, and determination. We’ve had the usual ups and downs of running a business, including not getting paid for helping a fellow VR company out when they were in trouble. Our most recent obstacle has been the pandemic. The uncertainty has caused potential clients to pull back on spending on new technologies. The challenge is one of education. The VR training solution that my company has developed supports remote solutions as varied as sales, training, education, and therapy. The need and the solution are there. It will just take a little time to bring them together.
From The Future – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My team and I at From the Future are a mission to improve the ability to learn. The challenges of learning have increased by orders of magnitude, thanks to today’s pandemic environment. Emerging technologies, such as the Oculus Quest, enable us to provide immersive learning on a global scale. Online. Our software solution powers the ability to learn better, faster, and deeper. It is LEARNING 3.0 Learning 3.0 is multi-dimensional and immersive. It gives you super-powered learning by Increasing memory through immersive, spatial awareness.
During this pandemic, I wrote a book about the revolution in learning that will take place. Part of the book discusses the potential of experiential learning through immersive technologies. This book was needed to communicate an important shift in technology. One that is critical for staffing the future. The impact of VR and forms of immersive learning is sometimes hard to understand until one puts on a VR headset and experiences our software. I wrote the book to try and bridge this gap in understanding.
My team and I are dedicated to elevating learning and improving the lives of children diagnosed with autism by delivering training and education effectively in a post-pandemic world. We are humans on a mission dedicated to revolutionizing training and education through LEARNING 3.0.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My dedicated co-founders and teammates: Stephen Hess, Joey Bryant, Kyle Rives, Ian Walker, Sean Clark, Justin Mullin, Mark Talkington, and Janice Patton. The DFW video game, defense, and simulation industries for showing us all how to develop real time 3D worlds. Local colleges and universities in and around DFW and Denton for producing incredible, capable, and talented people.
Contact Info:
- Address: From the Future
100 N Locust St, Ste 1
Denton, TX 76201 - Website: ftfvr.com
- Phone: 844.777.3748
- Email: mchristian@ftfvr.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromthefuturexr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FromtheFutureXR
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FromtheFutureXR
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/ftfvr
Image Credit:
Joey Bryant, Justin Mullin, Janice Patton
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