"Speaking their language," says EducateAug Founder/Company Director Tim Limon.

He's explaining his approach to empowering students through creativity and XR.

Tim, who is both a media professional and an education professional, works with U.K. students on improving their reading and phonics skills. His Manchester-based educational technology company boosts student literacy skills through interactive work in augmented reality, extended reality and AI.

Tim starts with the students' interests--then gets them involved in creating social-media content, based on the music, movies and other areas that spark their imagination.

And as the students create their content, they're incorporating phonics and reading--along with a considerable amount of fun and imagination.

Along the way, Tim makes sure that his young creators, who often have low self-esteem due to having fallen behind their peers in their classwork, get a new perspective on themselves and their skills.

"I just want to help children realize...that they are assets," he says.

While Educate Aug is a relatively new company, one of Tim's products--the Augmented Reality Phonics Soundboard--has already earned a Finalist spot in the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards.

Additional creations include a holographic testimonial, as well as a Cosmic Canvas, which you can see on Instagram.

Tim shared the story of Educate Aug, explained how his AR Phonics Soundboard works and talked about his creative journey.

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"I think we, as human beings, are at our best when we are using AI as a thought partner," says workplace futurist and bestselling author Marti Konstant.

Her advice for making artificial intelligence your "thought partner", as she explores in her book, “Activate Your Agile Career: How Responding to Change Will Inspire Your Life’s Work“? Start at the level of your profession.

And from there, you can customize the ways AI can work, to enhance, rather than replace, your own creative talents.

In this interview from September 2024, we discuss the ways Marti's term “AI-gility” allows users to put artificial intelligence to work to spark new ideas.

Marti talked about her background, explained some of the ways artificial intelligence can boost the creative process for artists and educators, and offered a look at some of her favorite AI resources.

Glide is on the cusp of changing lives.

As the world's first intelligent guide for the blind and users with low vision, this groundbreaking autonomous technology empowers users to safely navigate wherever they'd like to go.

Creator Amos Miller is the Founder and CEO of Seattle-based mobility aid company Glidance. A software engineer and business innovator, Amos first developed technology to assist the blind and low-vision community while working with Microsoft.

Amos, who explains that he lost his sight as a college student majoring in computer science, says this particular innovation came about as a combination of his experiences.

And the sound-based technology he developed, for the blind, while at Microsoft, set the stage for Glide.

Technically, Glide is an autonomous device with two wheels and a handle, somewhat reminiscent of a small lawn mower. A user, Amos explains, activates the device by setting it down in front of them and nudging it forward. Then, using sensors and artificial intelligence, Glide navigates a safe path for that person to travel.

However, "autonomous" doesn't mean "motorized". The user is in control at all times.

"We want to keep all the agency in the hands of the user," Amos says.

Amos explains that the device will adapt to the environment, warning its user about obstacles. It's designed to allow them to cross streets safely, find doors, safely navigate stairs and confidently travel to a destination.

And currently, Glidance is getting ready to ship the first Glide devices to users who have pre-ordered! While pre-orders have sold out, there is a waitlist available. Delivery of this first shipment is expected later this year.

Basing his new device on his own experiences and feedback from beta testers, Amos and his team have revised Glide several times, to better serve the low-vision community.

Users, called "Gliders", have a community and can get updates through Glidance's website, and several virtual "Demo Days" are forthcoming, for new prospective Gliders to try the technology.

In addition, Amos adds, a "road show" is scheduled for later this year, where Glide comes to different cities for information sessions.

Amos talked about his creative journey, shared the story of Glide and offered a preview of what's next!