Jusub Kim

Jusub Kim is a creative technologist, human-computer interaction researcher, and educator exploring the intersection of art and technology. His research explores the creative potential of computing and the development of new computational media that can shape the future of arts, culture, and entertainment. Previously, he was part of the Software Team at Rhythm & Hues Studios in Los Angeles, where he contributed to the production of nearly a dozen major Hollywood films, including Life of Pi, which won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 85th Academy Awards. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Graphics from the University of Maryland, College Park, an M.S. in Computer Vision, and a B.S. in Electronic Engineering from Yonsei University in Seoul. He was the founding chair of the Art & Technology undergraduate and graduate programs at Sogang University, where he also established the Creative Computing Group. Currently, he is a professor in the Department of Art & Technology at the College of Media, Arts, and Science at Sogang University in Seoul.

Here is an interview with Jusub Kim, where he shares his insights on the metaverse and his perspectives on virtual worlds.

"The Metaverse is something that kind of symbolizes the next platform where people can meet, interact with each other, learn, work, play all sorts of things can be done in the digital space. And even though the use of the term may be overhyped these days, still, because it reflects basic human needs, I think it's still relevant, and it will be relevant in the future too. So, I mean, those concepts themselves reflect a lot of human needs—not only industry needs and hype, but also phenomena and trends that can be read, some sort of like."

"I see XR as a technology that plays as an interface to the Metaverse world. So people experience the Metaverse through XR technology. The Metaverse includes much more than that. It's about making a universe. I think XR is just part of the Metaverse."

"VR is more about making a new universe, a new world. So, world-making is very important in VR. But AR enables creators to provide a more magical experience because it can transform realities. Only part of reality can be changed into imaginary elements. So it provides more magical experiences than VR. So, I think, the two technologies are different in that. (...) We feel more magical when something that we are familiar with changes; magical means that familiar things change into something that, we haven't seen before."

"Project Meta-Memories consists of two parts. The first part is an AR project, and the second part is a more exhibition-based project. The AR app enables users to record and re-experience their recorded memories in a more immersive way. (...) I use the term MetaMemories because 'meta' means beyond, so I wanted to create new ways of recording and experiencing memories beyond photos and videos. But I think MetaMemories is closely aligned with the Metaverse concept because it focuses on creating a connection between physical and digital space. I wanted to make use of AR technologies to create a connection between memories and the physical world."

—Jusub Kim

Check out more details about Project Meta-Memories, an AR project exploring memories, led by Jusub Kim: https://www.metamemoriez.com/

Check out more details about VR Poetry project led by Jusub Kim: https://www.creative-computing.org/post/storytelling-of-the-future-vr-poetry-2015