Georgia Tech at Dragon Con 2018

More than 80,000 people are expected to visit downtown Atlanta this Labor Day weekend, August 30 - September 3, for Dragon Con 2018. The event is the largest multi-media and pop culture convention focused on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, film, cosplay, and more. On Saturday morning the popular Dragon Con Parade will wind through downtown and feature thousands of spectators, and people dressed up as their favorite characters.

As in years past, Georgia Tech faculty, researchers, and students will take part in the weekend’s activities as expert panelists. Georgia Tech's Interactive Media Technology Center (IMTC) organized panels this year on esports and education, augmented and virtual reality, accessibility in gaming, and more. Here’s a look at the schedule:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31

Esports and Education - 1 pm
Roger Altizer, associate professor, The University of Utah
Allan Fowler, academic, game developer, and author
Blake Harrison, lead producer for SMITE: Battleground of the Gods, Hi-Rez Studios

Video Games for Good and Evil - 2:30 pm
Roger Altizer, associate professor, The University of Utah
Maribeth Gandy, director, Georgia Tech Interactive Media Technology Center
Laura Levy, research scientist, Georgia Tech Interactive Media Technology Center
Sarah Schoemann, PhD student, Georgia Tech Digital Media program


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

AR/VR - 2:30 pm
Mike Capps, co-founder, Diveplane
Maribeth Gandy, director, Georgia Tech Interactive Media Technology Center
Vu Ha, senior interaction prototyper, Magic Leap
Blair MacIntyre, director, Georgia Tech Augmented Environments Lab


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Gaming for All: Accessibility in Gaming - 10 am
Roger Altizer, associate professor, The University of Utah
Ben Jacobs, accommodations specialist, Georgia Tech Tools for Life
Laura Levy, research scientist, Georgia Tech Interactive Media Technology Center

From Workshop to Lab: How Making & Scientific Research Go Hand in Hand - 11:30 am
Ceara Byrne, PhD student, Georgia Tech Human-Computer Interaction program
Scott Gilliland, research scientist, Georgia Tech Interactive Media Technology Center
Noah Posner, research scientist, Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design
Chad Ramey, master's student, Georgia Tech Computer Science
Tim Trent, research technologist, GVU Center and College of Computing

Why Go to School for Gaming - 1 pm
Eric Allen, associate chair of interactive design and game development, SCAD Atlanta
Roger Altizer, associate professor, The University of Utah
Sarah Schoemann, PhD student, Georgia Tech Digital Media program
Jose Zagal, associate professor, The University of Utah

Future Interfaces and UX in Video Games - 5:30 pm
Maribeth Gandy, director, Georgia Tech Interactive Media Technology Center
Amy Lambeth, research associate, Georgia Tech Interactive Media Technology Center
Laura Levy, research scientist, Georgia Tech Interactive Media Technology Center

The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel and Sheraton Atlanta Hotel are hosting all of these panels. For more information, visit the Dragon Con website.