Review of what we have learnt in XR and how to progress beyond them. This discussion will contribute to our end of year overview.
AI: Summary
Tom Haymes articulates a fundamental challenge—after reading Ted Nelson, he’s increasingly frustrated with how paper-based metaphors limit XR work. He distinguishes between tools for “structuring books and papers” versus tools for “structuring ideas,” noting these aren’t the same thing. This philosophical tension runs throughout the meeting.
The “Xerox PARC Moment” Question: Tom asks if the group is at a defining moment like Xerox PARC was for personal computing—when new paradigms for XR are being established. The discussion explores whether they’re inventing the future or repeating the past.
Technical Demonstrations: Fabien Benetou shows working prototypes including six files open simultaneously in spatial arrangements, and explains how URLs can save complete environmental states in webXR—a powerful but underestimated capability: https://video.benetou.fr/w/oG4bwXxiLUEScLowCyXNSp