Ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), ACT | The App Association hosted “Dr. Funk’s Tech House” to gather developers, discuss new tech innovations, and enjoy some pre-conference conversations over snacks and tiki-themed refreshments. This event fostered community connections, sparked discussions on upcoming technological advancements, and created an engaging atmosphere for developers to share ideas and predictions for the keynote.

A major highlight of the night was holding a raffle for an Apple Vision Pro. This giveaway underscored the significant role that small business developers play in transforming new technology into indispensable tools. Just as they elevated the iPhone from a phone to a multi-functional device through innovative apps, we expect to see small business developers leading the charge to unlock the full potential of the Vision Pro.

Dezmond Blair, a Swift Student Challenge Distinguished Winner and iOS developer, exemplifies this potential. As an indie developer, Dezmond has already begun harnessing the power of Vision Pro by creating art and education-driven extended reality (XR) apps that are revolutionizing the classroom. His self-proclaimed determination to leave California with a Vision Pro paid off when he won the raffle at our event! Dezmond’s passion and energy highlight the excitement and readiness of developers to embrace and enhance new technologies, and we’re excited to see what he does next!

We sat down with Dezmond to ask him about his developer journey, his visionOS projects, and his personal vision for the future as an AR/XR/VR developer. Check it out below.

Q&A with Dezmond Blair

Can you tell us about your journey as a developer? What sparked your interest in iOS development?

I was first introduced to iOS development at the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit, Michigan, a program between Apple and accompanying universities around the world; this is the first in North America. I started with the Apple Foundations Program with Henry Ford College after transitioning from an IT contracting job. The one-month version of the full course was what truly sparked my passion and interest in development. A class of about a dozen learners were brought into teams of four and told to make an app in a month…it was a challenge. They gave us all the tools we needed, including a MacBook and iPhone, and we got insight from amazing mentors who taught us coding and design, as well as the process Apple uses to build applications. I was lucky enough to do the Foundations program twice, once from the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit and once again from another Detroit-based organization, Grand Circus, that offered the program virtually.

I then applied for the entire 10-month program offered by the Apple Developer Academy and Michigan State University. This program was where I bloomed in my development journey. I learned a ton, constantly challenging myself and furthering my learning with any opportunity I could come across. I went on to do two iOS boot camps on top of the 10-month program.

During my time at the academy, we could submit an app to the Swift Student Challenge, a yearly competition from Apple tied to their WWDC conference where students can win a trip to Apple for the conference, goodies, and awards from engineers judging the submissions. I submitted an AR application called MTB-XTREME, which earned me the title of a Distinguished Winner – a title only given to 50 of the 300 total winners! This meant I got a trip to WWDC, where I got to meet many amazing engineers at Apple and Tim Cook himself.

You recently started some exciting projects with Vision Pro. What inspired you to create these solutions, and what do you aim to achieve with them?

I am currently working on a lot of exciting projects, and they all come from simple problems I’d like to solve. One is Graffiti3D, an application that will allow me to practice street art techniques and apply them to any wall in the real world! This could change the way we create AR murals and art in general. It’s been a blast to work on. I was inspired by the unique art all over Detroit; it’s one of my favorite parts about walking downtown. Also, with the Detroit Month of Design, it could be a perfect opportunity for those with the headset to try new ways of expressing themselves!

Another project I’m working on is an AI-based XR solution that could change how we enjoy literature. I’m attempting to use an AI workflow to create environments based on the books you read; imagine reading a book around you in the exact environment the author is painting for you. While this project has been fun, I have to admit I don’t know a whole lot about AI, and so learning the ins and outs of AI has taken up much of my time for this project. I was inspired to create this solution by a project featured in the XR Hack-Hackathon, where a team created an AI-based comic book reader that would use AI to segment comic books, making panels really pop!

Finally, I’m also working with a founder to create an AI-based XR learning platform that introduces computer science subjects in a new, innovative way. I am extra excited about this one, especially being a teacher myself! It could be easier to introduce coding concepts to the youth in a fun way using activities that include an interactive learning environment.

How do you plan to use the Vision Pro you won at Dr. Funk’s Tech House?

I have many projects that will keep me busy for sure! My immediate plans are to learn as much as I can about the platform. During and after WWDC, I had the chance to learn from many engineers through discussions and videos. I also recently completed a visionOS Specialist Bootcamp that was offered by KodeCo. I’m continuing to look for more opportunities to learn, two of the best ways being to build and teach back what you’ve learned.

This has inspired me to bring my Vision Pro to Henry Ford College, where I teach the same Foundations program that inspired me to start this whole journey. I was thrilled to get hired in April and have been making a difference in introducing iOS development to college students and high schoolers ages 14-70. One group of students recently came up with a project that inspired them to create an AR solution that would help with physical therapy at home. Their app, Elastique, uses a 3D model that comes to life, teaching you different stretches to support muscle pain in any area of the body. It was inspiring to watch them learn about the possibilities of XR and create the solution they did. Had we had more time, I’m sure an accompanying visionOS app would come along. However, with this, they earned the opportunity to present at the “Motor City Everyone Can Create” showcase hosted at the Apple Developer Academy before Apple Education professionals and many other organizations utilizing Apple technologies for learners in K-12 in the Detroit area.

What is your personal vision for the future as an AR/VR/XR developer?

I’ve been learning more about the term XR and how we can create solutions that blend augmented and fully immersive virtual reality technology. This is the future I see, and I hope to make an impact by creating virtual experiences of things I love to do in person. An example of this was MTB-XTREME, which I mentioned earlier; this AR experience puts you behind the handlebars of my mountain bike where you’re able to view the trail and experience the rush of weaving in and out of trees. Another example of this is the gaming industry.

One specific framework that Apple announced during WWDC was TabletopKit. I love board games; I am proudly the dork who brings one to every party, or at the very least, a deck of cards. I could see a lot of potential in mixing online personas with TabletopKit experiences. Since I was a kid, I’ve loved these games, and the potential of being able to play a board game online with anyone around the world is a dream come true. I plan to contribute heavily to this framework specifically.

I also see an opportunity for XR classrooms. During COVID-19, I and many others relied on Zoom for class meetings, discussions, and breakout rooms. We’ve seen it constantly that people will join to sleep on calls and play a repeated five-second video of themselves, so it looks like they’re there; it just doesn’t always work. If you could be fully immersed to the point where it feels as if those people were in the room with you, it could drive learners to be fully engaged. Not only this, but a vast range of learning opportunities are already being explored in XR. From teaching doctors how to do surgery to teaching engineers architecture, jobs will already pay for virtual reality training courses for their employees. There is an excellent opportunity in education I’d like to explore and make fun experiences for myself and others to enjoy.

What advice would you give to small business developers just starting to explore AR/VR/XR technology?

Start learning as much as you can! I’ve only just started in this field as a native iOS developer, so the best advice I can give is to stick with what you know. There are way too many platforms to get lost in and technologies to explore. That is why I am developing on visionOS using only tools that Apple has provided to make apps for the Vision Pro. If you have strong skills in iOS, this route could make it way easier to jump in.

That being said, don’t be afraid to explore. There are plenty of low/no-code platforms online to conceptualize and design virtual experiences. I recommend joining a community of AR/VR/XR folks in your area. I was lucky enough to attend an event hosted by the AR/VR Association, where I saw many existing solutions and heard from professionals who have been developing AR/VR/XR solutions for 10+ years.

Moving Forward

Dezmond Blair’s journey and vision exemplify the innovative spirit of small business developers. As he continues to push the boundaries of AR/VR technology, we look forward to seeing the transformative applications that will emerge from his work. Just as developers once elevated the iPhone, we anticipate they will unlock the full potential of the Vision Pro, leading the charge into a new era of technological innovation.