Tech Talks

About the series

PwC Tech Talks is an ongoing series where we delve into the importance of emerging technologies for businesses. Led by Alex Ruhl and Jeremy Dalton, immersive technology leaders at PwC, episodes feature guests from industry, government and academia giving their perspective.

Episode 1

What happened to the metaverse?

Our hosts, Alex Ruhl and Jeremy Dalton, were joined by expert Asha Easton to explore the Metaverse's evolution, origins, and enduring technology brilliance. Together, they discussed its rise, current state, and explored why the term 'Metaverse' is falling out of favor, while the underlying tech retains its enduring value.

Episode 2

Spatial computing: The final storytelling medium?

In this episode, our hosts, Alex Ruhl and Jeremy Dalton, delve into the world of Spatial Computing as the potential final storytelling medium. They explore the technology-agnostic nature of storytelling, its historical roots, and its immersive benefits in consumer and business contexts. Discover the captivating evolution of storytelling and its enterprise applications.

Episode 3

Did virtual reality exist in the 1800s?

In this fascinating episode, hosts Alex Ruhl and Jeremy Dalton explore the historical roots of VR, dating back to the 1800s. They discuss the evolution of VR hardware from stereoscopes and its characterization in the early, middle, and late 20th century. Special insights are shared by the 'godfather of VR,' Tom Furness.

Episode 4

Are virtual worlds an effective platform for education?

In this episode, hosts Alex Ruhl and Jeremy Dalton, along with guest Muhsinah Morris, explore the effectiveness of virtual worlds as an educational platform. They delve into how immersive technologies like VR enhance learning experiences, discuss their effectiveness compared to traditional methods, and consider the role of tech in upskilling students for the future workforce.

Episode 5

What impact is AR and VR having in healthcare?

In this insightful episode, hosts Alex Ruhl and Jeremy Dalton, along with guest Neesa Mangalaparathy, explore the transformative impact of AR and VR in healthcare. They discuss the adoption of these technologies, unique use cases in healthcare settings, considerations for patient safeguarding, and key factors that will contribute to scaling their adoption in the healthcare industry.

Episode 6

A new study on the benefits of VR for collaboration

How does Virtual Reality compare to video conferencing when working together remotely with others? We collaborated with the University of Münster to answer that very question. In this episode hosts Jeremy Dalton and Alex Ruhl speak with André Henke from the German Ministry of Internal Affairs in Lower Saxony and Nilusha Aliman from the University of Münster to discuss the findings in more detail.

Episode 7

Do digital assets have a future?

What do horse armor, a blue party hat, and a luxury purse have in common? From video game items to NFTs, join hosts Jeremy Dalton and Alex Ruhl on a journey through the controversial history of digital asset sales as we attempt to conclude on the value of the virtual.

Episode 8

Quantum computing: the end of cyber security?

Have you ever wondered what Quantum Computing is and why it's so significant for our future? Join hosts Alex Ruhl and Jeremy Dalton as they interview Kei Kumar, who has vast experience and a number of patents relating to quantum computing. We'll discuss promising applications of the technology, the risks it poses, and challenges to its growth.

Episode 9

The essential eight technologies you need to know

In 2016, we analyzed more than 250 technologies to shortlist the "Essential Eight". Based on advances since then, we've updated and organized the list into three categories that reflect how business leaders can prioritize their efforts with these technologies: expand, evaluate and experiment. Hosts Alex Ruhl and Jeremy Dalton are joined by PwC UK Emerging Tech leader Darshan Chandarana and PwC Global AI leader Scott Likens who discuss the rationale behind shortlisting these technologies.