AWE 2026 · Official Event

Luminara Is In
Session at AWE

Hack Reality & Build the Future of Human Experience

Win Mentra Smart Glasses and Other Prizes

A half-day intensive where builders, researchers, creators, and visionaries come together to prototype immersive experiences that expand human potential.

Monday, June 2026
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Long Beach Convention Center

Make-a-thon Tracks

Three Paths to Build the Future

Each track invites teams to design, prototype, and present an immersive experience rooted in the Luminara's core research.

Consciousness & Presence

Build XR experiences that cultivate expanded awareness, mindfulness, and inner stillness — using biofeedback, spatial audio, and contemplative design.

Track A

Connection & Compassion

Create immersive environments that deepen empathy, bridge perspectives, and strengthen the bonds between people, communities, and the living world.

Track B

Transcendence & Transformation

Design experiences that invoke awe, wonder, and self-transcendence — exploring how immersive worlds can catalyze profound personal and collective growth.

Track C

Schedule

Monday at AWE 2026

9:00 AM

Doors Open & Welcome

Check in, meet your fellow builders, and get oriented. Coffee and light breakfast provided.

9:30 AM

Opening Vision & Track Briefing

Dr. Tom Furness and the Luminara team set the stage — the research, the principles, and the challenge ahead.

10:00 AM

Team Formation & Build Sprint

Form cross-disciplinary teams. Choose your track. Begin prototyping with mentors, tools, and research resources on hand.

12:00 PM

Working Lunch & Lightning Demos

Fuel up while teams share early progress. Quick-fire feedback from mentors and peers.

1:00 PM

Final Presentations & Judging

Each team presents their prototype. Judges evaluate on vision, feasibility, alignment with core principles, and potential for impact.

1:45 PM

Awards & Closing Circle

Winners announced. Connections made. The journey continues.

Categories

9 Entry Categories

Build something real. Each category connects to the Luminara's research into how technology can awaken deeper human capacities.

1

Entrainment + Coherence

Build systems that synchronize people, rhythms, attention, or physiology.

Group breath-sync wallShared heartbeat visualizerTeam coherence dashboardMultiplayer calm-state game
Wearables, HRV, audio DSP, BLE, sensors
2

Cymatics + Visible Sound

Make vibration, frequency, and resonance visible.

Voice-controlled sand patternsWater frequency sculptureAR sound geometrySound-reactive installation
Speakers, actuators, CV, projection
3

Light + State Engineering

Use light to shift mood, focus, presence, or perception.

Smart glasses focus protocolCircadian reset boothMeditation light domeBiofeedback aura lighting
LEDs, wearables, smart glasses, sensors
4

Electromagnetism + Invisible Fields

Explore sensing, communication, and interaction through fields.

Proximity energy mapMagnetic gesture interfaceEMF visualizerTouchless trigger systems
RFID, NFC, BLE, radar, SDR, antennas
5

Enhanced Senses

Give people abilities they normally don't have.

Hear Wi-Fi as soundFeel direction via hapticsSee emotional tone in speechThermal awareness overlay
Haptics, CV, LLMs, wearables, microphones
6

Perception Hacks + Consciousness

Show how reality is constructed by the brain.

McGurk mirrorRubber hand XR demoPrediction error gameAttention hijack simulator
XR, displays, headphones, spatial audio
7

Connection + Human Resonance

Build tools that improve relationships in real time.

Two-person sync gameConversation chemistry meterShared silence experienceRoom energy map
Audio analysis, biometrics, proximity, AI
8

AI + Inner Copilots

Build agents that elevate awareness and performance.

Stress coach wearablePresence copilotDream journal interpreterEnergy management assistant
LLMs, wearables, voice AI, memory systems
9

Reality Interfaces + Spatial Computing

Build new ways to interact with environments.

Tune the room with gesturesAR signal treasure huntSpatial command centerReality sculpting interface
AR, VR, depth sensors, hand tracking

Judging

What Good Entries Demonstrate

Must Have At Least One

  • Measurable effect
  • Visible wow factor
  • Useful utility
  • Social connection
  • New sensory capability
  • Behavior or state change
  • Artistic transformation

Bonus Points

  • Multiplayer
  • Uses real biosignals
  • Works in a public space
  • Deployable as startup / product
  • Ethically designed

Awards

Prize Tracks

Best Consciousness Hack

Best Social Connection Tool

Best Biofeedback System

Best Spatial Interface

Best Light Experience

Best Sound / Frequency Build

Most Commercializable

Most Mind-Blowing Demo

Venue

Long Beach Convention Center

Join Us at AWE 2026

Long Beach Convention Center
300 E Ocean Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90802

Monday, June 2026
Part of the AWE (Augmented World Expo) conference week

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT
Half-day intensive — come ready to build

Limited to 60 participants
Builders, researchers, designers, educators, and visionaries

AWE 2026 Main Site

Ready?

Build Something That Matters

Whether you're an XR developer, researcher, designer, educator, or dreamer — if you believe technology should serve the deepest parts of what makes us human, this is your Make-a-thon.

Questions? Reach out to info@luminara.institute