2025-2026 ROC Optica Speaker Series: Barry Silverstein, URochester’s Center for Extended Reality

  • March 16, 2026
  • 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
  • UR River Campus, Goergen 101

Registration


Register

The Optics of AR and Where it Leads

Barry Silverstein, URochester’s Center for Extended Reality




This is a joint seminar with the Institute of Optics. Please note that the weekday and time of the talk are different from the usual ones

If you are interested in joining the reception after the talk, please register also here: [Link to be provided later] 



Abstract

Smart glasses have begun to arrive in socially acceptable glasses form factors.  These glasses are jam packed with integrated technologies of audio, sensing, compute, displays, and communication hardware enabling real time connection to cloud AI.  This talk will highlight the existing status of what optical technologies are currently being used and where these technologies need to improve towards delivering real augmented reality.  We will also discuss the Center for eXtended Reality and where the optics fits into the broader vision of the Center.

Bio

Barry Silverstein is Director of the Center for eXtended Reality (CXR) and faculty of the University of Rochester.  CXR is a new transdisciplinary center that tackles the hardware, interfaces, applications, and social implications of AR/VR driven by always on contextually aware AI.  Prior to this role Barry was Senior Director and CTO of Optics and Display in Meta’s Reality Labs, leading technology development in cutting-edge displays for Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Reality.  Barry has been both an organizational leader and individual contributor with a focus on creating the world’s smallest and most efficient visual imaging systems, he is pushing the boundaries of what’s technologically and commercially viable. Before joining Meta, Barry was Senior Research Director at IMAX, where he won an Academy Award in Research and Technology for inventing and commercializing IMAX with Laser technology, bringing the iconic IMAX experience to the world’s largest screens. With 28 years of experience at Kodak’s research laboratory, and 100 issued US patents, Barry is a seasoned expert in laser projection, imaging/printing, space imaging, and optical recording. A graduate of the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, Barry is a true visionary in the field.


Parking and location

The talk will be held at UR River Campus, Goergen 101. Parking is available in the lot across the street in Intercampus Drive Lot, and is free for talk attendees (no pass needed).  

After-talk reception
A reception will be held after the talk in the Goergen Atrium. If you'd like to join the reception, please make sure to register [Link to be provided later]  for a headcount.


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