Augmented World Expo (AWE) has announced the AWE XR Hall of Fame–a new institution dedicated to honoring the pioneers whose monumental contributions have shaped and propelled the extended reality (XR) industry forward.

By honoring the achievements of individuals from across the development of the virtual, augmented, and mixed reality spectrum, AWE hopes to inspire a new generation of innovators, developers, and thinkers to continue expanding the vast potentials of XR.

“We owe an immense debt to the pioneers who laid the foundations of today’s rapidly growing $40 billion XR industry. We all stand on the shoulders of these giants,” said AWE co-founder Ori Inbar. “I call upon the entire XR community to honor these trailblazers by learning their past, celebrating their contributions, and continue to shape the future in their visionary image.”

From transformative software developers to visionary content creators and impactful corporate leaders, the XR Hall of Fame celebrates a broad spectrum of contributors who have all played a part in laying the foundations and building the XR landscape. The list—which has 101 honorees—includes legends like Tom Furness, often hailed as the “Grandfather of Virtual Reality”; Valerie Thomas, inventor of NASA’s Illusion Transmitter for 3D Holography; Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games; and Carolina Cruz-Niera, co-inventor of CAVE.

Click here to see all of the AWE XR Hall of Fame inductees. AWE is also hosting an induction ceremony for the 101 pioneers at AWE USA 2024 in Long Beach, CA on June 19th.

Click here to stay up-to-date with the latest show news and visit our AWE USA 2024 hub.