Kris Kersey: The Open Source Path to Innovation: Building the OASIS Project (Iron Man Keynote)
The Open Source Path to Innovation: Building the OASIS Project
Kris Kersey
What if the line between science fiction and reality could be blurred through the power of open source? That’s the story behind the OASIS Project, driven by a vision to push technological boundaries and fueled by a supportive community. To illustrate the profound impact of community, I share my journey from a high school Linux enthusiast and university open source contributor—working on projects like Gentoo Linux porting and creating the xsensors app—to spending the last four years developing the OASIS Project, a passion project aimed at creating a fully functional, science fiction-inspired augmented reality helmet, and eventually, the complete suit. By leveraging open source technologies and the collaborative spirit of the community, I've been able to explore new frontiers in hardware and software integration. Attendees will gain an inside look at the technical intricacies of the OASIS Project, including live demonstrations of the HUD and AI assistant. My goal is to showcase how open source fosters innovation and transforms ambitious dreams into tangible realities. Kris Kersey, an embedded software developer with over 20 years of experience, has been sharing his passion for 3D printing and maker projects through his YouTube channel, Kersey Fabrications, since November 2018. The channel has amassed over 40,000 subscribers and 5 million views, featuring content on 3D printing reviews, modifications, and tutorials, as well as electronics and cosplay projects. A cosplayer for over a decade, Kris is currently developing a complete, cutting-edge Iron Man suit, after having completed a helmet with a full heads-up display. This work has led to the creation of the OASIS Project, which now has a dedicated YouTube channel. His innovative work has been recognized by NVIDIA's Meet the Maker and Hackaday. As an advocate for the maker and open source communities, Kris loves sharing his projects and educating others to inspire creativity and innovation in these rapidly evolving fields.