Meet the Speaker — Angelik Laboy

Angelik Laboy is a Developer Advocate at Dolby Laboratories. She is leading a workshop at WITS Midwest on Unleashing Social Gaming with Spatial Chat & Pixel Streaming.

• Why is speaking at WITS important to you?

Simple. Showing up and being yourself in a field like this is already challenging as it is, yet it requires us to be perseverant and forward-moving. So if these learnings are reaching a mainly male, straight, and white audience, then we got to be more intentional about where we show up before calling it a day. I have spoken at conferences where I could count all of the women and nonbinary folks with one hand. I shouldn’t have to accept the reality because it is the norm; I should invite questioning and participate with those working for a change. And that is WITS! Still, at the end of the day, doesn’t it always come back to representation? ;)

• What or who inspires you?

Ah, this is a tricky and tremendous question because I think, ultimately, we are constantly being inspired by all of our surroundings. We become a kaleidoscope of all of our experiences and hence become ourselves. Most of my inspiration I find in the arts, from the way Claude Monet, like many other Impressionists, showed us a new way to depict the world through impressions and by being appreciative of our environments to how Ava DuVernay uses her voice to showcase films made by women filmmakers as well as those focused on Black people. All of this curiosity and tenacity inspires me to continue with my work as an exponent in the tech field to grow a space for creative technologists.

• The most useful article you’ve read in the last month

Been reading a lot lately, but this topic I stumbled from it on TikTok about third places. The third place is the idea that there is an in-between space where people spend time outside of their homes (« first place ») and workplaces (« second place » ). After the pandemic, the first two have been matched together for many, so how can urban planning enhance and promote these social environments considered third places? Is the experience the same across the board for all individuals?

In the article by Danielle Maude Littman, she writes about the importance of these spaces for queer people, people of color, and those who experience marginalization and how they can build social connections and access social capital via third places. It fortifies the sense of community and resilience to cope with the challenges they are facing. It also highlights how valuable digital third places are for many young people. Therefore, this article got me back into my urban sociology thinking again.

• When you were a kid, what was your dream job?

Being a NASA astronaut or, wait, was it being an architect?! I have always been fascinated with spaces both inside and outside this world. In one, I could explore the above and beyond, while being a designer allowed me the flexibility to build my own imagination. I think, in retrospect, it was very doable for me to be either of those things until my English teacher showed me the wonders of computers, and then it was game over. Are you telling me I could do both and more with the tool before me? It was eye-opening for the tiny kid back in Puerto Rico.

• Tell us something about your session.

Well, in this workshop, I will be going through a bit of the history of the formidable technologies of pixel streaming and spatial chat. To learn about the future impact, we got to look at our past and explore how these tools have become all of the buzzes regarding social gaming. But talk can do so much, which is why we will be building something out! So bring your computer to follow along with me on how to get started adding these plugins into your virtual world experience.

• What other sessions or speakers are you most excited to see?

I definitely want to see Brenda Darden Wilkerson’s session! The same as for many, AnitaB.org has been crucial in our lives, and for me, it introduced me to the wonders of opportunity through the Grace Hopper Conference. It was the first conference all filled with women where everybody was everything!

Attend Angelik’s workshop and hear from the other amazing women in tech speaking at WITS Midwest by registering here.