In the last decade, Virtual Reality (VR) has made major leaps and bounds, jumping out of the pages of science fiction and into the living rooms of today. Over the last few months, major companies like Sony and Google have announced VR headsets to compete with Facebook’s Oculus Rift. Now Samsung and Microsoft have teamed up to make Samsung Odyssey Headset, a Mixed Reality (MR) headset that uses Windows 10 to create a unique social experience in a virtual space.

This announcement comes right in time for the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC), a two-day event taking place October 18–19, 2017. Thousands of “developers, technologists, business leaders, innovators, designers, and content creators” will converge in San Francisco at the Moscone West Center to learn about the latest technology, get hands-on experience, and listen to some of the greatest innovators predict the future of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality.

This year’s theme is Connected Thinking.  “At Samsung, the concept of connected thinking is at the heart of everything we do,” said DJ Koh, president of the Mobile Communication Business at Samsung Electronics and one of this year’s keynote speakers, in a press release. “Developers and partners are the backbones of Samsung experience and their work continues to enable us to drive innovation. That is why I am thrilled to be a part of this event and unveil some exciting news with this community at SDC 2017.” Koh will provide insight into how Samsung plans to connect all devices, through the use of technology like the cloud, to create a seamless experience.

Joining the impressive list of keynote speakers is Stan Lee, former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, whose talk titled “Marvel, Movies, and Music” will discuss how connected thinking can improve motivation in creativity. Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global, and Marc Mathieu, Chief of Marketing at Samsung Electronics America, join to discuss their companies’ shared quest to create social good through the use of technology.

Our very own Anne Ahola Ward, CEO and Founder of CircleClick Media, and Carlos Rodriguez, Chief Marketing Officer of Bubbly, will be attending SDC and holding an Ask-Us-Anything session for startups looking to improve their business.

Each day is jam-packed with something for everyone. A track that has captured attendees’ attentions is stream.Code101, an educational program designed for anyone, at any skill level, wanting to learn how to develop applications using the Samsung’s mobile software development kit (SDK). Aspiring developers will learn how to create immersive 360-degree experiences using the Gear VR, before delving into developing VR Web apps and then learning to build their own virtual instruments to make some sweet beats.

SDC isn’t just about Samsung’s latest tech, it’s about creating forward-thinkers and equipping innovators with the tools they need to bring their dreams into reality. It’s about bringing the greatest minds in the world together to open discussion on how to create a brighter future.