Danny Tapia’s vision for his future includes a successful career in emerging technologies.
The resources he has found in Central Florida, including a huge hospital system, a supportive university incubation program and a handful of tech supporters, have given him a head start.
At just 21 years old, the Orlando native will host a reveal party Thursday for a mixed reality version of a locally built application that allows non-verbal patients to communicate with doctors, nurses and even relatives.
Once launched, the application would debut as a groundbreaking innovation with a promising future.
The Arthur App was first devised by a relative of an Orlando Health patient whose communication had broken down.
“We are trying to create new technology and bring it to the forefront, showcase the use cases in healthcare,” said Tapia, who recently launched his tech firm Tap 4 Technologies in Orlando. “This is a great way to do that, especially at the patient level.”
The Quest 3 application will crystallize an idea first shared at Orlando’s MetaCenter Global Week in October, further illustrating the importance of Central Florida in this story.
Add in encouraging advice and direction from local giants like UCF’s Business Incubator Program, tech firm 302 Interactive and Magic Leap, and you track a journey that leads to the big reveal Thursday.
The Arthur App is only the beginning for Tapia, who wants to apply his development skills to build for several industries under the Tap 4 Technologies moniker. The app is being built by Tapia and a team of Orlando native developers, 3D artists and XR enthusiasts.
“There are so many resources available,” Tapia said. 302 Interactive “has played a pivotal role. That’s where I started and they have been helping me connect with other organizations and businesses to help me accomplish my goal.”
The event will happen at UCF’s Executive Development Center on Pine Street downtown, starting at 4 p.m.
“This is an example of leveraging immersive technology to enhance the human experience through technology,” Tapia said.
For Tapia, getting involved in emerging technologies has been a goal for several years.
The more he became involved, the more he realized just how supportive the community has been for people who are building something new.
“There are so many people here who want you to win,” he said. “If I didn’t leverage that support, it would be a waste.”