At Marker Seven, we’re privileged to work with companies of all sizes across a nearly infinite variety of vertical markets. But as a company with a strong entrepreneurial drive, we have a special affinity working with early-stage startups. 

Don’t get us wrong, we love working with the big guys, too. Robust product suites, user research, refined processes, established brand guidelines, and clearly defined strategic goals – it’s amazing to work with clients who’ve got a lot to work with. 

Driving to work the other day I listened on the radio to Warrior’s commentator Jim Barnett recall some of his favorite memories from the now defunct Oracle Arena. I was particularly struck by his experience watching Klay Thompson’s mind-blowing, record performance of scoring 37-points in a single quarter. At some point during Klay’s barrage, Barnett said, he took off his headphones, stopped broadcasting, and simply immersed himself in the roar of the crowd.

Stepping into the Marker Seven office, your eyes may roam towards the floor and be greeted by two huge white eyes fixed upon you. But there’s no need to be alarmed. Our companion robot, Kuri, soon after it spots you, will surely roll on over to give you a welcome. Kuri continually reminds us that the digital world and reality are becoming increasingly intertwined. With Virtual Reality presenting new worlds and opportunities, it’s no wonder that the industry is expected to grow from $9.1 billion in 2017 to nearly $160 billion in 2021.

It is without a doubt that in the past few years, the agile method has changed how businesses function. The linear, waterfall way of approaching projects was thrown out the door in favor of a more flexible model.  The idea behind agile originated in software development. The fast-paced, instantaneous nature of software meant that products and services had to be developed rapidly to keep up with this standard. The agile methodology evolved as a response to these demands. As a company established in 2000, we’ve had the opportunity to work with agile since its inception.

Marker Seven is proud to announce that B2B rankings service, Clutch, has listed us one of the top digital products companies in San Francisco. Clutch, a respected industry ratings and reviews firm, recognized us as one of its 2018 San Francisco business leaders after researching a variety of data, client interviews, and market presence.

Every project we undertake has a unique set of demands, and we evaluate each on its own terms. When choosing a platform, we often find ourselves talking with clients about the merits of Drupal versus WordPress. 

Both WordPress and Drupal work very well as content management systems. Each provides a robust mechanism for creating and delivering straightforward content. However, as an overarching framework for more than simple publishing, Drupal has far greater capabilities than WordPress, as it is designed to be leveraged and extended. 

JC: We’re raising a generation of kids already addicted to screens. How much danger do you think we’re in of replacing vital human interactions with virtual ones? Are flesh-and-blood humans in danger of obsolescence?

This interview is the second in a series of three where our CEO John Clauss talks with longtime friend and Marker Seven advisor Evan Kirchhoff about augmented and virtual realities. You can see the first part of the interview here.

JC: Science fiction has lots of examples of VR turning deadly. But in real life, is there any basis in physics for the possibility of a holo-game potentially causing physical harm?