Gordon Carlson
Matt Clarke
Nicholas Caporusso
Alex Perez, Undergraduate Researcher
Chris Jacobs, Graduate Researcher
Ella Ding, Graduate Researcher
Fort Hays State University

October 5, 2018, 11:15am-12:00pm, KU Burge Union

Great emphasis has been given to technological features of 360 video, but less attention has been dedicated to content. Nevertheless, an increasing community of professional and amateur content producers are investigating how to fully realize the potential of 360 video. At the same time, immersive virtual reality experiences are being developed that use computer generated imagery to tell stories, play games, and educate.

This project leaps past the limitations of each format and develops a new platform for combining the best aspects of 360 videos and virtual reality experiences. Narratives are an important aspect of the human experience and the process of exploring and constructing them are integral to any humanities project. The platform developed here allows for new ways to construct and share those narratives as well as to interrogate them by leveraging digital tools drawn from performance arts, videogames, and multimedia production. Virtual and augmented experiences ranging in technical complexity and practical application including tours of physical spaces, exotic dances, intercultural celebrations, and mental wellness are demonstrated. It is funded, in part, by one of the universities in Kansas to integrate undergraduate researchers into substantial projects and is a strong example of interdisciplinary studies across communication, information, and technical disciplines. The presentation will cover:

•        The underlying research principles and goals of the project
•        Existing technologies leveraged in the project
•        New and innovative systems and software created by the research team
•        Examples of the VR and 360 video combinations
•        Plans for future impact of the work across the digital humanities community