The British Science Festival is an annual event celebrating scientific innovation and, as part of the 2024 festival, offered attendees a unique opportunity to step into a futuristic university campus through the power of virtual reality (VR).
The University of East London (UEL) hosted a VR experience that transported visitors to a reimagined campus, showcasing some of the possible VR technologies that could transform the way in which we work in the future.
The VR experience was developed in collaboration with Kabuni, a VR specialist company, who provided an immersive simulation of a UEL campus of the future. Participants used VR headsets and were instantly immersed in a world of futuristic buildings, interconnected by green spaces and were given a guided tour of part of the virtual campus.
For many, the first experience with VR is a bit of a mind-bending journey. As they slip on the headset, the real-world fades away, and is replaced by a virtual world. The initial reaction is often a mix of awe, disbelief, and a touch of fear.
The most immediate impact is the visual spectacle. The user is surrounded by a 360-degree virtual world, with stunning graphics and realistic details. This can be overwhelming at first, as the brain struggles to process the amount of information.
Participants were issued with virtual reality headsets and controllers, the latter which allowed them to navigate around the Metaverse, interact with objects and a variety of other actions such as teleporting and drawing on a virtual whiteboard. The experience included a guided tour of the imagined campus, but with scope to explore the many displays, including a virtual Interactive whiteboard.
Visitors to the BSF events could get an inside view the VR experience without having to use a headset, as there were TV monitors connected to one of the VR headsets that could show the inside of the virtual campus.
Through interactive displays, visitors could learn about some of the latest research being conducted within the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, including Rix Inclusive Research and Purple STARS, Children’s Experience of the Metaverse: Visiting Mars and Chasing Dinosaurs, Travelling through social prescribing, Children and Young People experiences/response to youth violence and Come let us play Steps and Chutes.
As VR technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more immersive and realistic experiences. With advancements in hardware, software, and content creation, the metaverse will become an increasingly accessible and exciting part of our lives.