Come check out our studio to explore cutting-edge technology and how you can incorporate them for your research and instruction across the Social Sciences. Our goal is to foster a community of scholars driven by curiosity and a desire to implement new and exciting tools that push the creative boundaries of academia. We are located in Public Affairs Room 2035 and are open for scheduled visits!
The BRIDGE innovation studio is equipped with Virtual Reality Headsets. Collaborative Tools. Drones. 3D Scanners. a 3D Printer.
Please fill out the following form to schedule a time for a consultation or to reserve the space:
How we can help
With Instruction
- Find the right tools and immersive content to facilitate engaging discussions with students
- Teach technical workshops (data visualization, mapping, 3D modeling, etc.) without the need of prior coding experience
- Design modules to illustrate theoretical concepts
With Research
- Find alternative and interactive ways to display your data
- Put together ethical experiment proposals that use safe virtual environments
- Brainstorm ideas that leverage existing toolkits from the lab and open source software
We also offer consultations regarding publication-ready figures, charts, and how to best visualize your data. For inquires, please submit a ticket here.
Resources
Drone
Extended Reality
Unreal Engine Megagrant (ongoing for VR applications)
Discipline-Specific Use Cases
Related to XR
While these experiences are inherently multi-disciplinary, they have been organized by subject matter to illustrate the different possibilities and applications.
Anthropology
“The Fundamental Attribution Error, as coined by Stanford Psychologists, describes how we blame others when bad things happen to them, but blame the external situations when bad things happen to us. There is a misconception that losing one’s home is due to who you are and the choices you make. Becoming Homeless: A Human Experience seeks to counter this irrational tendency.
In this immersive virtual reality experience from Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, spend days in the life of someone who can no longer afford a home. Interact with your environment to attempt to save your home and to protect yourself and your belongings as you walk in another’s shoes and face the adversity of living with diminishing resources.”
Archaeology
Visiting Lost Archaeological Sites in VR
Communications
Virtual Speech
Give your students the opportunity to practice presentation skills, job interviews and networking in realistic VR scenarios. We’ll provide you and them with instant, actionable feedback to ensure an efficient learning experience.
Geography
Photogrammetry Using Drone Scanning
History
Build 3D collections of historical objects and recreate historical spaces or experiences such as this:
This free VR app gives people an experience of history and the ability to walk in the shoes of a Civil Rights participant who fought for freedom and equality during the civil rights era. It provides the user a personal understanding and deeper awareness of the struggles of these marginalized people. It uses historical film, photographs, and voice narration of actual Civil Rights participants – altogether creating a new type of interactive-documentary experience.
Indigenous Studies
“Yawarani is a VR180 film created in collaboration with the indigenous community in Yawarani to preserve their sacred culture and the wisdom of their elders.” – Outside TV
Sociology | Cultural Studies
De-biasing:
Teaching Synchronously in Alternative Environments
Recommended for small seminar discussions
Altspace VR – web browser compatible
Blending Research and Instruction in Data-Generated Environments
The intent behind creating an additional node on our campus’s diverse network of research labs is to replicate the collaborative working model that progresses interdisciplinary research. We want to leverage the space as a safe environment to make mistakes, play with content, and inspire the next generation of data-driven social scientists. In the hopes of bridging the gaps of technical knowledge between faculty and students, and across our 18 departments, please consider partnering with us as we embark on this new journey together.
Current devices found in the lab:
- VR Headsets8
- 1 HTC Vive Pro Eye
- 5 Oculus Quest 1’s
- 2 Oculus Quest 2’s
- 1 Oculus Quest 3
- Cleanbox CX Series1
- Decontaminates 1 VR Headset in 60 seconds with UVC light
- Drones2
- Skydio 2+
- Mavic 2 Pro
- 3D Scanners2
- Artec Leo
- Artec Spider
- Elgato Collapsible Green Screen1
- Extended dimensions: 148 x 180 cm / 58.3 x 70.9 in
- Bambu Lab X1 - Carbon1
- 3D printer
- CNC router (requires separate approval)
- Screen Share2
- Microsoft Surface Hub
- Mersive Solstice Pod
- Computer1
- VR-Ready Workstation
- Motion Capture1
- Faceware Indie Mocap System