Virtually Real? The Art and Science of Designing Impactful (or Even Transformative?) Virtual Experiences

The virtual reality landscape is evolving rapidly, with advancements in technology making VR more accessible, affordable, and powerful than ever before. However, the true art of VR lies beyond just the technology. It requires a deep understanding of the user – their perception, cognition, emotions, and behaviour within a computer-simulated environment.

The workshop – held by UBISS 2024 – 12th International UBI Summer School Oulu, Finland, 10-15 June 2024 – has explored the possibilities of designing VR experiences that are not just technologically bound but also psychologically impactful and emotionally resonant. Exploring the intricate balance between artistic creativity and scientific principles, aiming to create experiences that are transformative, not just in how they look or feel, but in how they connect with and affect the user. The workshop reached the frontiers of VR, where technology meets human experience, and tried to design experiences that can leave a lasting imprint on the virtual landscape. The working groups have been built up to have the right mix of skills and competencies, as designing impactful VR experiences utilizes knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines such as (but not limited to) computer science, psychology/cognitive science, human factors/HCI, user experience design, philosophy, new media, arts, and game design etc.

Instructors:
Professor Bernhard Riecke, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Dr. Matti Pouke, University of Oulu, Finland
Dr. Paula Alavesa, University of Oulu, Finland