Below are a number of ideas I would like to research into in the coming years. Some are vague ideas, some are a bit more thought through. If you are interested in collaboration as a co-investigator, developer, funder or critical friend just drop me a line.

Virtual Reality Set Design

I'm always thinking about what VR can do to enhance education, and one area could be set design. I don't know much about the process itself but I imagine the process is:
Research -> think -> sketch -> model -> build -> tweak
I think a strong VR application could replace the model (and maybe the sketch) section of the process as well as opening up opportunity to younger/poorer people who don't neccesarily get the option to engage with the subject due to the space and financial constraints of building a theatre set.

Concept:

  1. VR system developed (possibly on top of an existing system such as Unity) to enable quick and flexible set design in a theatre/movie set context.
  2. Simple enough to be able to add/manipulate models without large amounts of 3D design knowledge and/or stinting creativity.

Hypotheses:

  1. set design courses are accessible to more learners/at an earlier age
  2. speed of design will increase with no need to make physical models
  3. amount of 'tweaking' at later stages will be reduced due to ability to develop at life scale

Needs:

  1. Experienced set design tutor/guide
  2. VR related system developer
  3. Active set design students

Virtual Reality Art & Design Studies

Once again I'm no expert in the subject of Art & Design. However, I have been amazed at some of the VR museums on Steam and cannot help but feel that the lack of availability of art must be a hinderence for students studyin A&D. Being able to see the works of a master in as much detail as you get in a museum - or even more - that's got to be a benefit right? Being able to pick up and rotate a sculpture rather than stare at it from one angle - getting the chisel strokes just so. Wow.

Concept:

  1. VR museum built around the needs of a specific A&D curriculum:
    1.1. High-resolution scans of paintings.
    1.2. Sub-mm scans of casts and sculptures.
    1.3. Rotateable/movable objects.
  2. Sufficient additional detail to act as a text book as well

Hypotheses:

  1. Increased attention to detail when using previous work as an influencer.
  2. Increased enjoyment of the course.

Needs:

  1. Experienced A&D tutor
  2. VR developer
  3. Active A&D students
  4. High-res scans/models of relevant material

VE Memory Palace - Can it be taken further?

Krokos et al have already looked at the use of memory palaces in VR to enhance recall of knowledge - and it was effective. However, as a teacher and examiner I know that increasing recall is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to examination performance - what we really need is to increase understanding (and then the ability to apply that understanding). I'm curious about whether the ancient technique of memory palaces can be used as a starting point and extended, using the power of VR, into

Concept:

  1. VR museum built around the needs of a specific A&D curriculum:
    1.1. High-resolution scans of paintings.
    1.2. Sub-mm scans of casts and sculptures.
    1.3. Rotateable/movable objects.
  2. Sufficient additional detail to act as a text book as well

Hypotheses:

  1. Increased attention to detail when using previous work as an influencer.
  2. Increased enjoyment of the course.

Needs:

  1. Experienced A&D tutor
  2. VR developer
  3. Active A&D students
  4. High-res scans/models of relevant material