World of virtual reality has benefits and risks, SACPA told
The world of the future will be (in part) a digital one. And it’s already here.
Kris Hodgson is a journalism instructor for the Digital Communications and Media program who is pursuing a masters’ in virtual reality (VR) storytelling.
On Thursday, he spoke during a Southern Alberta Council of Public Affairs speakers series about the benefits and risks of virtual reality today.
“I’m basically looking at what’s happening, how it’s evolving, and even how in Lethbridge we have adopted programs at (Lethbridge College) to embrace virtual reality and 360-degree storytelling,” he said.
Virtual reality involves the creation of computer software for a viewer to experience a three-dimensional environment. It is created using immersive software and hardware to allow the viewer to navigate the virtual space.
VR technology offers an opportunity to experience “duality of presence,” according to Hodgson, which means a person exists in one place but experiences another.
Hodgson said with VR, there are similar issues found as in other forms of technology regarding addiction and escapism.
“There could be this fear with virtual reality. Will people ever leave their homes?” he asked. “The same thing is happening with the internet these days.”
But as a new medium of storytelling, Hodgson says there is an opportunity for increased empathy and to better draw viewers into experiences they may not fully understand in order to raise their awareness about the situations.
“I think there’s a great possibility for getting people involved in understanding issues more than they may have ignored because of traditional media storytelling,” he said.
Lethbridge College will make use of 360-degree storytelling during its mock-disaster event on March 25. The event is an annual training exercise that recreates an emergency situation and brings together students from all departments training as emergency responders and media.
This year, the event will be filmed with 360-degree technology in order to create an immersive experience from it.
Hodgson said there are a number of companies in southern Alberta embracing VR technology.
“It’s really exciting to see the commercial adaptations, or the way they are integrating promotion of businesses through 360-degree environments. Even training people for the health-care field. To have scenes recreated for training purposes, it can be adopted for a number of industries.”
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