Rob Lindeman — Raising the bar

Virtual Reality & You: Getting Comfortable With the Metaverse

There is a lot of hype these days about the "Metaverse," and what it might mean for us. The question is, what IS the Metaverse?!?! Is it a place to shop? A place to learn? A place to game? A place to drink? The answer is "Yes!" (except that last one, unfortunately). In this talk, I will cover some of the things you should know about the Metaverse (and Virtual Reality in general), as well as some of the research coming out of UC's Human Interface Technology Lab (HIT Lab NZ), such as the use of 360-degree video for learning about (and visiting) Antarctica, and immersive games for things like training, behaviour change, and entertainment.

Bio

Professor Robert W. Lindeman (Rob) is Director of the Human Interface Technology Lab NZ (HIT Lab NZ) at UC. Originally from America, he has been doing research in the field of VR since 1993. His work focuses on immersive, multi-sensory feedback systems for VR, AR, gaming, and long-term VR immersion research, specifically non-fatiguing, and non-sickness-inducing experiences. He has also done significant work on the effective use of 360-degree video for science outreach, including work in Antarctica. He is an avid mountain biker, hiker, geocacher, and skier.