Virtual Reality (VR) & Extended Reality (XR)

XR involves technologies such as virtual reality (VR, where you are immersed in a different location then the one you are in), augmented reality (AR, where information and elements from another lifeworld “augment” what you see in your current reality), and mixed reality (MR, which is a mixture of virtual reality that is augmented with elements from yet another lifeworld than the one you are in physically).

These technologies extend our ability to experience realities that we could not otherwise. VR can allow you to learn about a new culture by immersing yourself in their world…from your home or from the LRC. AR can help with learning a language by using interactive elements such as text or images attached to things where you are to help you learn the target language. MR can really help you see how different countries live through virtual tours of their homes, restaurants and shops with interactive elements to help you cement the vocabulary and grammar you need to communicate about the things that really matter to you in real time.

We have both the Spaces and the Equipment to facilitate your use of XR in support of your World Languages and Cultures curriculum.

Spaces for XR

AMB 01B | AMB 02A | The Makery | AMB 03

Telecollaboration and Graduate Seminar Room

Videoconferencing is important to intercultural exchanges because it enables each participant to be able to see each other’s facial expressions and body language, which are as critical to learn as the target language itself.

AMB 01B supports graduate seminars and group ethnography sessions that professors have arranged with various sister courses around the world. Please click on the link below to reserve a time; reservations are scheduled in slots that are synchronous with valid class times:

The Holodeck

The Language Resource Center has built a space in AMB 02A with tools to foster creativity and innovation of language-specific extended reality (XR) works in the WLC community. This space, known as the Holodeck, has a 270-degree immersion space to allow teachers to orient students to 360-degree and extended reality projects and assignments. They can also join this space with the capabilities of the adjoining Makery to have students create their own 3D digital realia and other virtual and extended-reality language experiences.

AMB 02 | The Makery: A Volunteer Makerspace

The Language Resource Center has built a space in AMB 02 and 2B with a number of new tools to foster creativity and innovation of language-specific manufactured works in the WLC community.

For XR, the Makery has equipment that will allow students to create their own immersive experiences that can then be deployed on VR headsets or in the Holodeck.

Technology–Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) Classroom

The TELL Classroom seeks to improve foreign language instruction by exploring the potential of emerging technologies. This room is used to assess the impact of foreign language instructional technology (and its effective use by faculty) on student learning.

AMB 03 has a Cynap collaboration and wireless presentation system, Zoom capabilities, and a lecture capture system. The TELL Classroom can also be equipped with a VR cart with 25 Google Daydream wireless goggles for virtual reality lessons as well as an iPad cart for mobile exploration and presentation via the Cynap. Please click on the link below to reserve a time; reservations are scheduled in slots that are synchronous with valid class times.

Equipment for XR

The LRC’s Equipment Catalog is powered by an online database service called LibraryWorld.

Sign in to the Equipment Catalog

The Equipment Catalog is available via the AppStore for your convenience. You can download the app to your phone and browse and reserve equipment from there.