GausScape: Evaluating 3D Gaussian Splatting for Spatial Understanding in Greenhouse Environments
In greenhouse horticulture, operators need to monitor optimal growing conditions for crops. Wageningen University & Research (WUR), together with 2 SMEs, is investigating the following question: what desired and undesired effects does a specific 3D technique (Gaussian Splatting) have on operators' work processes, perception and decision-making, compared to the current technique? The insights from this research may also prove relevant to other sectors.
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Towards a Common Language for Immersive Experiences: a Cross-Sector Exploration of Concepts and Measurement
How are IX effects measured? And do different sectors even mean the same thing when they use IX concepts and measurement methods? These questions keep evolving alongside developments in the IX field. For Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, this is reason enough to take a fresh, critical look at how existing concepts and methods are perceived — together with other research groups and IX creators from the creative industries.
Staging collective VR experiences
Scalable — and therefore affordable — IX onboarding and social IX, as part of an optimal user experience, remain key challenges for the IX community. How can museums onboard visitors more effectively so that more of them can experience a functional IX? And how can they create a shared VR experience in the process? That's what the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences will be researching, together with a museum and an IX developer.
Van ethische dilemma’s naar toekomstdenken: immersieve technologie als katalysator voor inclusieve besluitvorming
Technological innovations bring urgent ethical questions with them. These questions call not only for judgements about what is desirable, but also for anticipating possible futures and the values at the heart of them. A key barrier to inclusive decision-making is the lack of future consciousness and ethical capacity. Many people struggle to imagine the implications of technology. Non-users in particular experience a knowledge gap and don't feel entitled to a voice in the conversation, even though they are the ones who bear the impact of that technology. This problem is compounded by the fact that the future of a technology is often shaped by a handful of companies with business models that fuel polarisation and digital dependency, while environmental impact and social costs are externalised. This increases the risk of one-sided decision-making. The project applies ethics-by-design by actively and inclusively involving city residents in exploring the ethical dilemmas raised by emerging technology. We treat social friction as a source of innovation and link technology development to values such as safety, power and inclusion. The research focuses on expanding people's capacity for imagination through two 'Moral Labs': 1 - A traditional presentation (image and text), followed by a discussion; 2 - An immersive presentation in Virtual Reality (VR), followed by a discussion. In both scenarios, multiple participants will discuss their positions and the moral dilemmas together. The VR intervention uses multiplayer functionality to create social presence. By running a moderated split test across these two scenarios, this research measures the effectiveness of an immersive experience against a traditional presentation. The richness of both conversations is analysed using Ahvenharju's (2018) five dimensions of future consciousness and the LIWC tool (Boyd, 2022). The results offer insight into how immersive technology can contribute to inclusive ethical dialogue and democratic decision-making.
Enhancing Authentic Learning in Primary Care: Real-Time Immersive Experiences in Family Medicine Clerkships
Medical education also has high expectations of IX applications, especially given the staff shortages in healthcare. Students need IX to deliver a suitable and effective learning experience. That's why Maastricht University, together with two GP practices, is researching how IX can let students experience real patient consultations digitally and live.
Responsible Immersive Support for Firefighter Retreat under Unreliable Spatial and Communication Information
Firefighters retreating from a building operate under extreme time pressure, poor visibility and high mental strain - precisely when positioning and communication can become unreliable. The University of Twente is researching how immersive systems can make this uncertainty visible and understandable, so that digital cues support decision-making without creating false confidence or adding to the user's mental load.
To what degree do interactive agents enhance the willingness-to-adopt IX?
IX environments have the potential to transform how people train physical, interactive skills - from surgery to team sports. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, working with movement scientists, IX developers and a user-experience designer, is investigating whether interactive avatars that physically respond to a user's movements can make XR training more engaging and effective. The test case is a football training exercise in which participants learn to make themselves available for a pass - with and without virtual defenders that move in response.