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The Extended Reality Initiative at Northeastern
Introducing a first-of-its-kind extended reality and performance program
Two Northeastern faculty members aim to launch a bachelor program in performance and extended reality within the next year that will train the next generation of immersive storytellers to combine the arts, cutting-edge technology and a human-centric approach to design.
Maximizing societal impact through cross-disciplinary collaboration
Extended Reality has the potential to transform society. It makes high quality education accessible to all learners at all times, no matter where they live, the limits of their resources, or the range of their abilities. XR implemented with a philosophy of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice—at the individual through societal level—can break down structural barriers, implicit bias, and systemic racism across learning contexts.
The future of impact-driven XR learning, research and application
Northeastern University has already begun to develop a rich XR ecosystem for faculty and cross-campus collaborators to engage in cutting-edge research, develop innovative curriculum, and establish robust external partnerships utilizing immersive technology.
AREAS OF IMPACT
The Future of Education and Experiential Learning
Revolutionizing education regardless of geographic boundaries >>
The Future of Advanced Manufacturing
Serving as both a driver of future talent and a collaborator to upskill current employees utilizing XR applications in advanced manufacturing and robotics >>
The Future of Communication and Immersive Media
Discovering whats possible when communication, creativity, and collaboration combine >>
The Future of Health
Using immersive technology to improve accessibility, affordability, and patient-caregiver relationships >>
The Future of Work
Creating corporate-university partnerships with leading tech companies and global organizations to explore new models of working >>
The Future of XR Tech
In order to make an impact on our world, XR technology must keep up with the proliferation of problems and opportunities. Learn how Northeastern’s WIoT is leading the charge. >>
LABS
Immersive Media Labs
The Immersive Media Labs Suite includes technologies for design, development, and exploration of virtual worlds, AR/VR/XR, and 360 video. The suite includes individual workstations and a collaboration and teaching area.
Experiential Technologies Lab
The Experiential Technologies Lab at the College of Arts Media and Design is a state of the art resource for AR/VR, biometrics and user testing research and teaching.
Reality Design Studio
The Reality Design Studio is interdisciplinary research group at Northeastern University. The mission is to produce scientific and design knowledge and educate the next generation of artists, scientists, designers, and engineers.
Virtual Reality Organization
Northeastern University Virtual Reality, or NUVR, is where students from all over the campus network can come together to research and develop with the newest technologies.
ReGame-XR Lab
Our lab uses sensor technology as assessments and interventions designed to improve the lives of individuals living with cognitive and motor challenges.
PROJECTS
Field Dependency and Cybersickness
The goals of this project are: 1) to design and validate methods for measuring field dependency inside virtual environments; and 2) investigate the correlation between field dependency and individual susceptibility to cybersickness.
Learn More at the Reality Design Studio >>
Exer-bike
A VR excersise application using a stationary bike and VR headset, allowing the participant to peddle around a virtual city while also learning Spanish.
Learn More at the ReGame-XR Lab >>
Phenomenal Things
Phenomenal Things is a comical look into the daily lives of IoT artifacts and their experiences as social beings in cyberspace.
Learn More at the Reality Design Studio >>
Spot N Sync
The goal of this research is to characterize a population’s motor preference in goal-oriented motor action or prediction error minimization when faced with a visual and temporal conflict during tasks.
Learn More at the ReGame-XR Lab >>
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
LOOM
Loom is a VR game that connects physiological behaviors to the motivation between individuals on the Autism Spectrum and another player. The players must replicate the model of a patterned, colored block, while in co-op mode, players are limited to only a specific type of block and must work together to complete the level. Loom measures many movements, biometrics, and perceptual data during the game to better understand the player behavior within the context of game play in both modes.
NEWS AND STORIES
Envisioning the Campus of the Future: The 2023 XR Student Design Jam
What does it mean to ‘learn how to learn’? Northeastern fireside chat explores the role of technology, virtuality in experiential learning
What is XR?
Video games might be better for balance rehab than conventional physical therapy
MIE’s Moghaddam Awarded $2M for Intelligent Extended Reality Research
Envisioning the Campus of the Future: The 2023 XR Student Design Jam
Held at the new EXP, seven Northeastern University undergraduate student teams recently showcased the innovative spirit of its students in a captivating XR Jam. These diverse groups came together, each armed with the power of extended reality (XR), to reimagine the...