We all heard the phrase, “Once upon a time ….”, whether it’s through listening to others in films, reading a book, or presenting in front of a class, we come across different ways of storytelling. It has always been a tool for understanding others, sharing experiences, and knowledge, and building empathy. Virtual Reality, among the latest technologies, bridges the gap between seeing and listening to living a tale. Despite the availability of this technology that makes us see things through a different lens, could it spark more compassion and awareness in society?

With virtual reality’s ever-advancing market, an uncertain future lies ahead of us. Immersive virtual technology continues to make gigantic strides in almost every industry imaginable and leaves the public with a very disconcerting question: will virtual reality (VR) be able to usurp our own reality in the near future? This specific question has been on the minds of many, including myself, as we continue to innovate our technology. However, VR, at its current state, is far from replicating the depth and complexity of real-life reality and may never even come close.

Why aren't Pet Robot and VR headsets used to reduce the loneliness epidemic among the elderly? According to the research on PEW Research Center by Ausbel, J.

Whether it be dressing up a look-alike American Girl Doll or designing a Mii on Nintendo, recreating ourselves in different mediums is entertaining. However, whenever I’ve created my own character, it never ends up looking like an exact replica of myself. I’ve found that this is not an indication of a lack of craftiness on my end or design options in my chosen medium, but rather a manifestation of the empowerment that comes with being able to design a character that resonates with my identity—even if it calls for a divergence from my physical appearance.

Last week, Studio X hosted an enthusiastic group of seniors from Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School as part of their International Baccalaureate program. Joined by their biology and physics teachers, the students explored extended reality (XR) to link immersive virtual experiences with science and physiology.

Dr. Nebeling is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor School of Information, where he leads the Information Interaction Lab. His lab investigates new methods, tools and technologies that enable users to interact with information in more natural and powerful ways, and also make it easier for designers to create more usable and effective user interfaces.

Alissa Brodsky is a video game Production Director. She has produced digital content for over 25 years, with a focus on games for the last 15 years. Her published titles include Where's My Water? 2 for Disney, Oddworld: Soulstorm with Oddworld Inhabitants, and Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria plus an unannounced multiplayer AAA game with Free Range Games. Alissa's diverse background includes a Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music in opera and a performing career in musical theater, as well as an endorsed ukulele artist, professional puppeteer, and children's musician.

Kyoko Omori is an Associate Professor of Japanese at Hamilton College and a film/literary scholar specializing in historical media and XR technologies. She leads the Benshi: Silent Film Narrators in Japan digital archive project, which examines the evolution of benshi storytelling in Japanese cinema from its early 20th-century origins to its contemporary intermedia adaptations. The project incorporates digital tools such as VR recreations of 1920s theaters and 360° cameras to document post-WWII small theaters.

Dr. Robb Lindgren is a Professor of Educational Psychology and Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has affiliate appointments at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), the Informatics program in the School of Information Systems (iSchool), the Center for Immersive Computing.