MSU Libraries, CAVS collaborate to provide students with access to virtual and augmented reality
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥旂哿κ悠 is one of the first universities in the country to provide all students with access to the latest virtual and augmented reality equipment, thanks to a partnership between MSU Libraries and the university鈥檚 Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.
CAVS recently funded the purchase of two HTC Vive and three Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets, along with two Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality headsets, creating the new CAVS Mixed Reality Lab in the library鈥檚 Digital Media Center. The equipment can be checked out by any MSU student, faculty or staff member, with MSU Libraries personnel available to assist anyone interested in using the cutting-edge technology.
鈥淐AVS is excited to help the library share virtual reality and augmented reality applications with our community,鈥 said Daniel Carruth, CAVS associate director for human factors. 鈥淐AVS is involved in a number of VR and AR research projects and 幺力视频 is home to several faculty working with the technology. Having this equipment readily available increases the number of people who can explore the possibilities of these technologies, educate themselves in the basic development tools, and help develop the next great applications for these platforms.鈥
The equipment at MSU Libraries contains software applications that students can explore. For example, a student studying abroad can use Google Earth applications to explore the streets of an area they plan to visit. Stephen Cunetto, MSU associate dean of libraries, said faculty members in many fields have shared ideas for ways to incorporate the technology into their classrooms, such as taking students on a 鈥渧irtual鈥 archaeological dig before they go on a real one.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited about this opportunity,鈥 Cunetto said. 鈥淐AVS and Daniel Carruth have been excellent in partnering with us. They see the need for having this technology available to students and faculty. We can provide a space where people can use the equipment and a staff that assists people. With the library open 112 hours a week, it鈥檚 exciting to provide open, free access to these resources.鈥
Virtual reality, the complete visual and auditory immersion in a computer simulation, gives users the effect of being in another place. CAVS researchers use virtual reality to study the ways pedestrians interact with autonomous cars. Carruth uses virtual reality to provide training for new workers in manufacturing. Augmented reality combines real world and virtual elements. A common example of augmented reality is the virtual first down line used in football television broadcasts. Social media apps like Snapchat use augmented reality to place virtual objects onto the real world images a phone鈥檚 camera captures. Both augmented and virtual reality technologies are expected to grow as technical advances continue.
鈥淧roviding general access to these technologies and the tools needed to create new applications expands the possibilities for professors, students, developers, artists and creators to explore ideas and build new experiences,鈥 Carruth said. 鈥淪tudents that work with these tools will develop skills that professors working in virtual and augmented reality are looking for, and that companies are looking for.
鈥淯nderstanding is most easily accomplished through personal experience with the technology,鈥 Carruth added. 鈥淭he CAVS Mixed Reality Lab will offer that opportunity to many people in our community, and we hope it will lead to many exciting ideas for applications for the technology.鈥
Pattye Archer, coordinator of Mitchell Memorial Library鈥檚 Digital Media Center, said she is excited for students to gain experience using the new hardware. The Digital Media Center has computers dedicated to the new equipment, as well as a projection display.
鈥淚n most places, this equipment is for researchers and graduate students,鈥 Archer said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e on the cutting edge in terms of offering this to undergraduate students as well. That is exciting and in keeping with our mission to provide our students access to what they need to be successful. The new Mixed Reality Lab compliments our other services including 3D printing, a multi-media lab with the latest software, equipment checkout, instruction and more.鈥
For more on Mitchell Memorial Library鈥檚 Digital Media Center, visit . For more on CAVS, visit .
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