Kean students experience virtual reality journey
By Monica Sudfield | Published March 22, 2017
The Human Rights Center, the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, and The School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences united in the Miron Student Center lobby on March 21 from 10-3 p.m. to sponsor a virtual reality journey through Ethiopia that displays the water crisis occurring in so many places throughout the world.
This 10-minute voyage experienced through a computer-generated simulation puts you right in the story of Selam, a 13-year old girl living in Ethiopia struggling to supply clean water for her family and village.
The event has been set up in hopes to prepare the university for the 10th annual Human Rights Conference, “Half Empty: The Depths of the Global Water Crisis”, which will be held on Friday, March 24 from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. in Wilkins Theater.
While experiencing the simulation, you have access to a full 360° view of Selam’s surroundings. With each turn of the head you will encounter different details, people and scenery.
You are seated throughout the expedition, which makes it slightly difficult to take in everything included in the full circle environment. Chairs that allow you to spin around would be convenient for experiencing everything the virtual reality has to reveal, said Matthew Speciale, a senior majoring in Public Relations.
Feng Qi, executive director of the School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, said they as a school believe in experiential learning.
“We believe that students have to see it and feel it with their heart in order to appreciate whatever they have and understand a serious problem other people may have,” said Qi.
The virtual reality will continue to be available from 10-3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday March 23.
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