DkIT recently welcomed a diverse group of young women to the second "Girls in Immersive Tech" event.  Supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the main aim of the event was to inspire creativity in immersive technologies and immersive arts and foster inclusion, diversity, and empowerment.

Immersive technologies create digital experiences that make the user feel like they’re part of a different reality. This technology includes Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), each offering unique ways to engage with digital and physical environments.

The Institute welcomed thirty-four girls from a wide geographic area who had a strong interest in these technologies.  The activities were based around the theme of Education for sustainability and focused on connecting immersive technologies with real-world environmental challenges.

Through a variety of workshops, the students explored a variety of innovative digital art forms and technologies, including creating VR art with Tilt Brush and Open Brush, and generating AI-inspired regenerative flowers using Meshy.ai, a cutting-edge AI tool that uses the power of artificial intelligence to transform text and images into detailed 3D models and textures. They delved into photogrammetry to capture 3D scans of plants, while also working with character animation. Additionally, they experimented with @Animotive, a Real Time collaborative Virtual Reality tool for embodying characters and real-time animation, developed AR experiences with Web AR and Volograms, and used 360° video filming and editing to craft immersive experiences and explore storytelling. Their creative journey also led them to use Frame VR to bring characters and assets into online immersive scenes.

Speaking about the activities, one of the participating students said:

"I really enjoyed creating virtual reality art, making animations, and designing characters. Using Meshy.ai and Frame VR to create our own images was such a cool experience.”

Another student commented:

“The flower project was a highlight, and I also learned a lot about augmented reality, AI tools, and how to use Maya. Exploring virtual reality was eye-opening and gave me a whole new perspective on digital art."

Jackie Toal, Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Visual and Human-Centred Computing added:

“The workshop provided the opportunity for these young ladies to learn about new technologies for creativity and new forms of expression.  As an educator, it was very enjoyable working with these young ladies. I really loved seeing them engage with technology and develop new skills so quickly which is incredibly rewarding. There's clearly strong interest in immersive technologies and their potential to address sustainability challenges while building crucial digital skills for the future.  The aim was to expose them to as many different new tools in immersive technology.  The event also gave them an opportunity to meet and collaborate with other likeminded females interested in these vocational areas.

The event ended with reflections on future career choices and a presentation of certificates for engagement and participation in the event. It was great to see such enthusiasm at the end of the workshop.