Extended Reality Research and Projects
BRINGING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT
The May 4th, Augmented Reality Experience was designed with the primary objective of engaging and immersing users in a profound journey through the significant events of May 4th, 1970, while encouraging contemplation on its contemporary relevance. Through the implementation of cutting-edge augmented reality technology, this transformative experience provides users with the opportunity to gain insights from diverse vantage points concerning the Kent State shootings. Historical imagery, audio narratives, and related contextual experiences converge to underscore the past's resonance with present-day humanitarian challenges, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of our shared history and its implications for our world today.
BEHIND THE PROJECT
The creation of the May 4th, Augmented Reality Experience was made possible in part by two grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). In its initial phase, the NEH Digital Projects for the Public grant awarded in 2018–2019 provided funding to develop a prototype for this AR/VR project. Subsequently, a $175,000 NEH Production grant in 2020 facilitated the expansion of the prototype with a focus on reshaping the user experience through dedicated efforts in user-centered design, allowing for the public release of the platform in conjunction with the 50th commemoration of the May 4th, shootings.
The experience itself embraces cutting-edge, cross-platform technology, effectively harnessing GPS data to overlay historical scenes onto the users' viewpoint. This innovative approach creates an unparalleled virtual window to the past, effectively transporting users to the same physical space and time as the historical events. Through curated pictorial and aural elements, the platform ensures an immersive and enlightening encounter with the significant historical locations related to the May 4th, shootings.
EXPLORE THE MAY 4TH EXPERIENCE
GLARE PROJECT
The educational potential of Augmented Reality (AR) is widely acknowledged; however, existing AR tools lack user-friendly features for content creation. Addressing this challenge, a Kent State faculty research team created GLARE (GeoLocated Augmented Reality Editor), an open-source and extensible AR platform hosted on GitHub.This innovative platform leverages overlaid imagery on live video feeds through hotspot and walking path design techniques. By simplifying the process of creating tours through the addition of media lists and associated GPS coordinates, GLARE empowers users to produce engaging content effortlessly. The platform's underlying software architecture incorporates basic HTML, scripting, and interfaces with ThreeJS and Google applications. To date, the GLARE framework has been used to create several immersive experiences, including an AR/VR tour of Florence, Italy, and an augmented reality tour encompassing the historical landmarks and events of the May 4th, shootings at Kent State University.