VR Empathy Case Study

Start year: 2024

Summary: UTS and Vividhata have partnered to produce interactive VR scenarios that help people understand the issues faced by disadvantaged groups in society. UTS is providing technical expertise on the capture of VR experiences, appropriate VR headsets and technical expertise with the development of interactive experiences based on the captured VR footage. Vividhata will use their extensive experience in training scenarios in the Equity, Inclusion and Diversity space to ensure that the training is effective and appropriate to partner needs. The NSW Department of Communities and Justice has provided Vividhata with funding to produce VR experiences for training employees in issues faced by disabled employees in their workspace. Vividhata will be the primary lead on the project with UTS subcontracted to provide advice and software/VR programming expertise. Vividhata and UTS will partner to research the effectiveness of the experiences as well as providing insight and guidelines for the experience. NOTE: Funding for this project has been approved by DCJ and provided to Vividhata. Due to tax reasons it is essential that Vividhata establishes and pays UTS for the project prior to the 30th of June 2024. PLEASE EXPEDITE THIS PROJECT'S APPROVAL AND CONTRACTING AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.