AWE 2024 Conference Highlights

Design Justice - ensuring that VR/AR/AI technologies are developed and implemented in ways that are equitable, inclusive, and culturally sensitive. It should include ethical data practices, algorithmic fairness, diverse representation, equitable access and should be leveraged for educational purposes and skills development. 

Gaussian splatting is a volume rendering technique used in computer graphics to directly render volume data without converting it into surface or line primitives

Photogrammetry is the science and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through the process of recording, measuring, and interpreting photographic images and patterns of electromagnetic radiant imagery

Scaffolded instruction is a teaching method that involves providing temporary support to students as they learn new concepts or skills. This support is gradually removed as students become more proficient, allowing them to achieve independence in their learning. VR can provide this type of instruction.

Spatial agents - entities that make spatial concepts computable. They are often used in agent-based modeling (ABM) to simulate dynamic processes in geographical phenomena. These agents interact with their environment and other agents based on a set of rules, allowing for the simulation of complex systems from the bottom up1.

Unified input abstraction - a design concept in computing and software development that involves creating a single, consistent interface for input devices or input methods, regardless of their underlying differences. This abstraction layer allows software to interact with various input sources (such as keyboards, mice, touchscreens, game controllers, etc.) in a uniform manner, simplifying the development process and enhancing compatibility across different platforms and devices.

Web3 refers to the next generation of the internet, which emphasizes decentralization, blockchain technology, and user ownership of data.

XD/ID/XRD

XR/XD (Extended Reality)

• Definition: XR/XD, or Extended Reality, is an umbrella term that encompasses all immersive technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR).
• Relation to VR: VR is a subset of XD. While VR creates a fully immersive digital environment, XD includes VR along with AR (which overlays digital content on the real world) and MR (which blends real and virtual environments).

ID (Interaction Design)

• Definition: Interaction Design (ID) focuses on creating engaging interfaces with well-thought-out behaviors. It involves designing the interaction between users and digital products.
• Relation to VR: In VR, ID is crucial for creating intuitive and immersive experiences. It involves designing how users interact with the virtual environment, including navigation, object manipulation, and feedback mechanisms.

XRD (X-ray Diffraction)

• Definition: X-ray Diffraction (XRD) is a technique used to study the structure of crystalline materials by observing the patterns produced when X-rays are diffracted through the material.
• Relation to VR: XRD data can be visualized in 3D using VR technology. This allows scientists to explore and analyze the internal structures of materials in an immersive environment, enhancing their understanding and enabling more intuitive data interpretation.