Immersive Impact
With AR and VR experiences currently in development, I continue advancing the vision that immersive technology becomes most powerful when it serves human connection, social good, and cultural preservation. This approach earned recognition through my Silver Anthem Award for collaborative WebXR work with the School of Information. The featured work below demonstrates how research-driven XR design can transform difficult stories into accessible, impactful experiences that honor truth and amplify underrepresented voices.
Freedom to Read
A virtual reality experience created in collaboration with Books Unbanned, Unite Against Book Bans, and Little Free Library that highlights how book bans disproportionately impact marginalized communities. The immersive environment delivers access to books that have been banned, explores the history and current landscape of book challenges in America, and showcases banned books alongside the stories of those affected by censorship. Through interactive elements and personal narratives, the project aims to foster understanding about intellectual freedom, demonstrate the value of diverse perspectives in literature, and inspire engagement with the ongoing fight against censorship.
Visit the VR project here
Children Draw War
An immersive 3D art exhibition born from collaboration between Ukrainian librarians, children, and San José State University. Amid the Russian invasion, which displaced over 42,000 children to Ukraine's Cherkasy region, SJSU partnered with 40 regional libraries to organize an art competition. Funds were raised to provide Ukrainian libraries with a state-of-the-art scanner, enabling the digitization of children's artworks. This initiative aimed to help children process war-related trauma while preserving cultural heritage. The digital pieces were transformed into an immersive exhibition, amplifying young voices, highlighting the impact of war on cultural institutions, and raising global awareness about the ongoing conflict.
Read more here
Visit the project here
Seeking Immortality
Created in partnership with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, "Seeking Immortality" is a virtual reality environment preserving endangered cultural knowledge. The project trained tribal members in using 3D scanners, cameras, and emerging technologies, empowering them to autonomously build and curate their own virtual space. This browser-based VR environment showcases the tribe's land, language, and traditions, addressing challenges posed by tribal dispersion and the dwindling number of Cheyenne language speakers over 65. The goal is to ensure widespread preservation of and engagement with Northern Cheyenne heritage through an immersive, collective environment accessible across all devices.