Virtual Reality at Colorado State University
Virtual reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (XR) offer significant potential in the areas of teaching, learning and research.
“Virtual and augmented reality has the ability to enhance our daily routines,” said Alan Rudolph, vice president for research. “We are working to provide the tools and technology needed to use and create immersive experiences and see this technology’s endless possibilities.”
New Virtual Reality Lab for Anatomy Students
Colorado State University’s Health Education Outreach Center is home to a first of its kind virtual reality lab. The lab is used to teach students anatomy via the ‘Human Virtual Anatomy Project’ developed by Tod Clapp and Chad Eitel. Students can collaborate in a shared virtual environment thanks to ceiling mounted computers and 100 virtual reality headsets.
Concussion Testing
Researchers at CSU have created a virtual reality project to evaluate athlete performance after they experienced mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) such as concussions. The project mimics the demands of traditional evaluations of athletes without placing them into the potential safety hazards associated with traditional post mTBI evaluations, such as falls or hits to the head.
Community Partnerships
Outreach to community partners allows CSU to pool resources and people. Partners like the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery’s Otterbox Dome Theater and HP’s VR Developer Relations bring a richness in technical, aesthetic and experimental thought.
If you are interested in working with any of CSU’s XR team, please reach out to Silvia Minguzzi
Access to Equipment
CSU’s Johnson Hall houses a wide variety of VR and XR equipment. Faculty and Students interested in experiencing or experimenting with XR are welcome to explore the hardware and software available.
If you are interested in exploring XR equipment, please reach out to Ian Marshall
Classes within Departments
In addition to the Graduate Certificate offered within the IDEA program at the Richardson Design Center, a variety of classes are offered throughout CSU’s colleges. Departments like Computer Science, Art and Art History and Journalism offer courses for undergraduates and graduates.
To find out more about what classes are available for current CSU students please reach out to Silvia Minguzzi
VR Resources
The OVPR is working to create a community of human and digital resources in the XR realm. Community-based events and demonstrations will help the XR community in Northern Colorado to find each other and use each other as a resource.
If you are interested in the XR community, please reach out to Silvia Minguzzi