Unity Interface

Breakdown of Unity interface of the 360-degree video environments to be viewed from a VR headset. The first is underneath the I-10 Interstate that was built through a historically black neighborhood in Baton Rouge, displacing many families and aiding toward the residual segregation. The viewer can then choose a resident of BR to interact with and it will take the viewer into a more intimate setting where the viewer is able to learn more about that resident as well as hear personal stories about the racial-issues of an American city. Extending from the main environment are options to take the viewer to the location of the Alton Sterling shooting as well as into the neighborhood where the protests occurred following his death.

Next step will be to incorporate the video footage I captured from the Black Lives Matter march and protests (see below for an example). I will line up the footage from that day with the 360-video so that when the cursor goes across certain points i…

Next step will be to incorporate the video footage I captured from the Black Lives Matter march and protests (see below for an example). I will line up the footage from that day with the 360-video so that when the cursor goes across certain points it will trigger a video to pop up. My intention is to evoke the same kind of fear I felt from this happening in a neighborhood so close to home by placing the viewer in a virtual first person experience.

Progress Update

I've added more interviews (the blank slots will be filled in once interviews are edited) to the Interstate environment. When the viewer clicks on a resident they are then taken to a more intimate setting where they can read a brief bio about that person and then turn and face the resident to hear their story on the residual segregation issues of Baton Rouge. I've also added "hot spots" to the Interstate scene to take the viewer to the location of where Alton Sterling was shot. I will be interviewing the artist that painted the mural on the Triple S store in the coming weeks and their voice will be heard while the viewer is in this setting. 

UI effects added to the residents

Using Unity UI effects and Sprites/PNG's I've added a scroll over text and button to each of the residents portraits. When the Oculus cursor is hovered over it will identify that the portraits are selectable as well as share basic info about that person. Once selected, you will be transported into a new environment made to feel like you are having a one-on-one conversation with this person and hear their stories.  

**Previews may only work with Firefox and Chrome** First draft demo of thesis preview in Unity

This will eventually be created to be used with an Oculus so that the viewer will experience these environments in a first person view format. Currently the camera follows where the mouse is pointing. There is clickable audio within the Interstate scene that volumes on and off the interviews. Spatial audio will be added to each scene as well as more interviews projected onto columns in the Interstate environment. 

 

MFA Thesis Progress Aug 2016-May 2017

I began working on Immersive Environments during the summer of 2016. This work is the focus of my MFA thesis and revolves around using virtual reality to translate site-specific locations within Baton Rouge to bring more awareness to the residual segregation and racism that still happens today.

I utilize modern technology such as VR headsets and 360-degree GoPro cameras to create an immersive experience using Unity3D. The starting location I translate into a virtual experience is Expressway Park in Baton Rouge which serves as the main location for the thesis. Expressway Park is located underneath the I-10 interstate that was constructed through Old South Baton Rouge which displaced several minority families while also driving this neighborhood lower economically. Interstates and major roadways being constructed through minority neighborhoods happens all over the U.S. and is a huge factor to what keeps most cities segregated.

I've also included the locations of the controversial shooting of Alton Sterling as well as the protests that occurred as a result. My goal is to allow the viewer to interact and view a space they may never have found themselves in before and to realize that this is still very much a part of Baton Rouge and there is a segregation problem.