Students from Bath Spa University will be among the first to use the new Bristol VR (virtual reality) Lab to give their studies a world-beating boost.
The university has teamed up with the Lab, which officially opened last week, to give Creative Computing students the opportunity to enhance their skills in ambient and factual storytelling, theatre, and games.
The Lab has been specially designed for research, development, product design, teaching and incubation within virtual and augmented reality. Its pioneering tech will include state-of-the-art headsets, pictured, controllers, green screen motion capture and a range of 360-degree filming devices.
Founded by the University of Bristol, the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol media and arts centre Watershed and Bristol gaming firm Opposable VR, it has partnered with the BBC and We The Curious – and the science centre formerly called At Bristol – as well as Bath Spa University.
Bath Spa students will use it to create and trial new ideas, enabling them to recognise the best uses for today’s emerging technology, such as serious or applied games which are designed for practical use in a range of sectors including healthcare and engineering.
Bath Spa Creative Computing subject leader Lee Scott, pictured below, said: “We’re delighted to announce this new partnership with the Bristol VR Lab. There’s something for everyone at the Lab – a place that will enable the worlds of computing, storytelling and gaming to collide.
“The Lab supports the Creative Computing course’s aim to connect students to innovation in the region and complements existing industry-focused initiatives we have in place such as a creative ‘incubator’.
“Through the partnership, students will have a place to network, collaborate, solve problems and experiment with the application of immersive technologies in new contexts. Whether it’s augmented or virtual reality, students will have a hub to go to and develop ideas from start to finish.”
Other Bath Spa students will have the opportunity to develop innovative ideas with the Lab, including MA Children’s Publishing students who can use it to identify original ways of using virtual and augmented reality to engage young children, and help them bring their own stories life.
Lee added: “Using the Lab facilities, Children’s Publishing students will be able to enrich children’s experiences of imaginative storytelling. This really will be storytelling for the 21st century and we’re proud to say that Bath Spa students will be at the heart of it.”
Creative Computing and Gaming student Bogdan Golea was among the first people to see inside the facilities when he volunteered to be a part of a preview event.
Bogdan said: “It was great to be part of such an exciting event. Seeing the founders, partners and other companies coming together to discuss how they might use the VR Lab made me feel excited. I’m looking forward to using the Lab to create potentially life-changing products and experiences for others.”
Bath Spa head of writing, film and digital Dr Susan McMillan added: “The VR Lab was one of the first partnerships I negotiated when I joined the university in 2017 because I understand how important it is for creative industry students to work collaboratively across both Bath and Bristol to share knowledge and experience.
Bath Spa media and computing students already work out of Bristol’s Paintworks creative quarter through Artswork Media – a professional production company and digital agency. Led by the university and run by students and media professionals.
Now the VR Lab will give them access to a creative hub at the heart of a city recently named as a UNESCO Creative City of Film.
The BSc (Hons) Creative Computing course enables students to build a firm understanding of coding, interactive design and digital creativity, while developing skills in game making.
The gaming pathway celebrates the vibrancy of the Bath and Bristol games scene, with students learning from creative technologists and regional industry specialists and contributing to exciting projects with independent games studios and freelance developers.
Bath Spa University offers a wide range of courses across the arts, sciences, education, social science and business to 7,000 students, helping position it as a leading educational institution in creativity, culture and enterprise.
Top photo by Jon Craig Photo @JonCraig.co.uk
