Riding with Amy: A virtual reality journey towards disability inclusion

 

Group photo of everyone involved with 'Riding with Amy' project

By Brian Landrigan, Manager, Media and Immersive Technologies, PVC Education & Student Experience

Published 18 July 2023

 

Imagine stepping into the shoes of someone with a disability and experiencing life from their perspective. With the immersive power of 360° video, we invite the users to embark on a virtual reality (VR) tour that depicts the daily interactions of Amy, a person living with a disability.

VR view of Riding with Amy 360 video


Through the lens of "Riding with Amy," we accompany Amy throughout her day at a café. The scenes illustrate how others perceive her and her unique experiences as she tackles everyday tasks like finding a place to sit or placing an order. The interactive 360 VR video allows users to engage with hotspots, providing deeper insights into each scene and seamlessly transitioning to the next. The important aim is to learn how to (and how not to) interact with people like Amy. 

“Riding with Amy” is a collaboration between PVCESE’s Media and Immersive Technologies Team and UNSW Business School’s Dr. Veronica Jiang, EF Senior Lecturer and Academic Disability Advisor, and Xinyue Zhang, PhD student.  It’s a multi-faceted project that merges VR headsets, interactive elements, and film to challenge perceptions, build bridges of empathy, and celebrate the power of inclusion. 

Watch the video below or via YouTube.  


So far, over 170 Marketing class students from the Business School have had a glimpse into Amy’s life. "Riding with Amy" is also being showcased during Disability Pride Month this July, amplifying its impact, and sparking meaningful discussions about empathy and inclusion. As part of Dr. Jiang and Ms. Zhang’s research study, data is being collected to gauge how people respond to different formats and the level of connection they feel with Amy's experience when engaging with the resource.
 

Photo of a VR classroom

The blog was edited by Apple Davalos for clarity and length.  

Have a project idea in mind for your course?

If you have a project idea and wish to develop educational media experiences using immersive technologies for your students, we would love to get involved! 

Feel free to contact me Brian Landrigan or Graham Hannah. Our services are free for UNSW staff - read more here.

Together, let’s create meaningful, impactful, and inclusive learning journeys for all our students.

For more details on Riding with Amy, or to explore using VR in the classroom, contact the Media & Immersive team.

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