March 9, 12:00-1:30: “Immersive Technology and Instruction in Geology, Social Work, and Surgery”

Presentation by members of the Department of Geology and the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, the School of Social Work, and the Department of Surgery about ways they are using Augmented/Virtual Reality in their work and research.

3D Virtual Reality for Scientific Data Exploration and Discovery

Presenter: Margarete Jadamec, Department of Geology and the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences 

Description: The influx of digital data, unprecedented high-performance computing (HPC) resources, and advances in visualization technology are driving a paradigm shift in how scientists work with information. In particular, the coupling of HPC with immersive three-dimensional virtual reality (3DVR) is transforming the analysis and exploration of simulation output, by rendering a new dimension of physical meaning to complex numerical models by enabling the user to grasp the virtual model as if it were a tangible physical construct. This talk provides examples of collaboration between application scientists and developers to leverage the rapidly changing technological landscape to facilitate scientific discovery in the Earth Sciences. Examples include both larger infrastructure CAVES and portable VR platforms such as 3D TVs and VIVEs. Looking forward, new approaches to visualizing and rendering complex information will be critical to communicating scientific concepts and ensuring reproducibility. 

Using Virtual Reality in an Online DSW Program: An Exploratory Study to Increase Social Presence

Presenters: Louanne Bakk, School of Social Work; Mickey Sperlich, School of Social Work; Steven Sturman, School of Social Work; Dana M Horne, School of Social Work; Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Social Work; Melanie Sage, School of Social Work

Description: This presentation describes emerging trends in virtual reality (VR) and how VR can be integrated into online learning to promote engagement and community. The concept of social presence and its relationship to persistence within online doctoral education will be highlighted. An exploratory study comparing indicators of social presence in a Zoom synchronous session to a VR synchronous session will be discussed. Implications for online learning within the context of our findings will be presented. 

“Is this the Place for Me?”: Development of an Immersive Virtual Reality Learning Environment that Integrates Trauma Informed Principles into Human Service Agency Settings

Presenters: Steven Sturman, School of Social Work; Mickey Sperlich, School of Social Work; Louanne Bakk, School of Social Work; Samantha Koury, Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care.

Description: This presentation details the creation of a Virtual Reality Learning Environment (VRLE) designed to educate students on how trauma-informed (TI) principles can be integrated into the physical environments of human service agencies. Virtual Reality (VR) technologies and characteristics that have the potential to improve student learning outcomes will be discussed.  The integration of VR into a social work doctoral program will be described, and the theoretical and pedagogical considerations that informed the creation of the TI VRLE explored.  Details on the process of developing and assessing the TI VRLE will be discussed, together with lessons learned and directions for future research. 

First-Person VR Video in the OR: From Concept to Clinical Trial

Presenter: Brian Quaranto, Department of Surgery

Description: The UB Department of Surgery is building a VR app for medical professionals to improve their decision making skills, and doing so using recorded VR video rather than generated computer graphics. It is a novel system to capture VR video in the operating room and they have recorded over a dozen full length surgical operations. Brian and his team have also built a VR app for the Oculus Quest which features a “choose your own adventure” style interface to interact with our video content. In the next few weeks, we will be launching a pilot study to investigate the feasibility, validity, and safety of the VR experience. 

Presenters

  • Louanne Bakk, School of Social Work
  • Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Social Work
  • Dana M. Horne, School of Social Work
  • Margarete Jadamec, Department of Geology and the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences
  • Samantha Koury, Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care
  • Brian Quaranto, Department of Surgery
  • Melanie Sage, School of Social Work
  • Mickey Sperlich, School of Social Work
  • Steven Sturman, School of Social Work