What virtual reality equipment is available in the library?
The Taylor Family Digital Library has three virtual reality spaces.
The Virtual Reality Studio uses the HTC Vive Pro.
The Oculus Rift is on a mobile cart which can be used within a designated space in Lab NEXT.
The Virtual Reality Development Room has many headsets and peripherals, including a Valve Index. Full specifications are listed on the booking form below.
Who can use the virtual reality equipment?
The Virtual Reality Studio is available for booking by faculty, staff, and graduate students.
The Oculus mobile cart can be booked by all members of the University of Calgary community.
The Virtual Reality Development Room is for University of Calgary members working on Virtual Reality development or research projects.
Tours
Interested in a tour of this space?
Where is it located?
TFDL 3rd floor in Labnext
Imagine snorkelling and floating in the ocean with sharks... right in the middle of the library
Applying VR in Architecture
Understanding the human scale in architecture is essential to not only appreciate the design and materiality but also to grasp the conceptual elements the designer is portraying in the project, by experiencing it in “real life”. Virtual Reality has made such experiences possible. ARTsponge is a Comprehensive Studio project within the Master of Architecture program, by Jonathan Monfries and John Baziuk (M.Arch ’21). The project focuses on the idea of an art hub that emphasizes cohabitation - one that also evolves and adapts with the art and the people that interact with it, challenging the typical art gallery typology. By creating a concept that promotes permeation of the program into the urban fabric, the building and program are able to make art more accessible for all. These elements of materiality and concept become evident by experiencing the building through Virtual Reality, where you can admire the warmth of the wooden facade and feel the sense of openness and transparency as you walk through the building.
Explore and interact with the project below, or click here for a full-screen VR experience!
Jed Baker
Emerging Technology Specialist