The College was recognised for its pioneering use of virtual reality to create truly transformational experiences.
The Immersive Technology Lab at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, is celebrating another fantastic achievement. Its innovative virtual reality (VR) public speaking platform has been shortlisted for the prestigious Learning Technologies Award.
This recognition follows on the lab's recent successes in receiving the Excellence Award, Regional Innovation Award, and the National Innovation Award, further solidifying its position at the forefront of cutting-edge research.
The groundbreaking platform offers a unique, self-paced journey that harnesses the power of experiential learning to transform users into confident and skilled public speakers. By immersing participants in progressively challenging VR environments, the platform allows them to conquer their fear of public speaking.
Lab Director, Dr Chris Macdonald, explains: "On a gamified journey, the virtual reality audiences increase as tasks are completed; the first training environment is an empty classroom, the final one is a highly distracting stadium packed with 10,000 photorealistic spectators. The ability to repeatedly train in such extreme scenarios is a gamechanger and until now it was impossible. The process produces the psychological equivalent of training at high altitude or running with weights; it builds grit, confidence, and adaptability."
Dr Macdonald adds, “The VR Platform is highly effective at empowering individuals to overcome their fear of public speaking, ultimately enhancing not only their quality of life but also their capacity to become a driving force of positive change in the world.”
This innovative approach to public speaking training has garnered significant attention, with the Immersive Technology Lab recently completing a successful London tour showcasing its work at prominent events including the British Science Festival, DigiGov Expo, and New Scientist Live.
This nomination is a testament to the College's dedication to leveraging emerging technologies to create truly transformational experiences.