Can you imagine being able to treat a phobia with virtual reality? Or learn to cope well in a compromising situation thanks to a program that simulates it? The future of new audiovisual formats is here, it can be put at the service of people and one of its main exponents is in Catalonia.
We refer to the TransMedia Catalonia research group of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). This group of researchers creates, through the MediaVerse project, new formats and audiovisual content, while making them accessible to people with different types of disabilities. And Som – Fundació has established a collaboration agreement with them to explore what new tools the audiovisual universe can offer us.
Therefore, last May they came to our headquarters to offer us a sample of what these new communication tools can achieve and how they could help the people we serve.
Thus, as a first contact with immersive technologies, representatives of TransMedia Catalonia recorded our facilities with 360º cameras. They also did interviews with some of our professionals, so that they can be accessible to people with hearing and visual disabilities. The objective was to offer a sample of a tour of the foundation’s headquarters in 360º and to access the explanations of the professionals, duly adapted.
The possibilities of immersive and interactive formats to be applied to activities with Som – Fundació persons users are currently being explored. For example, everyday situations can be subjectively recreated, such as riding the subway, to show norms of behavior.
* MediaVerse (GA No. 957252) is a project funded by the H2020 research and innovation program of the European Commission.