Sandbox Demo#1 Analysis (Imagine Lab)
QingyuanYang
EID: qy2379
Audience Development & Engagement
01/24/2021
Expectations
Before getting into the virtual imagine lab, the only thing I knew about it is its name. When hearing the word “virtual” and “imagine”, I thought that it would be full of technological stuff such as AI assistant which brought audience a sense of futurism. However, the last word “lab” slightly drew my imagination to reality. As a lab, I felt that it should include the function for experiencers to research and communicate. Initially, I expect it to be similar to zoom meetings that people can “meet” through cameras and talk through microphones. However, it contains more interactions to deliver more immersive experiences to visitors.
Experiences
I experienced virtual imagine lab through both tablet and laptop. Due to the technological issue of my laptop, during the first class I could only use tablet to log in my canvas and click the link to get into the imagine lab. At the registration page, it only asks me to enter my name and if I want to open the microphone but without the camera. It confused me a little, but I consider that experiencers might be able to readjust the camera and microphone settings, so I click the button to get in the lab. A cartoon-style character with my name showed up. Experiencers can control their own characters to move and go around like people visit a new place in reality. As the little character move, I can see guidance of how to use different functions. However, when professor Reilly told us how to interact with the icons in the room, I failed. When I move my character near to the icons, nothing appeared. Besides, I found that professor and other classmates can adjust camera to be open or closed as they want, but I only have one sound button. I even don’t have the tool bar to see the chat content. I tried again using my cellphone, but the same experience happened. I had a conjecture that it was because I didn’t use laptop to log in, but I can’t use it since it’s broken, so I have to continue to log in with my tablet. According to professor’s guidance, we have been into the demo room, breakout room, group presentation room and keynote hall. What surprised me the most is the breakout room. There are six areas with groups of chairs. When experiencers move their characters into the same area, they can talk and see each other. The other people without moving characters into the area can hear nothing, which totally made me immersive into the experience. I have read a book by Halpern. In the chapter “Easy and Attract”, Halpern states that “…people tend to hear their name being mentioned even in a noisy room. It is pretty clear, therefore, why marketers have learnt to put your name on the letters and emails they send you”. In virtual imagine lab, the little character is named by experiencers. And all interactions are similar to what we have done in real life. All these experiences contribute to deeper immersion.
When I log in the imagine lab again with my laptop yesterday, I got stronger feelings. I successfully interact with the icons in the room. As my character move near to the icons, they become light. And then experiencers press x, the content on the icons will be showed through a board. Besides, I can see the tool bar for chat, screenshare and so on, which are useful for online learning and information exchange.
Purpose
The virtual imagine lab functions as an online learning tool, enhancing the courses quality under the special circumstances. It provides students and professors an indispensable space to communicate and discuss and it offers an immersive experience similar as learning process face to face.
Shortcomings
As what I said before, when getting into the lab via tablet or cellphone, some functions can’t be used since the tool bar disappears. The screen only shows one button which is for microphone to be open or closed. The interactions with icons can’t be triggered, which largely decreases the immersive and interactive experience of the virtual imagine lab.
Improvements
Since professor Reilly said in the recording lecture that motivation plays an important role on audience intention, the enhancement of audience motivation is indispensable. The motivation contains internal motivation and external motivation. Internal motivation is the needs. The need of audience using this learning community is to learn, which we won’t put much effort to change. What we need to improve is the external motivation — rewards. For example, the lab can add a reward system that when succeeding some missions, experiencers can earn points, which these points can be calculated to their final grade.
Besides, the immersive experience can be more improved. Designers can add more official little characters in different rooms. If experiencers have problems, they can freely ask help from these characters. Or if professors have new assignment, they can assign the missions through these characters and once experiencers finish the missions, they can get rewards. The mode is similar to website games, which can be more fun.
At last, in the registration page, the characters can be made by experiencers themselves. They can choose hairstyles, hair color, clothes and so on to create the unique figure to represent themselves, which increases the sense of attraction.
Comparison with Zoom
Virtual imagine lab provides experiencers more real-world interactions. It contains colorful background and mysterious map for people to experience. They can move and talk to whoever they want as they are in reality. Zoom only offers a platform to see each other and talk with all people, but it is easier to manipulate and quicker to get command of. Whereas, the imagine lab needs much instructions and time to be familiar with.
Citations
Halpern, D. (2015). Inside the nudge unit: How small changes make a big difference. London: Penguin.
