Empathy Bytes

Goals

Think outside traditional modes of communication and documentation to create radical experiences of empathy, an important component to success in”¯personal”¯and professional”¯settings. This team focuses on building an immersive digital archive that includes 3D models, interviews, photographs, multimedia, and writings from diverse communities. This team is working with emerging technologies (XR), such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and mobile”¯apps, which”¯allow users”¯to step into another person’s shoes. This can allow us to see the world through their eyes,”¯or even to step back in time.

Issues Involved or Addressed

Students are encouraged to explore the many ways we share, intake and preserve information in a modern era, through many forms of media. We research how XR, video, audio, and web design can all be used to both develop technical skills and enrich creative storytelling. Creative methods of documenting (audio, photography, and video) are also encouraged in this research section, such as 360 photography, drone footage, podcasting etc. Work is considered for long term preservation in the library archives. We often work with library historical collections and diverse communities.

Want to learn a bit more about this project? our short video summarizes some of the recent work.

Empathy Bytes allows the student to define their role in the project through track selection. Each track has a specific focus, but ties into the larger goals of the project. Teams vary depending on the specific focus for each semester but are loosely centered on our sub-teams below. Each sub team has a team lead or two that help guide the process and onboards new students. This is an excellent opportunity for students to develop leadership skills. Most development work is completed via sub teams. Sub teams meet at mutually agreeable times and modes throughout the semester. We have approximately 8-10 all-team meetings each semester that take place during class time.
We currently have teams working on the following:
– Creating immersive environments using Unity, Blender, and Luma AI.
– Developing accompanying apps with React Native, Swift, Xcode, and Figma
– Developing our website using Drupal, JavaScript, and Github
– Student journalists and media creators who document our work as we progress.

Specific Issues/Topics Addressed:
– Human centered technology design
– Emerging Technologies and Multimedia for storytelling
– Cultural engagement
– XR development and uses
– Web development and Responsive design
– Media Production and Preservation
– Oral History / Interviewing Technologies
– Archival Research

Partners/Sponsors

Georgia Tech Library, Interdisciplinary Media Arts Center, Institute of Museum and Library Services