The Science of Virtual Reality: Empathy, Ethics, and Social justice
Lehigh Freshman Seminar (Fall 2021)

Can virtual reality (VR) applications make us more open, empathetic, and understanding of those who are different than ourselves? Can VR motivate us to address systemic biases and oppression for racial and gender groups in particular? With the support of Lehigh’s CITL Digital Digital Scholarship Faculty Fellowship and Humanities Lab, I designed a freshman seminar to explore these questions with 19 inquisitive first year students (Fall 2021).

Course Overview: This course provides students with an understanding of how virtual reality (VR), and also augmented and extended reality (AR/XR), are being used to create a more empathic and socially just world. Students consider 1) the history and evolution of virtual reality in social science research, 2) the ethical challenges that VR poses on studying and engaging with “controversial” content and/or diverse populations (e.g., children, marginalized groups), and 3) its potential for increasing (or reducing) empathy and equity in our society. From these lenses, students examine how VR technological innovations can improve humanity while also grappling with the ethical and social justice dilemmas they may pose. This course draws primarily upon social psychology theoretical frameworks and spans research in Africana studies, communications, ethics, and computer science.

The course includes an experiential learning component in which students experience VR and AR simulations throughout the semester designed to increase engagement, awareness, perspective-taking, and empathy, reduce bias, sexism, racism, etc., and increase activism. To this end, students have an opportunity to engage in different simulations that demonstrate a variety of social justice possibilities and evaluate their effectiveness and potential challenges. Students also collaboratively build a VR simulation using Mozilla Hubs to explore a relevant social justice issue in the current US context.

VR for Social Good: Student Projects
Read about each VR simulation and student designers below. Click each link to view each simulation in Mozilla Hubs in 2D (and in 3D if you own a VR headset). Follow the instructions provided in the simulation for the best user experience. Enjoy!

Catcalling

Contributors: Mia Lapko, Prof. Taylor (bottom, left to right), Sarah Jacobs, Natalie Mathern (top, left to right)

Sexism in the Streets: A Look at Street Harassment and How it Affects Women

Children at the US-Mexico Border

Contributors: Moriah Session, Prof. Taylor (bottom, left to right), Kasey Lewis, Avery Zigon, Mason Burger (top, left to right)

Beyond the Border: The Real Crisis Within US Detention Facilities

Immigration

Contributors: Nana Nyanor, Prof. Taylor (bottom, left to right), Jacob Calderon, Sarah McDermott (top, left to right)

The Danger of a Single Story: How Dehumanization Impacts the Immigrant

Poverty

Contributors: Morgan Whitney, Prof. Taylor (bottom, left to right), Giovanni Procaccini, Hongtai (Tom) Du (top, left to right)

Content coming soon

Queerphobia

Contributors: Maddie Judd, Prof. Taylor (bottom, left to right), Taylor Crompton, Vincent Caruso (top, left to right)

Queerphobia Museum

Vaccination Hesitancy

Contributors: Jenna Van Valkenburg, Prof. Taylor (bottom, left to right), Michael Singer, Wuduo (Kyrie) Wu (top, left to right)

Confronting COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Social Injustices

How to enter Mozilla Hubs in VR:
1. Have a computer and VR headset available
2. On computer click the link to the Mozilla Hub space you want to view in VR
3. Once the link has loaded you will see 3 options on your computer screen. Select the middle option “Enter on Device”
4. In your VR headset open your internet browser
5. In your VR headset go to the website hubs.mozilla.com
6. In your VR headset you will be prompted to enter a one-time code. Enter the code that is on your computer screen