VR headsets allows wearers to explore life on Antarctica
It's been created by Anglia Ruskin University
Last updated 21st Feb 2024
A new project allowing people to walk in the shoes of polar explorers is being launched in Cambridge.
Headsets will enable uses to be guide through Antarctica and learn about the stories of past explorers.
The project is created by Anglia Ruskin University and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.
The headsets are available at the Polar Museum on Lensfield Road from today (Wednesday 21st).
Users will be guided by the voice of Neil Marsden, who carried out survey work at the base in the 1960s.
From arriving by ship, to sledding with dogs, organises say his recorded testimony "provides a rich picture of life on the base, thousands of miles from home."
Lesley Johnston, XR Producer with UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, said:
“Antarctica may be a remote continent, but it plays an essential role in the Earth’s climate and holds stories of great human endeavour and scientific advancement that we want to share with the world.
"The project forms part of our 30th anniversary celebrations and helps make it accessible for everyone.
“Whilst it’s a virtual experience, it allows people to feel they’ve stepped foot in Antarctica and taken something away with them. That is where the power lies.”
The project has been funded by Innovate UK, the UK's national innovation agency.
StoryLab’s Dr Fabrizio Galeazzi, Associate Professor in Heritage and Creative Technologies at ARU and Academic Lead in the KTP project, said:
“The key part for us is the feeling.
“Feeling part of the story with the main characters, feeling that emotional experience – not just watching it but being part of it and creating a connection with this recreated digital world.”