The Earth is far from flat. Ironically, one of the best proofs is in the parallel universes produced by virtual reality. All you have to do these days is put on a helmet to enter a world otherwise inaccessible to ordinary mortals.
Pretty much everyone remembers their first time. In space exploration, this is called the “big picture effect” (overview effect in English), the so-called one-of-a-kind cognitive sensation that astronauts experience the first time they leave Earth’s atmosphere. They themselves cannot find the exact words to describe this feeling, which makes them aware of many things, starting with the relative fragility of our planet, and the very small place it occupies in the universe.
Researchers define this sensation as “a transcendent state of admiration produced by a particularly shocking visual stimulation”. The Felix Paul studio went to capture this state in orbit and brought it back to Earth, in the form of a breathtaking immersive experience. Literally: we must not forget to breathe when we find ourselves – virtually – high enough in orbit to adopt the point of view of an astronaut leaving the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Montreal studio has found a promising vein by closely associating itself with the extraterrestrial activities of space agencies, such as NASA, which are associated with the International Space Station. The newest ever immersive chapter added to its catalog of space experiences is called Space Explorers: Blue Marble Orbit 1.
The 360-degree panoramic view offered by this interactive film is located halfway between the bare floor and the space station. A stereoscopic camera sent into the air captured clear, sharp and very immersive images. Nothing in the world can match this experience, except the few years necessary to complete his astronaut training, then to be chosen by the authorities in place as a candidate for future space exploration.
Felix Paul and the Phi Center are offering, since May 3 and until July 3, at the Old Port of Montreal, an immersive one-hour experience called SpaceExplorers. infinitywhich includes precisely this very special moment of spatial awakening.
Those who own a Meta Quest 2 can immerse themselves in the experience Blue Marble Orbit 1 right now by installing the Space Explorers app directly on their headset. Felix Paul’s previous immersive films are also on the menu, including an interactive tour of the International Space Station. We are already looking forward to the virtual reality video that the studio will produce during the mission Artemiswhich will take astronauts to the Moon somewhere in 2025…
Feet Up: Inner Journey
If virtual reality can transport us to infinity, it can also perform an inner journey to better explore the functioning of the human brain. With the immersive experience Feet up. Loutwo particularly creative mothers of autistic children propose an incursion into the mind of a young child, then an adolescent who must deal with this neurological disorder.
It took them eight years to develop an app for Meta Quest 2 headsets, which they carry around with them where people want to better understand how reality is perceived by young people who are “on the spectrum”, like it is often said. The experience is offered in person only, but travels on request. Young people with autism accompany the public in the experience, to answer questions or provide more context.
The full experience lasts about half an hour and provides insight into what young people feel when outside stimuli overwhelm. Among other things, we learn the origin of certain tics and mannerisms, such as the flappinga clap of the hands that allows you to regain some control over your immediate environment.
Virtual reality is of increasing interest to the medical sector for the potential beneficial effect it can have in treating certain more or less serious neurological or mental disorders, including depression.
Here, the two creators of Feet up. Lou are using the same technology to have the opposite effect and bring more empathy and understanding to people who misunderstand what autism is and how it manifests itself.
While waiting for its third part, which will focus on autism in adults, the immersive experience Feet upher dozen virtual reality headsets and a list of the places she performs can all be found on the Facebook page of the same name.
We already knew that the Earth was not flat. Neither does virtual reality.