by Dot Cannon
Cal State Long Beach is just about to host a brand-new, campus-wide event: “VR Day 2018”!
And you’re invited, this Friday, to come see what’s happening in the rapidly-growing virtual-reality industry.
“VR Day 2018” is sponsored by the Cal State Long Beach Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This all-day free symposium’s goal is to highlight intellectual, gender and racial diversity in the VR field. In the process, this inaugural event will share all kinds of creative innovations, along with techniques and information!
“VR Day 2018”, a collaboration between the colleges of Arts, Health and Human Services, Engineering and Liberal Arts, starts at 8:30 this Friday morning, March 9th, with a welcome keynote by Dr. Ebony Utley and Dr. Wade Martin in CSULB’s DESN Gallery. VR demos, a VR storytelling panel, a VR career workshop and a student VR panel are all part of the day’s events. There’s also a networking lunch and keynote conversation on “VR as Art”, at midday.
From two perspectives 
In addition, attendees will get to see the innovative VR experience “UTURN“. Referring to “UTURN” as a “film”, may not do it justice, however.
As creative storytelling at its best, “UTURN” explores the gender divide by allowing the viewer to choose, literally, which angle of the story to experience. Turn left–and it happens from the perspective of a young woman coder at a male-dominated startup. Turn right, and events are taking place from a male character’s perspective. “UTURN”, which received a 2017 VRX Award nomination at the 25th Raindance Film Festival in London, will have two screenings during “VR Day 2018”.
In addition, visitors will get to see three VR film shorts on Friday morning: “Built Not Bought”, “Know Your Rights”, and “The Rattler”.
Here’s a link to the program schedule. CSULB would definitely like to have you come and check this out!
CSULB’s inaugural “VR Day 2018” is a free event, and open to the public. Here is the link for registration. The program starts at 8:30 am, Friday, March 9th, at the Duncan Anderson Gallery, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, north of Beach Drive. Events take place on-campus throughout the day. Parking information is available on the registration page.
And, one cautionary health note. As noted on CSULB’s “VR Day Program Info” webpage, virtual reality is a new technology. As such, it may cause physical or emotion discomfort in some users. If you experience any of the symptoms listed on the program-information webpage, please remove the headset and discontinue use. We want you well and innovative!