Category: Past Events

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Create Your Own VR Flappy Bird in Unity

promotional image for workshop. Shows a person in a VR headset playing flapping bird. Text reads, "Create Your Own VR Flappy Bird"

Metaverse? Waste of time. VR Flappy Bird wherein you are the bird? That’s more like it. Come join us in learning what the future of VR truly looks like in our step-by-step workshop on how to make your own VR Flappy Bird game in Unity, a real-time creation platform used to build games, XR experiences, visualizations, and more! 

Join Studio X, UR’s hub for immersive technologies, and learn more about the digital world of extended reality (XR). All levels welcome. No experience necessary!

promotional image for workshop. Shows a person in a VR headset playing flapping bird. Text reads, "Create Your Own VR Flappy Bird"

Note: In order to participate, you will need to complete the pre-workshop instructions, which will be sent by email prior to the event. Need assistance with this process? Ask for help on the Studio X Discord (Quick Questions Channel). 

Instructor: Muhammed El-Sayed
Where: Studio X, Carlson Library First Floor
When: Thursday, 10/6 from 6 to 7:30pm
Register: libcal.lib.rochester.edu/event/9657308

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Immersive Mozart: VR Music Composition in Unity

illustration of a person wearing a VR headset playing the violin.

Make your own VR musical experience in Unity, a real-time creation platform used to build games, XR experiences, visualizations, and more! Participants will first create their own music and sound design with Tracktion, a free audio editing tool. They’ll then import their creations to Unity and experiment with immersive sound. Participants will leave with a basic working knowledge of music theory, music software, and sound design for VR projects.

Join Studio X, UR’s hub for immersive technologies, and learn more about the digital world of extended reality (XR). All levels welcome. No experience necessary!

Instructor: Noah Viso
Where: Studio X, Carlson Library First Floor
When: Friday, September 23 at 1pm
Register: libcal.lib.rochester.edu/event/9656814

promotional graphic for drop-in fridays at Studio X with geometric design. Reads "Drop-in Fridays. Fall 2022 series. Join us Fridays at 1pm for informal XR talks, tech demos, workshops, and more."

Drop by Studio X every Friday at 1pm for informal workshops, talks, demos, and more! View the full schedule.

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Intro to XR

person in a VR headset with overlaying text that says, "Intro to XR"

AR? VR? MR? What now? Want to learn more about immersive technologies or extended reality (XR) but don’t know where to start? This workshop will demystify these technologies, explain their history, and demonstrate use cases across disciplines all while showing you the newest applications in a fun-hands-on experience for any level of expertise!

person in a VR headset with overlaying text that says, "Intro to XR"

Join Studio X, UR’s hub for immersive technologies, and learn more about the digital world of extended reality (XR). All levels welcome. No experience necessary!

Instructor: Waleed Nadeem
Where: Studio X, First Floor Carlson Library
When: September 13th from 6 to 7:30pm
Register: https://libcal.lib.rochester.edu/event/9637162

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From Reality to Virtual: An Introduction to Photogrammetry

Screenshot of a photogrammetry project. Shows a 3D modeled house with 2D photos surrounding it.

In one intensive six-hour session, students will learn how to create digital 3D models of buildings, rooms, and/or objects using DLSR cameras and Agisoft Metashape software.

  • Module 1 covers principals of photogrammetry recording and data capture in the field.
  • Module 2 familiarizes students with the Metashape workflow and optimization techniques for photo/model processing.
  • Module 3 discusses how to export the models you make and use them for 3D printing, as video game assets, and for public sharing.

Note: Attendees must bring their own SD cards.

Instructor: Professor Mike Jarvis
Where: Studio X, Carlson Library First Floor and off-site locations (likely Mt. Hope Cemetery)
When: Sunday, 3/20 from 12:30 to 6:30pm
Register: bit.ly/learnphotogrammetry

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Ain Center: Creative Collision Challenge

Registration is now open for the Creative Collision Challenge! This one-day competition brings together students from diverse backgrounds and programs to brainstorm solutions to social and cultural issues. Teams are guided by mentors and experts to devise an action plan, which is then presented to a panel of judges. Top teams earn cash prizes. The Challenge is open to all UR students from any school, program and class year. It will be held on Friday, February 18 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Studio X. Lunch will be provided. This year’s Challenge will tackle the future of work in relation to student services and technology solutions. Students will receive their team assignments and the problem statement the night before the Challenge.

Register online!

Questions about this year’s Challenge? Contact Ain Center for Entrepreneurship Program Manager, Heidi Mergenthaler at heidi.mergenthaler@rochester.edu.

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Blender 101: Valentine’s Day Edition

Blender workshop promotional image. Shows three teddy bears with the text: "Blender 101: Valentine's Day Edition. Model a Teddy Bear."

Join us while we create cute and unique teddy bears for Valentine’s Day! This workshop focuses on asset creation with the 3D modeling software, Blender. This open-source and free software has become the industry standard over the last couple of years. Learn how to navigate its workspace, tools, and hotkeys and become familiar with one of the most popular platforms of the industry. You will create a low-polygon model using provided reference images. Your model can then potentially be used as avatars in other XR projects or 3D workspaces such as Unity.

Blender workshop promotional image. Shows three teddy bears with the text: "Blender 101: Valentine's Day Edition. Model a Teddy Bear."
3D-modeled teddy bear wearing overalls.

Join Studio X, UR’s hub for immersive technologies, and learn more about the digital world of extended reality (XR). All levels welcome. No experience necessary!

Note: Workshop attendees must bring a laptop with Blender installed. Please download this ahead of time.

Instructor: Nefle Nesli Oruç & Koshala Mathuranayagam
Where: Learning Hub, Studio X, First Floor Carlson Library
When: Thursday, February 10th from 6 to 7:30pm
Register: tinyurl.com/blender-valentines

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Reality+ Reading Group

promotional design for David J. Chalmers's book "Reality +". Includes a penguin random house logo in the corner.

David Chalmers, a leading philosopher of consciousness and philosophy of mind, will be giving a virtual talk on his forthcoming book about the philosophical implications of virtual and augmented reality as part of our Voices of XR Speaker Series. The talk will take place on Wednesday, April 6 from 12-1 with support from Kathy McMorran Murray (details TBA).

Students, faculty, and staff who are interested are invited to join a casual reading group to discuss Reality+ in advance of Professor Chalmers’ visit.

promotional design for David J. Chalmers's book "Reality +". Includes a penguin random house logo in the corner.

The group will meet biweekly from 12-1 on Fridays beginning Friday, February 4. If we are able to be on campus, the group will meet in Studio X and use a hybrid format for anyone who wishes to join on Zoom. Generous funding has been made available from the Humanities Center and River Campus Libraries to purchase copies of the book for reading group members. Thanks to Kate Phillips, Associate Professor in the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program for organizing this group. If you are interested in joining the reading group, please fill out this short form.

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Voices of XR Speaker Series

graphic for XR speaker series entitled Voices of XR. On the bottom, is an illustration of a person in a headset reaching with neon geometric squares in the background. On the top is text that reads: "Voices of XR: A Studio X Speaker Series." On top of that, is the Studio X and River Campus Libraries wordmarks.

Join Studio X at the River Campus Libraries in conversation with invited scholars, artists, professionals, and more, who will discuss their work with immersive technologies across disciplines and industries. These events are virtual, free, and open to all members of the campus community and the general public. This series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray.

banner for XR speaker series entitled Voices of XR. On the left, an illustration of a person in a headset reaching with neon geometric squares in the background. On the right is text that reads: "Voices of XR: A Studio X Speaker Series." Underneath, is the Studio X and River Campus Libraries wordmarks.

Upcoming Talks

Voices of XR runs during the spring semester. Please check back for our 2023 lineup.

Recorded Talks

Voices of XR: John Haddick
4/29/2022 @1PM
Voices of XR: Sylvia Xueni Pan
4/22/2022 @1PM
Voices of XR: Scott McEldowney
4/15/2022 @1PM
Voices of XR: David Chalmers
04/06/2022 @12PM
Voices of XR: Muhsinah Morris
3/25/2022 @1PM
Voices of XR: Kavya Pearlman
3/18/2022 @1PM
Voices of XR: Nathalie Mathe
3/4/2022 @1PM
Can We Walk in Our Patients’ Shoes?
11/12/2021 @1PM
Voices of XR: Ahmed Ghazi
4/7/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: David Glowacki
3/31/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: Anand Santhanam
3/29/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: Kaan Akşit
3/24/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: Cali Fidopiastis
3/22/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: Steven Christian
3/17/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: Chiao Liu
3/15/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: Yan Xu
3/8/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: Renée Stevens
2/17/2021 @10:25AM
Voices of XR: A Studio X Speaker Series – Carl Domingo
11/18/2020 @1PM
Voices of XR: A Studio X Speaker Series – Hyphen-Labs
10/21/2020 @12PM
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Beat Saber Competition

Studio X Beat Saber Competition.

Like dancing to fun music, light sabers, and virtual reality? We have the perfect competition for you! Compete against your peers, and if you dominate and have one of the top-three scores, you will win a trophy. If you are the ultimate, numero uno, top dog Beat Saberer, you will win a fancy portable, wireless, waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

But what’s Beat Saber, you say? Only the most popular VR game of all time! Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game in which you slash floating boxes as they fly toward you to the beat of the music with gigantic light sabers.

The Rules

  • Participants must be affiliated with the University of Rochester. Students, faculty, or staff are welcome to participate.
  • Participants must complete all three rounds to be eligible for prizes.
  • Participants must complete each round in Studio X.
  • Scores must be recorded by a Studio X staff member.
  • Participants will get three attempts for each of the three rounds.
  • Participants are not allowed to use score multipliers.
  • The songs will be chosen by Studio X staff.
  • Once you have your score, you will be added to our scoreboard.
  • At the end of rounds one and two, a selection of the lowest scoring participants will be eliminated. This depends on how many participants we have.
  • The first week will be a song on easy mode, the second week a song on normal mode, and the third week a song on hard mode. You will have to follow the difficulty levels, no matter your current skill level.

The Schedule

You have the entire week to come into Studio X and complete that week’s song.

  • Round 1 (easy) will be the week of November 15th.
  • Round 2 (normal) will be the week of November 29th.
  • Round 3 (hard) will be the week of December 6th.

Register

Sign up here >> bit.ly/studioxbeatsaber2021

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6th Annual Frameless Labs XR Symposium

Frameless Labs XR Symposium marketing graphic.

November 18 & 19, 2021 | Hybrid @MAGIC Spell Studios, RIT

Frameless XR Symposium save the date banner.

The Frameless Symposium is an interdisciplinary symposium focused on research, innovation, and artistic creation in the fields of virtual and augmented reality. The Symposium Committee invites contributions from users and creators of immersive technologies and experiences involved in academia, non-profit and educational organizations, and industry.

Hosted at RIT’s Magic Spell Studios, we welcome both in-person and remote participation for presenters and attendees in the event this year.  Please stay tuned to the symposium website for additional information and updates.

View the full call for participation and learn more about presentation formats, topic of interests, and deadlines rit.edu/framelesslabs/symposium-2021.