Ain Center Collaboration: Build Your Entrepreneurial Foundation Block-by-Block: Introduction to AR/VR

promotional image for ain center collaboration. Shows a person in a VR headset.
promotional image for ain center collaboration. Shows a person in a VR headset.

Join the Ain Center for our new workshop series, Build Your Entrepreneurial Foundation Block-by-Block! These workshops are designed to help student innovators and entrepreneurs learn more about special tools, resources, approaches, and concepts that could help them with their projects and career paths.

Our second edition of the Block-by-Block series is in partnership with Studio X. This workshop will help innovators learn about how they can use XR technologies to implement their ideas. Come and explore the opportunities with XR technologies!

Contact the Ain Center if you have any questions!

Instructors: Waleed Nadeem & Liam O’Leary
Where: Studio X, Carlson Library First Floor
When: Wednesday, October 26th from 6:30 to 8pm
Register.

Blender 101: Spooky Season Edition

3D modeled carved pumpkin with neon colors.

Create the spooktacular 3D character of your nightmares! 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.

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
Where: Studio X, First Floor Carlson Library
When: Tuesday, October 25th from 6 to 7:30pm
Register: libcal.lib.rochester.edu/event/9660772

Make Your Own Short 360° Video

360 degree tiny planet image.

Learn the basics of 360 recording and editing with Studio X’s Insta360 cameras. Create fun effects like stop motion, cloning, and tiny planet clips that can be used for all kinds of projects from social media to music videos.

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!

Participants will need to download the free Insta360 Studio 2022 editing software to their own computers (available on both PC and Mac) prior to the workshop. Need assistance with this process? Ask for help on the Studio X Discord (Quick Questions Channel). 

Instructor: Fin Tran
Where: Studio X, Carlson Library First Floor
When: Friday, October 14th at 1pm
Register: libcal.lib.rochester.edu/event/9659848


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.

VR Game Afternoon

illustration of a woman wearing a VR headset.

Relax, take a break, and play VR games in Studio X! We’ll provide good music, fun games, and a relaxing vibe. Bring your friends and come have fun.

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!

Where: Studio X, Carlson Library First Floor
When: Friday, October 7th at 1pm


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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.