Immersive technologies

Ensuring that new immersive technologies act in the interests of human rights.

Author: Verity McIntosh, Associate Professor of Virtual and Extended Realities

As Director of the City Campus VR Lab and an active member of UWE Bristol’s Digital Cultures Research Centre, I work with creative companies, charities, communities and policymakers to explore ideas about virtual and extended realities. And yes, this definitely includes artificial intelligence and the ‘metaverse’.

What I’m finding really vitalising at the moment is that because these tools and technologies are still emerging, people aren’t quite sure what to make of them. Some are incredibly excited. Others are quite concerned. Concerned about the uncritical way that they’re being deployed and that they are not being thought about enough in terms of equity, inclusion and accessibility.

"Now is the time to ensure that new immersive technologies, the metaverse and the next evolution of the internet, are designed in the interests of human rights, human dignity and democracy."

Verity McIntosh, Associate Professor of Virtual and Extended Realities

Verity McIntosh Associate Professor of Virtual and Extended Realities

Evidence over exaggeration

We’re in this wonderful kind of early moment, where nothing’s terribly resolved. There’s lots of hype and hyperbole. Lots of opinions. Lots of opportunity and, yes, risk too. Which makes now a really good time to find research-based evidence to support those that are making those crucial decisions.

Over the last couple of years, policymakers, those with the power to make change, have been more open and receptive to listening. They want to hear more and know more. They want evidence.

 The right intentions, the best interests

I think policymakers were caught napping a bit with the social media revolution. There are lots of things that with hindsight, we wish had emerged differently. In terms of citizen protection, inclusive practice and accessibility. We now have to grasp these moments to make sure that, with these new immersive technologies, with the metaverse and the next evolution of the internet, we’re acting in the interests of human rights, human dignity and democracy. In other words, that we’re not just serving corporate interests.

It’s refreshing that people like me are able to kind of bend the ear of policymakers at quite a high level. We’re able to say this is what we know, this is how we might do it differently, these are our recommendations. Rather than shouting from the edges, we’re now shouting from the middle.

Playing to our strengths

Let me give you an example. I was talking recently at an event run by Meta and Tech UK. One of the big questions there was what should the UK focus on. What do we want to be known for, celebrated for. Never one to hold back, I happily shared my thoughts with anyone who’d listen. While there’s lots of talk about STEM, about the UK being a centre for excellence in science and technology, I think there’s something else. What the UK has, has always had, is the capacity to have a strong creative arts and humanities sector – one that complements and works in tandem with our technology sector.

STEAM

The UK is actually pretty good at what we might call STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). There’s genuine uniqueness to the way that the UK has managed to powerfully combine the two. At UWE Bristol our College of Arts, Technology and Environment is a fantastic example of this approach in action. So yes, I’m working to show government the importance of this sweet spot of tech, arts and humanities.

Through STEAM, we can create whole new modes of storytelling and expression for creative practitioners. We should invest in STEAM, focus our energies into it. We can unlock even more creativity through critical engagement with technology and make a positive impact on the world around us.