Digital Diversity (dDEI) Video Presentation

 After experiencing almost 2 years of pandemic lockdowns and movement restrictions, everyone has gained new appreciation for the safety and convenience of the virtual world including but not limited to online work, school and socializing. While web 3.0 technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can facilitate accessing immersive experiences that might have otherwise been unavailable or unreachable to many, it also creates space for new and unforeseen inequities. Immersive technological activities obscure diverse physical characteristics in virtual spaces introducing preference towards diverse experiences, uses, devices, purposes etc. potentially creating new designations of privileged and marginalized, hinged on the individual’s ability to participate in the digital space equitably, where the privileged are defined by those who “can” and the marginalized as those who “can’t”.

This introduces the question: “What does marginalization “look” like in an immersive virtual space and how can we reduce/minimize the effects?”. The workshop will include discussions and presentations from the panelists of varying disciplines exploring this question.

Come and join the open discussion!!