The COMD Futures Collaboratory supports faculty and student research in emerging technologies, including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) in art, design, and advertising.
The initiative aims to put emerging technology into the hands of our faculty and students to help them to imagine, innovate, and design immersive experiences.
Hands-on access to immersive tech will allow COMD faculty and students to gain experience using and designing for emerging technologies, expand our experience design toolbelts, and adapt to the coming industry changes.
Use the Contact form to schedule a meeting or contact Prof. Jenna Spevack for more information.
Current Activities
The student-led project “Campus WhispAR,” is a augmented reality research project that asks if AR can be an ally to socialization. COMD and Emerging Media students SALLY CHEN, AMIR GAMBLE, and ISABELLA RAMOS began research in Fall 2025:
“While technology connects us digitally, it often creates social distance; Campus WhispAR, investigates how curiosity and anonymity can foster in-person connections by blending digital interactions with physical spaces through augmented reality (AR). We are developing an AR installation where participants can use their mobile devices to post and read anonymous messages that appear virtually on cafeteria walls. Built with open-source tools like AR.js and MindAR.js, along with HTML, CSS, and Blender for 3D modeling, the experience explores new forms of digital interaction that enhance – rather than replace – physical presence.”
History
The COMD Futures Collaboratory was conceived by Prof. Jenna Spevack when she was awarded a GRTI grant in early 2019 to set up a small lab to support COMD faculty and students interested in learning more about emerging and immersive technologies.
The equipment finally arrived in late 2019 and was installed in early 2020 in Pearl 125. The lab was outfitted with several types of head-mounted displays, VR kits, 360 video cameras, and supporting equipment for student and faculty research.
Sadly, the COVID pandemic shut down the initiative and access to the lab, but the initiative rebooted in Spring 2022 and continues to produce exciting student-focused projects.
Since 2022, we have produced several AR projects in partnership with Membit.co, a geolocative augmented reality (AR) storytelling platform. Membit co-founder and CEO Jay Van Buren has been available to meet remotely with students and faculty to explore how the augmented reality app can be used for creative projects and academic research.
Check out the Projects page for a listing of recent and past projects.