DSV’s Luis Quintero demonstrating VR devices to kids and young people at Järvaveckan. Photo: Kista Science City.

Hello Luis, what was it like at Järvaveckan?

“Being part of Järvaveckan was an interesting experience. We got to share with kids and young people what we do at DSV related to immersive technologies. Four students from the Master’s Programme in Design for Creative and Immersive Technologies volunteered during four hours to showcase virtual reality applications to visitors. They taught people what the technology is about and let them play for a few minutes – either a videogame, an experience to play piano, or an application to make a drawing in the air rather than on a flat canvas.”

Were the visitors interested in trying out VR?

“Yes, these devices catch attention! Shortly after opening we already had a queue of people wanting to try what we brought. The DSV students could engage with several young people who were finishing gymnasium and were looking for inspiration on what to study next. A couple of them took our contact info and I am convinced they will be studying either game design or virtual reality soon. I think that kind of inspiration was the main point of the activity.”

I understand that you teamed up with some of our neighbours here in Kista – tell us about the context!

“We were sharing a tent with Kista Science City and several other organisations where people could experiment with the future’s technology. There were many interesting projects, for example how to teach coding skills to children or perform chemistry experiments. The role of DSV was to showcase immersive technologies, which may become more important in the future to complement what people do with smartphones today. As researchers and students at DSV, it is rewarding to participate in activities closer with society because we get to exercise our communication skills. In an event like this, we need to convey in simple terms why the things we do are important.”

Finally, is there a fun memory that you’d like to share from the day?

“Yes, I’m thinking about an adult who tried to draw in 3D but gave up after one minute saying: ‘I don’t understand what to do’. When he removed the headset, his daughter who was around 4 years old said: ‘I also want to try’. We didn’t let young children try because the devices are recommended from 12 years of age. But when the dad also asked, we just held the headset to the girl’s eyes and gave her one controller. Immediately, she scribbled something in 3D and said: ‘I drew an icecream!’. It was very funny, and it also showed first-hand how the young generation comes wired by default to interact with technology – even if it’s completely unknown and different from smartphones”.

Text: Åse Karlén