VR and AR for Social Justice and Change

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We decided to take things in a different direction this issue, and highlight some of the great social justice VR and AR projects that are available right now. We also want to point out that safe, effective training is a social justice issue -- making sure people are trained around diversity and inclusion and micro-aggressions, as well as sexual harassment, creates a better and more positive environment for everyone. Additionally, training frontline workers, many of whom are BIPOC, to be able to do their work in a safe and empowering way is a win for all. 

The first piece we want to showcase is Nancy Baker Cahill's Liberty Bell, which is accessible via the 4th Wall app in six cities. The piece is connected to historical locations in each city, and reimagines the bell as a pulsing, changing mass, representing the continued evolution of the American experiment. 

We also want to highlight the work of NYC based AR collective Movers and Shakers, who have used AR to reimagine monuments and produced an AR project about Christopher Columbus, called "Columbus the Hero?" The group was also involved in the recent Occupy City Hall movement and we'll surely be seeing more amazing things from them soon. 

Finally, Felix and Paul's stunning VR piece, Traveling While Black, is now available on Oculus devices and is a must watch. It's one of the most interesting and immersive pieces we've seen in a long time, and the user feels so present to the stories they are hearing and the situations around them. 

We'd love to highlight more examples in the coming weeks -- if you've seen any amazing VR pieces around social justice and change, please let us know.