Virtual and augmented reality are changing the way MIT creates performing arts events. What if you could bring to life 19th century operas with the power of immersive technology? That’s exactly what MIT is doing with Wagner’s classic operas “Parsifal” and “Siegefried.”

Select attendees view the opera with AR to see both the performers live on stage and added 3D effects that invites viewers to participate in the opera in new and interconnected ways. With AR, attendees of the iconic Beyruth Festival can experience mythical elements coming to life in ways that have only lived in the imagination or in limited set designs before.

While we’ve only touched the surface of how AR can interact with performing arts, MIT leads the way as an innovator of immersive technology. We discuss common obstacles and challenges to using XR in education, advice for new adopters, and share stories of how XR is being used at MIT.

Quote:

“A big issue for us was figuring out how to manage headsets and rapidly deploy updates, track battery life, firmware and software updates. We couldn’t find a way to implement managing XR technology on our own. When we found ArborXR, it was the magic bullet. It was the thing that solved everything, so we didn’t have to worry about it. When you’re moving at such a fast pace with immersive technology, you need something that just makes it work and ArborXR does that for us.”

“Even with a small amount of headsets, managing headsets can be really difficult and managing each headset can be so painful. On top of that, we needed a tool like ArborXR to manage kiosked VR experiences remotely for our users.”

Timestamps:

First experiences in virtual reality (02:21)
What was the response to using VR in opera (04:46)
The need for XR device management (09:01)
Using augmented reality for Wagner’s “Parsifal” (10:05)
Approaching using AR in a historical threatre (13:38)
How does immersive technology help draw younger audiences? (20:24)
What’s your “why” for being involved in XR? (22:47)
Advice for new adopters (28:57)

About the Guest:

Joshua Higgason is a technical instructor at MIT with a focus on video, lighting, scenic, and interactive designer for theater, opera, concerts, and live performances. He has designed and consulted for The Builders Association, Big Dance Theater, MoMA, MassMoCA, Theatre for One/Christine Jones, The Windmill Factory, and TED. He teaches design at MIT.

Recent projects include Hansel und Gretel (projections; Teatro Alla Scala); King Arthur (projections; Statsoper Berlin); Die Dreigroschenoper (projections; Salzburger Festspiele); Nico Muhly’s Control (Five Landscapes for Orchestra) (video, scenic; Utah Symphony); Ira Glass' Seven Things I've Learned Tour (projections); Persona (video and lighting; Dir. Jay Scheib); Sufjan Stevens’ Carrie and Lowell Tour 2015 (video); Radiolab’s Apocalyptical Tour (video, scenic, lighting); Powder her Face (video; NYC Opera; Dir. Jay Scheib); and The Ambassador (video; BAM; Dir. John Tiffany).

About MIT:

The MIT community is driven by a shared purpose: to make a better world through education, research, and innovation. Founded to accelerate the nation’s industrial revolution, MIT is profoundly American. With ingenuity and drive, their graduates have invented fundamental technologies, launched new industries, and created millions of American jobs.

At the same time, and without the slightest sense of contradiction, MIT is profoundly global. MIT’s community gains tremendous strength as a magnet for talent from around the world. Through teaching, research, and innovation, MIT’s exceptional community pursues its mission of service to the nation and to the world.

About ArborXR:

ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-higgason-4368143/
Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/
Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/
Learn more about getting started with XR in our ultimate guide to managing VR training for work: https://arborxr.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-managing-vr-training-for-work/

MIT: Exploring Extended Reality in Historic Operas 34:19 Share

XR Industry Leaders

Shownotes Transcript

MIT: Exploring Extended Reality in Historic Operas