Introduction to Virtual and Augmented Reality

About the Course

This course intends to introduce the learners to the domains connected to Extended Reality (XR). It covers the evolution of Virtual Reality (VR), the technology behind VR, its components, and the design processes for creating immersive, interactive experiences. Students will also learn about XR’s applications across industries and its potential to transform interactions with technology.
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The course counts towards 6 credits in the ePGD programme in Interaction Design offered by IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay.

Who should attend?

This programme is for you if you are:

A postgraduate student in design interested in exploring the medium of XR (virtual, augmented and mixed reality).
A researcher or professional in the design industry who wishes to understand the potential of XR and associated emerging technologies.
An interaction designer, a user interface designer or a user experience designer who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of designing for XR.
An educator or faculty member in design or related fields who wants to teach introductory courses related to immersive media design.

For this course, it is preferred that you have a basic understanding of design principles and practices, familiarity with interaction design practices, and an openness to exploring the development processes in game engines.

Goals and Outcomes

Intended outcomes of the course:

Understand the history and evolution of Virtual Reality (VR) and Extended Reality (XR).
Gain in-depth knowledge of these technologies, including their components and functionality.
Learn the fundamentals of creating immersive, user-engaging environments in VR and XR.
Develop basic skills in designing interactive XR experiences, including creating 360-degree and spatial narratives.
Explore the applications of XR across various industries and its potential to transform human interaction with technology.

Contents and Schedule

The table below shows the planned contents for the in-person continuous version of the course. The weekend online version of the course will have a slightly different schedule but similar content. In both cases, these contents are indicative. Some content may be added in each instance of the course. Specific schedules for an instance of the course may also vary slightly.

Day

Session 1

Session 2

Day 1

Introduction to XR:
History & Evolution

The technology behind XR:
Components of VR/AR/MR

Day 2

Design Process:
Interactive Experiences

Development Process:
Augmented Reality

Day 3

Group Work:
Brainstorming & Ideation

Development Process:
Virtual Reality

Break

Hands-on XR Demo sessions

Break

Background Work & Initial Prototyping

Day 4

Group Work:
Concept Presentation

Development Process:
Specific Topics

Day 5

Group Work:
Prototyping

Group Work:
Testing the Prototype

Day 6

Group Work:
Presentation of the outcome

Future of XR:
Discussion & Reflection

Course instructor(s)

Jayesh Pillai

Eligibility Criteria

You have an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) from a recognised university in any of these disciplines: design, engineering, architecture, fine arts, applied arts, information architecture, ergonomics / human factors, writing and communication.
OR
You have any other undergraduate degree from a university recognised by IIT Bombay and if you have work experience in the industry of 3 years or more in any of these roles: user interface designer, user experience designer, web developer, information architect, graphic designer, visual designer, copywriter, product manager, brand manager.

Credits and Certification

Participants get 6 credits after passing this course which count towards the ePGD in Interaction Design from IIT Bombay. Please refer to the Credits / Certification section of the FAQs for more details.