Deep Dive in Five: Lacey Nein Talks Augmented and Virtual Reality at the King Library’s KLEVR Lab

Lacey Nein, '18 BFA, '21 MFA Digital Media Art, completed her master's thesis at San José State at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant she had to think outside the box when it came time to exhibiting her graduate thesis in a physical gallery. While she did secure a gallery space on campus, she knew that a limited number of people would be able to experience her work in person - so she utilized the same skills she'd developed as a graduate student. She did a 3D scan of each piece and exhibited them online in an interactive gallery space.

"I brought my work into virtual reality so people could actually visit the exhibit," says Nein. "That's when I really started diving into VR and virtual worlds. During COVID, I realized that no one saw the 'real' exhibit, but everyone experienced the digital one, which reflected our life at the time."

Fast-forward a few years, and now Nein is exploring advancements in augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) as the emerging technologies lab coordinator at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. As manager of the King Library Experiential Virtual Reality (KLEVR) Lab , Nein instructs students and faculty on how to use AR and VR to support their research, develop their own projects or experiment with new ideas. Nein agreed to participate in today's Deep Dive in Five on emerging technologies at King Library.

What is the KLEVR Lab?

Lacey Nein (LN): The King Library Experiential Virtual Reality (KLEVR) Lab provides learning and instruction through the use of AR and VR technologies. SJSU students and faculty can learn in an interactive, experiential environment or develop their own projects.

The lab offers two high-end VR gaming computers and a Playstation 5 for use with Virtual Reality games and software. Oculus Quest 3, HTC Vive Pro 2 and Playstation VR are all available for checkout and use inside the KLEVR Lab. Steam and Unity are available with pre-installed VR games and software or you can bring your own account and utilize our equipment.

How do you define 'emerging technology?'

LN: Emerging technology is something newly developed that hasn't become completely mainstream yet. While AI is what comes to everyone's mind right now, I focus more on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), tools that merge the digital with the real world to assist people in their daily lives. For example, Snapchat is creating AR glasses that they are using to help blind people with spatial recognition.

When you think of AR, you may think of Pokemon Go or video games, but really, AR can help people with spatial recognition, wayfinding and helping us navigate the world. AR can also help bring communities together. I've been a gamer my whole life, and I have so many friends online. There are communities in digital spaces that exist because VR and AR are really powerful in creating social groups that people wouldn't normally have access to.

VR can also be really useful for education and training because it helps you get immersed in an experience. People building potentially dangerous skills - think of the professionals who climb power lines for utility companies - can do so from the safety of their own home.

Tell us about a day in the life of an emerging technology lab coordinator.

LN: My students and I are here to help people learn about technology. Students come by the lab all the time and we show them VR. We have a bunch of games that they can try and we get them familiar with the lab.

I'm also trying to bring in better networking tools and education for students so that they have better tools for when they graduate. We're joining the VR/AR Association , a global association that will be awesome for networking. I'm also bringing in my personal network to San José State so that students can really make great connections and learn what's happening in the industry. I'm bringing tools to the lab and teaching workshops with companies like HTC, maker of the VIVE VR headset.

I'm also trying to bridge the gap between engineering and art by teaching students how to apply really useful skills. I see our role at the KLEVR Lab as showing students how to use the skills learned in the classroom, like making 3D models or coding, with the latest tools that industry is using.

What's one myth about emerging technologies that you'd like to dispel?

LN: Emerging technologies, including AR and VR, are about more than just gaming. You can share stories, immerse others in your story, share narratives and art.

My first VR job was at San José State, as an AR/VR management intern for the late Jon Oakes. He helped me understand that AR and VR have so much potential. One thing I really appreciated about Jon was that he was open to all people, from beginner to expert, to come to the lab. He showed me that people who are truly beginners are not boxed into a mindset of how technology should be used. The KLEVR Lab is a place where you can learn and have fun.

In that same spirit, the KLEVR Lab is open to all majors. I have English majors who come in because they can use any of these technologies to really shed light on the stories they are writing, the journalism they are pursuing.

What main message would you like to share about the KLEVR Lab and your work with SJSU?

LN: The KLEVR Lab is for everyone. All of my student assistants are super helpful; they know how to build in VR and they can teach you what you need to know. We're trying to offer at least one workshop a month that relates to building in different technologies - AR, VR, even robotics. If you're interested in learning about emerging technologies, all you need to do is stop by.

Learn more about the KLEVR Lab at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library.