Research Talks featuring Prof. Neil Randall

Join the Office of Research for presentations and a panel discussion examining virtual reality applications, featuring:

Neil Randall

Understanding complex issues through virtual reality narratives

Neil Randall is an associate professor, English Language and Literature, and director of the Games Institute. Since 2010, his research has focused on studying game-driven interactions and technologies. In 2012, he was awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Grant to form a games research network, now called IMMERSe, which studies player experience and behaviour. At Research Talks, he will discuss the potential of virtual reality to help us understand the intricacies of complex situations and issues.

Jennifer Boger

Using virtual reality games to promote fitness for older adults living with dementia 

Jennifer Boger is assistant professor, systems design engineering, and Schlegel Chair in Technology for Independent Living at the Research Institute for Aging. Her research focuses on the development of innovative and accessible technologies that improve quality of life for older adults. She is currently exploring the use of virtual reality to help older adults exercise. At Research Talks, she will discuss the co-creation of zero-effort virtual reality games that enable older adults living with dementia to perform best-practice exercises that target range of motion, strength, and cardio fitness. 

Ben Sainsbury

Virtual environments for surgical education 

Ben Sainsbury is chief executive officer at Marion Surgical, a virtual reality surgical simulation rehearsal platform. A PhD Computer Science candidate from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Ben is a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record for selling 3D software and has successfully managed virtual reality development projects for the entertainment and medtech space. At Research Talks, he will discuss how Marion Surgical's virtual reality simulators, with haptic feedback (sensory touch and feel), provide a 3D immersive learning environment that allows surgeons to learn, collaborate, and practice procedures in a virtual environment. 

Evan Jones

Interactive and impactful storytelling through virtual reality

Evan Jones is founder, creative director, and producer at Stitch Media, an interactive media production services company which tells stories using new technology. A two-time Emmy Award winner, Evan has been recognized as a Top 10 New Media Groundbreaker by the Bell Fund, and his interactive documentary work has won Best in Electronic Culture at the UNESCO World Summit. He has guest lectured on the art & business of interactive storytelling nationally and internationally. At Research Talks, Evan will outline the opportunities and limitations of virtual reality and the impact on storytelling for creative teams.