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Mixed Reality: AR, VR, 3D by Robin McKean | This newsletter was created with Smore, an online tool for creating beautiful newsletters for educators, nonprofits, businesses and more

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What happens when Indigenous rangers and state of the art virtual reality technology meet? You get 'Indigenous reality'.

At the moment there are 7 videos in total with locations across NSW that include Sydney Harbour, Katoomba, Kosciuszko National Park, Lake Mungo, Dorrigo National Park & the Coffs Harbour region. In each video, an Aboriginal ranger shares some of their knowledge from that region. This knowledge includes language, Dreaming stories, information about plants and animals as well as Aboriginal history that stretches back for thousands of years.

Indigilab are the group who teamed up with the Aboriginal rangers to produce the videos. The videos were originally recorded for the Wilderquest educational website with support from the NSW National Parks & Wildlife service.

The good news is these 360 videos are available for everyone. They are designed to be a tool for knowledge sharing that will be around for generations to come. Even though the project was created for school based learning, they have the power to captivate viewers of all ages anywhere around the world.

How many tourists have been to Sydney Harbour but went back home without any knowledge of the regions Indigenous story?

Will you help share these amazing videos? With enough demand, we could see this project rolled out into other areas of Australia. The videos can be found on Vimeo and can be viewed with a smart phone, tablet, computer or laptop. But for the best experience you gotta get your hands on a Virtual Reality headset and a good internet connection.

Be sure to check out all 7 of the deadly videos, let us know which one was your favourite and where else you would like to see more videos made.

To learn more about the Indigilab team and their story behind this project, check out the article published by NITV.

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Watch: Indigenous Reality adds new dimensions to Virtual Reality

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At the moment there are 7 videos in total with locations across NSW that include Sydney Harbour, Katoomba, Kosciuszko National Park, Lake Mungo, Dorrigo National Park & the Coffs Harbour region. In each video, an Aboriginal ranger shares some of their knowledge from that region.

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Virtual Songlines. 991 likes · 1 talking about this. Virtual Songlines is a program we're researching and developing to allow the creation of virtual heritage landscape of Australia's First Nations...

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Virtual Songlines | First Nations Software | Indigenous Design

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As Australia's leading First Nations Interactive Design Agency, we focus on four pillars which we integrate into our project delivery: 1.Cultural Heritage Experience Design 2.Authentic First Nations Virtual & Motion Development 3.Virtual Histories & Interactive Narrative Design 4.Virtual Heritage Experiences

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Updated September 20, 2018 08:47:32

Using virtual reality and video games to preserve Aboriginal culture is the next frontier, according to a man who proudly calls himself a virtual Jedi.

Brett Leavy is the leader of Virtual Songlines, a collection of first nations and non-indigenous game developers specialising in the recreation of precolonial Australia.

He has been working with students at St Saviours college in Toowoomba to reconstruct a digital interpretation of the local landscape from an Indigenous perspective.

"I'm trying to make it fun, I'm trying make it engaging," Mr Leavy said while in the Queensland city this week.

"Serious games is what we're producing - we're producing a type of simulation.

"We need to think about where we're going in the future, part of that is teaching the next generation.

"We want everybody to realise that, before the bricks and mortar of our cities and regional towns, first nations people called this place home and had called it home since time immemorial."

Mr Leavy is a Kooma man, whose Aboriginal roots link to the area around Bollon in south-western Queensland.

While he now travels the countryside, his connection to that country remains strong.

Accurately reflecting Indigenous worlds

The team works to accurately reflect how environments once looked.

"The whole landscape is rich with Aboriginal yarns - myths and legends, stories about how we survived, how we sustained ourselves, stories of bush foods," Mr Leavy said.

"If you go to any museum, you'll see tools and weapons and artefacts in and on display.

"How do those relate to context of country, how were they used, what were they used for?"

The digital design of the virtual environments they create draws on real world research, records and traditional knowledge.

"We do a lot of historical work, there's a lot of stuff done by [archaeologists], historians, about First Nations people, there's a lot of things in articles that are written about us in old newspapers," Mr Leavy said.

"There's a lot of content - we're talking about hundreds and hundreds of years of stuff."

Filling gaps in knowledge

The workshop at St Saviours College in Toowoomba is part of a focus on science, technology, engineering and maths.

But as well as building digital skills, it is also helping to fill gaps in knowledge about Australia's Aboriginal history.

"Indigenous culture, when talked about in history in high school, is not so much about the present condition, more about the past," Year Nine student Kate Hudson-James said.

"But I think that's important to talk about with the present condition and the way that over history, things can intertwine and influence each other."

For Sophie Elara, the marriage of technology and Aboriginal story telling represents a new opportunity.

"It's the first time really seeing an indigenous project, a STEM project in Toowoomba," she said.

"So it's really good to know that our Indigenous culture is spreading."

Reflecting Indigenous perspective

Ms Hudson-James said projects like this could help bridge socio-economic barriers.

"Technology, specifically is something that's been linked to, I guess, having money and privilege and that sort of thing," she said.

"Seeing Indigenous perspective connected to that and that opportunity opened up for girls who do have an Indigenous background would be amazing."

Brett Leavy's hope is that virtual reality can be a force that will change hearts and minds.

"We want people to better respect, understand and acknowledge Aboriginal people," he said.

"In a sense we've got to get digital Aboriginals moving around, or digital avatars or evangelists for us gathering that knowledge and filling that space.

"I call it a new technology for an ancient culture."

Topics: aboriginal, aboriginal-language, indigenous-culture, indigenous-protocols, games-industry, games-industry-professional-gaming, science, internet-technology, toowoomba-4350, brisbane-4000, bollon-4488

First posted September 19, 2018 06:19:12

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Using new tech to preserve an ancient culture

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Updated September 20, 2018 08:47:32 Using virtual reality and video games to preserve Aboriginal culture is the next frontier, according to a man who proudly calls himself a virtual Jedi. Brett Leavy is the leader of Virtual Songlines, a collection of first nations and non-indigenous game developers specialising in the recreation of precolonial Australia.

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Virtual Meanjin - A virtual heritage welcome to country

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Augmented Reality (AR) is a growing field of technology where real life is modified and enhanced by computer-generated sights and sounds.

The most common use of AR can be seen through mobile apps. Point your device's camera at something that the app recognizes, and it will generate a 3D animation or video superimposed over whatever is on your camera's screen. The effect makes the computer-generated item appear like it's really there.

App developers are building AR apps for fun, educational, and commercial uses.

20 Of The Best Augmented Reality Apps For The Classroom

Description: JigSpace allows you to learn about all sorts of things, from car engines to the Roman wars. Jigspace features up-close 3D diagrams, disassembling and reassembling 3D objects, and 3D models of historical battles, along with other quality features.

Price: Free - $49.99 subscription for added benefits.

2. Complete Anatomy 2021

Description: Complete Anatomy 2021 is a modern way to learn about the human body. With this app, you can take up-close 3D looks anywhere in the body: the heart, nerves, muscles, etc.

Price: $34.99 - $99.99 annual subscription.

Developer Description: Adobe Aero is an immersive AR app that students can use for learning or play. This app allows students to 'spawn' anything right in front of them and get a live look at the object before them.

Price: Free

Description: Animal Safari 3D is a way for students to learn about animals visually. Animal Safari features the ability to see 1:1 scale animals in 3D, hear live animal noises, move and rotate any animal you want, feed, and watch your animal eat. Students can also pull up any animal's information card and learn about its habitat, diet, etc.

Price: Free

Description: solAR is an AR solar system app that allows students to have fun learning about astronomy. Some of the features included are; a 3D visual representation of all of the planets, full-scale planets placed right before you giving you the ability to grasp the proper sizes of the planets, and informational cards to allow students to learn more about individual planets.

Price: Free

Description: AR Pianist is an interactive, modern way for students to learn how to play the piano, with features in the app; such as providing them with a virtual piano if they don't have one, famous virtual pianists that can play songs right in front of them, the ability to slow down songs, learn songs with interactive sheet music, live feedback, and more.

Price: Free

Description: ARvid is an interactive AR app that allows students to interact with animals, buildings and place full-scale objects right before them to create their very own artistic scenes, all while in 4K. ARvid also has all kinds of features, including 4K textures, vehicles, sci-fi, and more.

Price: Free

8. 3D Brush

Description: With 3D Brush students can add live effects to scenes right in front of them. Students can also use your finger to draw and write photorealistic stuff in the scene in front of you. Students can also take pictures of their creation to keep.

Price: Free

Description: Sky Guide makes stargazing for students simple. Just hold your device overhead, and the app will automatically find stars, constellations, planets, satellites, and more for you with ease. Some additional features included with the app allow you to get notifications from the International Space Station and see stars invisible to the human eye with an X-ray filter.

Price: $2.99

Description: Math Ninja AR makes learning math fun for younger children by incorporating physical movements such as; stretching, bending, squatting, crawling, reaching, and peering to find the answer through the many levels inside the app to help stimulate a child's memory and help them retain information.

Price: Free

11. Particular Augmented Reality

Description: This app allows students to create virtual, 3D art; it has all kinds of face filters, virtual UFOs, and more. It's a easy way to help younger students learn about art in a fun-related environment. It's also an easy-to-use app for aspiring graphic, comic, and 3D artists to learn about and create art.

Price: Free

Description: With Big Bang AR, you can watch the universe form right in front of you. This app is a fun way for students to learn about the history of the universe. Another feature allows you to create a supernova, explore the nebula, and other fun stuff.

Price: Free

Description: With Assemblr, students learn traditional academic content through virtual and augmented reality. Teachers can also create multiple online classrooms and record and present virtual 3D presentations.

Price: Free - $50 monthly subscription

Description: CamToPlan can be helpful to engineering or architectural students since it can virtually measure anything in front of them. This app can be beneficial for interior design, landscaping, and more.

Price: Free - $17.99

Description: Hyperspace AR allows students to scan their space and then create the art sculpture or decoration of their choice. Though the art within the app may be limited, it can help students learn to be more creative.

Price: Free

Description: Wonderscope is an interactive way to help younger students find enjoyment in reading. Wonderscope is constantly adding new books for your student or kid to discover and enjoy.

Price: Free

Description: Tracing Projector helps students learn to draw through a virtual tracing mechanism. It has all kinds of photos for students to trace, from the Mona Lisa to their own faces-you can even edit your photos once you're done drawing them.

Price: Free

Description: Halo AR allows you to take a picture of any flat object and overlay any photo, video, or 3D model on top of it. Halo AR also makes it easy to share the halos you create with students.

Price: Free

19. For All Mankind: Time Capsule

Description: This app allows students to use augmented reality to explore digitally artifacts from the early 80s.In that way, it is a mix of science and history-this could also be useful for homeschooled students.

Price: Free

Description: Google Lens is a useful way to help identify all sorts of plant life, learn about landmarks, translate words, or identify animals. All you have to do is hold your device up to what you want to learn about, and it'll tell you.

Price: Free

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12 Augmented Reality Apps For The Classroom

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Augmented Reality (AR) is a growing field of technology where real life is modified and enhanced by computer-generated sights and sounds. The most common use of AR can be seen through mobile apps. Point your device's camera at something that the app recognizes, and it will generate a 3D animation or video superimposed over whatever is on your camera's screen.