Making Sense of Space

Iryna Kuksa holds a permanent Research Fellowship in the School of Art and Design, Nottingham Trent University, UK. In her research, Iryna examines a suite of rapidly-developing communication and computer-visualization techniques, which enable reciprocal exchange between viewers, artefacts and spaces, and transform the way we experience, learn and co-create our culture. She researches immersive virtual environments, which are already an important aspect of current teaching and research, and promise enormous future potential for scholars in terms of understanding virtual ecologies and sustainability of virtual performance spaces. Mark Childs is a Senior Research Fellow at Coventry University, UK, where he develops and researches online synchronous learning experiences and virtual collaborations, with 15 years experience in this field and work on over 30 educational technology projects. He holds a PhD on learners’ experience of presence in virtual worlds, and his research interests include virtual collaboration; digital identity; embodiment; and telepresence. Mark also works as an independent educational consultant, conducting evaluation and writing on behalf of funding agencies, universities, private sector technology companies, and museums.

• List of figuresAcknowledgementsAbout the authorsIntroductionPart 1: Spaces, presence, realities … Chapter 1: Remediating technology, translating experience, immersing in spaces Abstract:A history of virtual spaces and definitions of basic termsSpaces in virtual and augmented reality: an explanation of the concept of telepresence and mixed realityCultural use of cyberspace – paradigms of digital realityRemediation and translation: the different theoretical approaches adopted in this bookConclusion Part 2: Creating virtual spaces Chapter 2: Virtual spaces – ‘work-in-progress’: software, devices and design principles Abstract: Chapter 3: Art, history and culture in digital spaces Abstract: Chapter 4: Theatre in the virtual day and age Abstract:ConclusionNote Part 3: Experiencing virtual spaces Chapter 5: Two models to conceptualize space Abstract:Living in virtual spacesThe experience of spatialityEmotional agency in virtual spacesThe engagement of beliefTo Activity Theory and beyond Chapter 6: Other spaces, and other ways of making sense of them Abstract:Entering into a world of make-believeNeither here nor there – the state of metaxisPassing between: crossing the threshold between realitiesMore spin on the concept: the dichotomy between apparent and actual intent Chapter 7: First, second, third and fourth places – making extra sense of space Abstract: Chapter 8: Virtual worlds in education Abstract:The status of virtual worlds c. 2010Conclusion Part 4: Making sense of space – the practitioner perspective Chapter 9: Moving towards the alien ‘other’ … Abstract:Conclusion Part 5: Conclusion Chapter 10: The future of spaces – physical or virtual? Abstract:Digital to virtual: is cyberspace a space?Moving from physical to virtual: losses and gainsPsychological and perceptual immersion in physical, virtual and augmented realitiesLearning in virtual worldsCommunicating history in virtual worldsCommunicating performance in virtual worldsIs the future ‘phyrtual’? GlossaryReferencesIndex

"It investigates the innovative and creative ways designers employ VWs for research, performance-making, and audience engagement. It also looks into how educators use these spaces to support their teaching practice, as well as the potential of VWs as new methods of communication, and the ways they are changing our perception of reality." --LISTrends.com, 2014"...a detailed analysis of digital spaces and their use in educational, design, performance and cultural environments…contains performance and education case studies written by practitioners in those fields." --Multimedia Information & Technology, November 2014