Introduction to BuildFest
The Texas Immersive Institute (TXI) recently hosted its second annual BuildFest competition, which took place from March 24-26. This event brought together teams of scholars who designed and developed augmented reality (AR) applications to deal with various social issues. These issues included mental health, environmental inequities, race visibility, gender inequalities, and access for disabled students.
What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality (AR) refers to applications that allow the actual and digital worlds to interact. Examples of AR applications include popular games like Pokemon GO and face filters on social media. During BuildFest, participants utilized AR software from the corporate eighth Wall to achieve hands-on experience in designing AR applications.
Addressing Social Issues through AR
One team focused on environmental inequities and race visibility by highlighting a constructing in Austin that was once home to a Black-owned newspaper but is now a coffee shop. Another team created an application to show people about microaggressions, while a 3rd team developed an app to assist individuals with executive function complete tasks. These projects exhibit the potential of AR to lift awareness about social issues and promote positive change.
Benefits of Participation
According to TXI director Erin Reilly, participating in BuildFest provides multiple advantages for college students. It opens doors to latest profession opportunities and provides students a way of how AR may be used for greater than just entertainment. Reilly also emphasized the wide accessibility of AR, making it a priceless tool for creating positive impact.
Organizing BuildFest
TXI fellow Zane Giordano organized BuildFest to indicate young people how they’ll use technology to make a positive impact on the longer term. The event aimed to make technology tangible and permit people to construct solutions for their very own lives, promoting optimism concerning the future.
Competition and Awards
Eleven teams competed in BuildFest, with the highest three teams receiving monetary awards: $1500 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. An additional team won a $100 Play Big award for his or her ambitious project. The first-place team created an AR application called RecyclAR, which teaches kids about proper recycling habits.
Winning Projects
The RecyclAR team, led by Zoey Kaul, focused on making a sustainability initiative and environmental motion while making an academic difference. Despite facing challenges, the team was thrilled to see their project come together. Project manager Madison Phelan expressed the team’s happiness and sense of accomplishment in bringing their vision to life.
Conclusion
The BuildFest competition demonstrates the potential of AR to deal with social issues and promote positive change. By providing students with hands-on experience in designing AR applications, TXI goals to empower the subsequent generation of innovators to make a difference. As TXI director Erin Reilly noted, the event helps students develop a deeper understanding of social issues and inspires them to create solutions that may drive real change.
