The European Metaverse Research Network (EMRN) is conducting interdisciplinary research into the concept and practise of the metaverse to explore the implications of this transformative technology.
The Academic Chair for the Responsible Development of the Metaverse aims to organize webinars and fund research papers for the purpose of analyzing the ethical and legal questions of the metaverse.
The Immersive Democracy Project explores new insights and opens spaces for transdisciplinary debates on the following questions, among others: How can the metaverse be designed to be inclusive and open? How can immersive technologies contribute to strengthening democracy? What measures can be taken to counter the instrumentalization for hate, radicalization, and polarization? In this way, we can contribute to developing a better internet. The aim of the project is to gain new insights and to establish a network of experts that can accompany the design of a democratic metaverse.The project is headed by Prof. Dr. Matthias Quent (University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal
The project aims to map the current and emerging possibilities of using immersive VR education in the Swedish school system. Questions being asked include: To what extent have VR technologies already been used in schools, and what are its effects in practice? What problems should immersive tools be solving? What ethical, medical, technical and practical considerations need to be made? Which pedagogical VR experiences are out there and how effective are they? What could a cohesive VR school concept look like like, and what do the experts think of that concept? The VR school research project is led by Petter Wanerberg at the unit for User Centered Digitalization at Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE).
The project, undertaken by the Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering and namely by the team directed by Prof. Lucio Lamberti and Giuliano Noci aims at understanding the possible applications of the metaverse in business and its potential economic impact. In particular, the team will analyze metaverse uses and possible reactions by users, levering also on the applied neuroscience research carried out in the team, in order to understand the areas of applicability, the implications and the possible size of the induced economy. A particular focus will be on those very industries characterizing economies as Italy’s, i.e. with a strong tradition of excellent manufacturing and a great reliance on SMEs. Furthermore, the team is analyzing impacts on such industries as tourism and education in which some social, large-scope impacts may be depicted.
