Virtual Reality in Los Angeles

Throughout 2018, I'll be based out of Los Angeles (so long, winter!) doing anthropological fieldwork for my current research on virtual reality. I chose LA because I'm interested in whether the place where a technology is being developed matters. Is VR - and conversations about VR - different in LA than, say, NYC or Silicon Valley? How do places shape the story of tech?

This research is funded by an NSF Scholars Award (#1656023) and will (fingers crossed) result in a book. I'm hoping that throughout the year I will come to learn about the diversity of VR work being done in LA - by the universities, at the start ups, and by the entertainment industry. You'll find me hanging out at labs, taking classes, working on shoots, and at meet-ups, getting to know the enthusiastic population alongside the professionals (new and established).

If you do VR in LA and think your project might benefit from an anthropologist hanging around or even helping out on your VR work (for free - thanks NSF!), please drop a line. I'd love to chat more and see if our interests align.

I'm particularly interested in hearing about/from

• work by women and minorities
• work in the "VR for good" genre
• projects that experiment with engaging multiple senses
• experiences that have an interesting take on what it means to be somewhere