Frequently Asked Questions

What is Virtual Reality? 

Virtual reality is an artificial area that is created with software and presented to the player in such a way that they suspend belief and accept it as a real environment using sight and sound. 

What is Esports?

Esports is a form of competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams.

General Information:

• • The Advanced Media Lab was founded in 2015.
  • The lab is named The Advanced Media Lab (AML).
  • The AML develops virtual reality and augmented reality technologies that contribute to the education and research mission of the Northern Arizona University.
  • The AML is run as an internship program. 
  • Undergraduate students work as interns for credit at the AML. 
  • The Lab is funded by external and internal grants to support new research and technology development.
  • The AML is collaborating with several disciplines across NAU, including criminology, psychology, music, earth science, archeology, audiology, and astronomy.
  • The Lab plans to expand to a 1,500 square foot lab.
  • In 2018 with grant funding the AML hired two project managers and a lab manager.
  • With support from its home college, the AML is hiring two graduate research assistants to work on grant funded research projects. 
  • In 2016 the AML became a service center, enabling it to do business with external public and private entities as well as research groups within the university.

Technology:

• • The current AML is comprised of a 6 workstation lab running Unreal Engine, Unity, Maya, 3Ds Max, and Adobe CC. 
  • The lab features Oculus Rift, Vive, and Augmented Reality headsets.
  • The AML has an audio-video studio for 360 video and audio production.
  • The audio-video suite features a Kandao 360 camera and drone for aerial photography.
  • The AML has completed a design for a 1,500 square foot state-of-the-art facility to be built in the School of Communication. 
  • The AML, in collaboration with the NAU Cline Library, will open a new virtual reality learning studio.

Grants:

• • The AML has written more than 8 million dollars worth of external grants pending to seek funding for research and development. 
  • In 2018 the Lab won a $75,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation to develop interactive VR and video projects. 
  • Active grants include SHERC NIH pilot grant for geo social games and emotional well-being of Native populations.
  • The AML has won the first NSF collaborative grant with Lowell Observatory for $800,000.