Anodyne is a virtual reality experience that places the user onboard a dystopian ship long after the destruction of Earth. Now homesick for their roots, the remaining population has immersed themselves in their own virtual realities to recreate what they lost. The user will be left questioning: "What is real?"
We came up with our project idea after researching and discussing themes of space, homesickness, liminal spaces, and technology's impact on human relationships. The overarching theme of Anodyne revolves around virtual reality's impact on society and how we see the world. To bring this idea to life, we used the Unity game engine, C# scripting, and 3d modeling tools such as Maya and Cinema4D.
In the physical installation, the visitor will walk into a tent where they can see a projection of what is happening in virtual reality. Once they put on the headset and enter the VR experience, they can investigate the ship and interact with the passengers. This, along with the final scene, will help the user explore both the benefits and hazards of VR while questioning what makes something a "reality" in the first place.
Anodyne was installed and experienced by many at the University of Maryland's annual Immersive Media Design showcase from May 3rd - May 5th, 2023.