News
Page 4 // Feb. 1, 2017 @bsudailynews
Student immerses education, business in virtual reality
Computer science major creates independent study
Sara Barker Administration Reporter The first moment Bradley Ridge put on a virtual reality headset, he knew it was going to be big. “I felt that little kid feeling, when you go to a big city for the first time and you’re just surrounded by awe and wonder,” Ridge said. Ridge, a senior computer science major, created an independent study centered around virtual reality after experiencing it at his internship this past summer at Eli Lilly. During his internship, he worked with the virtual reality team and used augmented reality hololens devices. But it wasn’t until his roommate bought an HTC Vive system that Ridge realized what he wanted to do with virtual reality. “From that point on, I knew that this technology was going to change education and business altogether and I wanted to be a part of it, so I saved up for the last few months and I ended up purchasing an HTC Vive myself,” Ridge said. The HTC Vive is the virtual reality system Ridge uses in his study. The Vive, priced around $800, and other virtual reality systems, like the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear, are available to the public. Virtual reality has taken the world by storm. Canalys predicted in December 2016 that virtual reality headset sales worldwide exceeded two million last year and may grow to $20 million sales in the year 2020. Why such an explosion in popularity? Ridge chalks it up to the level of immersion virtual reality provides that screen-based interaction cannot. Not only can a user see a different world, but he or she can feel it and interact with it to the point that virtual reality is just that — a separate, real, digital world. “Where instead you look at a screen and you kind of feel and you understand that that’s there and spatially what it is like, it’s completely different when you are in the world itself with that object,” Ridge said. “And what these allow you to do is essentially forget that they’re handheld controls and think you’re in the world itself.” In his independent study, Ridge and his research assistants Isaac Walling
Patrick Calvert // DN
Bradley Ridge, a senior computer science major, adjusts his virtual reality headset before calibrating the controllers. Ridge is working with the computer science program in hopes of doing research with virtual reality and its role in education.
and Spencer Kolbus, both junior computer science majors, sponsored by Paul Gestwicki, associate professor of computer science, aimed to show how virtual reality can not only be incorporated into education and business, but also enhance them. “We are aiming to prove virtual reality not only belongs in education and business, but unlocks unprecedented potential,” Ridge said. “Isaac Walling, Spencer Kolbus and I will be comparing learning experiences utilizing threedimensional content in both virtual reality and on two-dimensional devices like iPads or computers.” Ridge has already communicated with Lifeliqe, a software developer that creates education resources to be used on tablets and virtual reality systems in the classroom for K-12 STEM learning. The software makes learning immersive by placing a student next to a stegosaurus in the virtual world, where he or she can reach out and touch the dinosaur to identify the head, feet, tail and other parts of the body. Another part of the independent study is an offer to demonstrate virtual reality to any departments, faculty or students
who want to experience it. Ridge has shown his virtual reality system to others before. Generally, there are three stages of being immersed that those new to the virtual world go through, he said.
MORE INFORMATION
Virtual reality has taken the world by storm. Canalys predicted in December 2016 that virtual reality headset sales worldwide exceeded two million last year and may grow to 20 million sales in the year 2020.
“Initial reaction is they’re just shocked,” Ridge said. “They can’t believe that it’s quite as detailed as what they’re actually experiencing. The second phase, they kind of become aware of their surroundings in the virtual world, and the third and final phase is they actually forget that they’re surrounded by a real setting.” To get involved in the study or to request a virtual reality demonstration, contact Bradley Ridge at ballstatevirtualreality@gmail.com. Contact Sara Barker with any questions or concerns at slbarker3@bsu.edu.
Grace Ramey // DN
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education recommended a $135 million appropriation for Ball State’s 2017-18 school year. The recommendation is 6 percent higher than the $126 million Ball State received for the current school year.
Indiana Commission for Higher Education releases appropriation
Ball State requests millions of dollars for repairs, more Mary Freda Multicultural Reporter
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education is recommending a $134 million appropriation for the 2017-18 school year. The request is 6 percent higher than the $126 million the university received for the current academic school year. The $134 million would be a part of ICHE’s $156 million appropriation for Ball State in 2017-18, which includes $2.7 million toward repairs and rehabilitation and $7.5 million toward line items. In order to further the progress of Ball State’s entrepreneurial agenda, the university is requesting $5 million from the
line items request to help create interactive learning spaces, such as those in Teachers College, Burkhardt Building and Robert Bell Building. The $5 million is slated to be dispersed over the next two years, according to the state biennial budget. Also included in Ball State’s biennial budget request is an $87.5 million capital request for the second phase of the university’s Health Professions Facilities. According to the Legislative Request Executive Summary, the new building will provide students with educational opportunities in “cutting-edge environments” that simulate the “worlds in which they will work after graduation.” For STEM majors, this means updated lab technology and a new facility — something students haven’t seen since Cooper was built in the 60s.
This facility will be directed toward students majoring in chemistry, biology and physiology and will feature modern teaching and research labs and updated equipment. The university also plans to focus on four other capital projects, including expanding and renovating the College of Architecture and Planning, renovating the Whitinger Business Building, renovating and expanding instruction spaces in the Department of Theatre and Dance and replacing campus utility tunnels and infrastructure. The university has requested capital funds for all five building and projects, which totals $156.5 million. Contact Mary Freda with any questions or concerns at mafreda@bsu.edu.
IMMIGRATION Continued from page 1
University spokesperson Joan Todd confirmed that 12 students — five students from Libya, four from Iraq, two from Iran and one from Yemen — are currently enrolled and are from countries whose citizens are currently banned from entering the United States. Niloofar Rajabli, an Iranian second-year graduate student in biology, attended the forum to better understand what the ban means for her future in the U.S. “It kind of affects my concentration on a lot of stuff, ... but it doesn’t directly affect me because of the type of decision I have for my life,” Rajabli said. “I’m already in the states.” Rajabli came to the U.S. two years ago for graduate school, and hopes tensions over the ban smooth out. “After 90 days, I hope that it’s going to be resolved, because many people’s lives are affected,” Rajabli said. As an employee in domestic admissions, Kylie Wright also went to the forum to learn about how the ban will affect her job. “Hearing Dr. King talk and give a little bit of personal insight into it was good, I think,” Wright said. “I know a lot of people are wanting to hear a little bit more of that, more so than like the email that was just sent out to the university. I think a lot of people are wanting more of a statement. So, it was kind of cool to hear that, just to know that the university, in general, does have the same view that I would assume that most of us have.” Saleem Abufares, president of the Muslim Student Association, has been protesting the executive order with members of several Central Indiana mosques. He said he recently protested at the Indianapolis International Airport, and by joining individuals from “all different backgrounds,” he’s hopeful the message is being heard. “I went there to give support, and we went out there to protest against Trump’s immigration ban and to bring notice to rights of Americans and people visiting America,” Abufares said. “Initiating an immigration ban won’t solve these problems, [it] will cause more problems.” The junior construction management major was born in Indiana, and his parents are dual citizens of both Libya and the United States. Abufares said he’s traveled to Libya many times with his parents, and although his family won’t be affected by the ban, he’s unsure about what the future may hold. “A lot of people [in Libya] want to seek asylum in the United States for their own good because their country is war torn and they don’t have anywhere to live [or] anywhere to work,” he said. “Without work, you can’t really do anything.” Leslie Thomas, a senior communications major, has also been protesting the immigration ban. Thomas said he heard about protests going on in other parts of the country, and he joined Abufares at the Indianapolis airport to “take in everything that’s been going on.” “There is so much hate in the air, and a lot of it comes from social biases that are carried around by people who lack familiarity,” Thomas said. “I firmly believe that this is changeable, but it all starts with us by bringing familiarity to those who need it the most.” Thomas said by joining hands with others who want to welcome immigrants and citizens from “all countries,” he was able to understand the importance of diversity and inclusion. “The melting-pot symbolism that America has held for so many years is at a standstill,” Thomas said. “When countries think of America today, they will think of our president. They will think of this temporary ban that was put into place. They will think about how divisive we are as a nation. “As someone that currently lives in America, I am at a loss for words. The refugees are fleeing from war and terror. They do not want to bomb us or kill us. They want to live a wonderful life just like the rest of us.” University and college presidents around the state have been responding to the recent executive order as well. At Purdue University, President Mitch Daniels denounced the immigration ban in a statement, calling it “poorly implemented,” and Indiana University President Michael McRobbie called the executive order “contrary to the very core of our values.” King did not join other presidents in denouncing the ban, but in his statement Sunday, King said the university would help students in need of assistance. “It is important to restate that we are committed to our inclusive environment, and remain very supportive of all of our students, especially international students and faculty who might feel particularly vulnerable at this time,” King said in the statement. “We will continue to closely follow developments and provide appropriate support and assistance.” The next forum will be at 3 p.m. Friday in the Student Center Cardinal Hall B. Faculty and the public are invited to attend. Contact Casey Smith, Sara Barker & Abbie Gregory with any questions or concerns at news@bsudailynews.com