XR and Attention
Recent years have seen growing interest in Extended Reality (XR), a blurring of actual and virtual worlds that embraces immersive media formats and technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR), increasingly in collaboration with AI. Our project brings together scholars and creatives to investigate the problem of attention and perception in XR and explore what XR means for us at this present historical and technical moment. The wide range of what we consider ‘XR media’ and their entanglement with other digital technologies such as AI and IoT presents a compelling opportunity to engage and experiment with the phenomenological and anthropological dimensions of the notions of attention, perception, and experience. We seek to explore these ideas across three strategic areas: research, education, and creative experimentation.
We are interested in opening up discussion around the physiological and socio-cultural mechanisms of making and shaping attention in and with XR; how we might make XR spaces more body-caring and human-centred and how performing arts might inform the design of those spaces; and how we might reshape the knowledge of cultural heritage and create new centres of attention across disciplinary boundaries.
The project consists of a series of events, including a symposium on the problem of attention and perception in XR; XR and Attention seminars series; and an XR hackathon in collaboration with digital performing arts collective CyberRäuber (Germany) working at the intersection of theatre, Mixed Reality, and AI, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
XR and Attention Research Group is open to new members. If you would like to join the group and/or be added to the mailing list to receive news, please contact us at xrandattention@kcl.ac.uk.
Publications
- Zylinska, J. (2023). The Perception Machine: Our Photographic Future between the Eye and AI. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
- Janes, S. (2016). “You had to be there” – ARGs and Multiple Durational Temporalities. In S. Pesce, & P. Noto (Eds.), The Politics of Ephemeral Digital Media: Permanence and Obsolescence in Paratexts (Routledge Studies in New Media and Cyberculture). Routledge.
- Reading, A., Bjork, J., Hanlon, J., & Jakeman, N. (2021). The labour of place: Memory and extended reality (XR) in migration museums. Memory Studies, 14(3), 606-621.
- Salciute Civiliene, G. (2022). “The Phenomenological Turn: From Data Visualization to Perceptualization”. In Martins N., Brandão D. (Eds.), Advances in Design and Digital Communication II. DIGICOM 2021. Springer Series in Design and Innovation, vol 19. Springer, Cham.
The publication feed is not currently available.
Events

Through Estranged Eyes: Across Inner Dreams and Outer Worlds
“Through Estranged Eyes: Across Inner Dreams and Outer Worlds” is the creative outcome of the educational programme of King’s Department of Digital Humanities.
Please note: this event has passed.

XRthon: XR as a Narrative Operating System
The programme brings students from across institutions and disciplines to explore XR tools and accelerate skills development in design thinking with XR.
Please note: this event has passed.

Cognitive load in XR
Professor Polly Dalton (Royal Holloway) outlines how we can make the most of XR functionality without overloading people.
Please note: this event has passed.

Virtual Mountain Estate: From Static Representation to Experimental Remediation
This seminar will explore the Virtual Mountain Estate (VME) project, delving into how 3D modelling and XR technologies can critically reconstruct cultural...
Please note: this event has passed.

Altering Attention in Interactive 3D Album "Polytempo Music"
Altering Attention in Creating "Polytempo Music," an interactive 3D music album for VR and Mobile Devices.
Please note: this event has passed.
Publications
- Zylinska, J. (2023). The Perception Machine: Our Photographic Future between the Eye and AI. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
- Janes, S. (2016). “You had to be there” – ARGs and Multiple Durational Temporalities. In S. Pesce, & P. Noto (Eds.), The Politics of Ephemeral Digital Media: Permanence and Obsolescence in Paratexts (Routledge Studies in New Media and Cyberculture). Routledge.
- Reading, A., Bjork, J., Hanlon, J., & Jakeman, N. (2021). The labour of place: Memory and extended reality (XR) in migration museums. Memory Studies, 14(3), 606-621.
- Salciute Civiliene, G. (2022). “The Phenomenological Turn: From Data Visualization to Perceptualization”. In Martins N., Brandão D. (Eds.), Advances in Design and Digital Communication II. DIGICOM 2021. Springer Series in Design and Innovation, vol 19. Springer, Cham.
The publication feed is not currently available.
Events

Through Estranged Eyes: Across Inner Dreams and Outer Worlds
“Through Estranged Eyes: Across Inner Dreams and Outer Worlds” is the creative outcome of the educational programme of King’s Department of Digital Humanities.
Please note: this event has passed.

XRthon: XR as a Narrative Operating System
The programme brings students from across institutions and disciplines to explore XR tools and accelerate skills development in design thinking with XR.
Please note: this event has passed.

Cognitive load in XR
Professor Polly Dalton (Royal Holloway) outlines how we can make the most of XR functionality without overloading people.
Please note: this event has passed.

Virtual Mountain Estate: From Static Representation to Experimental Remediation
This seminar will explore the Virtual Mountain Estate (VME) project, delving into how 3D modelling and XR technologies can critically reconstruct cultural...
Please note: this event has passed.

Altering Attention in Interactive 3D Album "Polytempo Music"
Altering Attention in Creating "Polytempo Music," an interactive 3D music album for VR and Mobile Devices.
Please note: this event has passed.
Our Partners

Guildhall School of Music and Drama
