“Building Inclusive, Expansive Virtual Futures”
VRiend Lab
//Website incoming, Placeholder PageThe VRiend (“Friend”) Research Lab, hosted at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Computer Science, is dedicated to pioneering research in virtual reality (VR) (+AR/XR) to design, develop, understand, and evaluate inclusive human-computer interaction (HCI), collaborative social networks, and transformative learning within blended realities. Our group employs several research methods, including user studies, case studies, practical applications, and multidisciplinary collaborations and co-design.
If you are interested in an MSc or PhD in the following research areas, please feel free to reach out (2026 is full, now looking to fall 2027):
- VR Learning Frameworks — Developing and evaluating multi-platform, multi-user VR learning frameworks.
- Social VR in Learning Spaces — Investigating adaptive multi-user VR use and collaborative interactions within classrooms, museums, and other social learning spaces.
- Assessment Strategies in VR — Developing and evaluating new methods for guiding and assessing learning in virtual learning environments (VLEs).
- Transformative Learning in VR — Developing and evaluating new methods for enhancing transformative learning (critical skills acquisition and behavioural change) in VR.
- Inclusive VR Interaction Techniques — Co-designing with relevant stakeholders to develop and evaluate more inclusive VR interaction methods for diverse learners.
- Social Phenomena in Virtual Worlds — Exploring social interactions, collaboration, and identity formation within virtual environments (VEs).
- Cultural Heritage & Blended Realities — Connecting physical and virtual environments for public accessibility, preservation, and dissemination.
More information coming soon …