By Michelle Bunting

Windows Into Homelessness uses the latest 360° video technologies to immerse viewers in Perth experiences of homelessness. Wearing virtual reality headsets, people see different real-world scenarios of homelessness that challenge their preconceived ideas on the subject and provide a deeper understanding of the realities of living homeless.

The project came about during my time as a Learning Technologist at the Centre for Education Futures UWA. I was in the fortunate position of researching how new/existing video technologies could be used to engage students in their coursework.

The Centre acquired a GoPro Omni 360 array and it was my job to design a series of pilot projects that would allow us to test the effectiveness of this new technology in inspiring students to study. It was important that the projects we implemented not only improved student learning but had the potential for broader community engagement.

See, the power of 360 is in its ability to immerse viewers in different ways of experiencing the world. Audiences gain new perspectives which helps build understanding and empathy towards people and situations they may otherwise have no point of reference to. Immersive video technologies are a bridge to the unfamiliar.

As I discussed with colleagues at the Centre for Social Impact UWA, people experiencing homelessness are severely misrepresented in the media. For this reason we believed 360 videos could be a powerful way of presenting students with more a more accurate understanding of the realities of homelessness in Perth. In particular, it could provide a powerful learning experience for students of Changing the World: Social Innovation, Finance & Enterprise at the Centre for Social Impact UWA and those competing in The Big Idea competition at UWA who are tasked with designing a social enterprise initiative that improves the lives of people experiencing disadvantage.

Our next steps are to meet with service providers St Bartholomew’s House, Ruah and St Patrick’ Community Centre to discuss their involvement with the project. We’ll then research Perth experiences of homelessness. It is so important the film provide accurate statistical information to support genuine accounts of Perth experiences of homelessness. What follows is a week of camera testing. We are working with new and somewhat complicated technology so we have arranged for a week of camera testing before we start filming. Production is over three weeks and then we are straight into screenings at the Social Impact Festival 2017, presented by the Centre for Social Impact UWA in Perth.

 

Added 7 September 2017

Links to watch the video: