Professor Gary Burnett
University of Nottingham

Why are we doing this? An analysis of how immersive technology impacts on learning for education and training 

In this talk Professor Burnett will outline the key benefits and challenges for the use of virtual and augmented reality for education and training in road safety applications. He will draw upon fundamental knowledge gained from many prior studies highlighting where immersive technology makes a proven difference for learning measures and situations where negative outcomes have arisen (and why). Ultimately, he aims to inform the audience what exactly is different about this technology – and provide some broad, practical recommendations to maximise the potential for enhanced learning. 

Bio. Professor Gary Burnett has recently been appointed as a Professor in Digital Creativity in the School of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough University. He conducts research related to the human-centred design issues for technology within road-based vehicles, especially related to future Human-Machine Interfaces. He has many years of experience in the development and use of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) driving simulators as a safe and controlled means to study driver behaviour. Professor Burnett is an experienced lecturer who teaches in the area of Human Factors Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction. For several years, he has taught 100s of students on the use of VR and AR in engineering design – and, recently has pioneered the use of social VR as means to engage more with students represented as avatars over extended periods in persistent and fantastical virtual worlds.