Penguin VR

The Penguin VR game replicates the Antarctic environment of the Adelie penguins into a fun, task filled virtual reality space. The game’s intention is to promote curiosity and understanding about the Antarctic by getting users to feel like they are truly within the body of a penguin.

The user can access this environment through a Head Mounted Display (HMD) device, and will be given instructions to be able to move and perform tasks as a penguin like waddling, eating, move its flippers or use its beak to move or pick things, protect its eggs from predators etc.

User input via trials and surveys were recorded to gain insight into the actual versus the intended user experience of the game, in order to further improve the game’s nature. Some of these trials were part of excursion trips for primary and middle school students from the Madison Metropolitan school district as part of Expedition PolarVR’s broader goal to advance STEM education in Wisconsin’s communities.

This game was developed by the Virtual Environments Group and Field Day Lab from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. It is planned to be released on the Meta Quest Store and the App Lab as a Virtual Reality application.

A repository of our game data can be found here.

Research

Waddle: using virtual penguin embodiment as a vehicle for empathy and informal learning

Waddle: Developing Empathy for Adelie Penguins By Direct Embodiment in Virtual Reality

Assessing the Effects of Olfaction on the Sense of Embodiment in Virtual Reality

Media

From the South Pole to Rural Wisconsin: Field Day Lab and librarians explore using virtual reality to engage rural Latinx communities with polar research

Calumet County “STEAMfest” mixes fun and education for kids | WLUK

Chris Baker, Jeanette Rydberg, and Rebecca Van Dan at PolarVR Year 2 Kickoff Event

Will Glenn Sr., Diego Roman, Chris Baker, & Jim Mathews at “Penguin Party” Event at Goodman Library

Chris Baker, Jeanette Rydberg, and Rebecca Van Dan presenting about the PolarVR Project at Play Make Learn 2023

Year 2 kickoff of the project; Mary Benetti & Chris Baker working with Fellowship of Librarians & VR devices

Thomas St. Angelo Public Library of Cumberland’s PolarVR Display