A 4-day intensive program designed to equip professionals with hands-on skills in XR (VR/AR), motion capture, physiological monitoring, and multimodal data analysis. Participants will gain the tools and knowledge to integrate immersive technologies into research and creative workflows
Course Description
Step into the future of creative and research-driven practice with MIT’s intensive 4-day program, Immersive Technologies for Creative and Research-Driven Practice. Designed specifically for professionals, researchers, and artists, this hands-on course empowers participants to master cutting-edge XR (Virtual and Augmented Reality), motion capture, physiological monitoring tools, and advanced multimodal data analysis techniques.
Located in MIT.nano’s state-of-the-art Immersion Lab, you'll engage directly with industry-standard and emerging research technologies, gaining practical skills in operating and creating with VR/AR systems, capturing dynamic motion data, interpreting physiological signals, and analyzing and learning from integrated datasets. The curriculum emphasizes real-world applications, providing you with the expertise to seamlessly integrate immersive tools into your professional workflows—whether in healthcare, sports science, education, design, or innovative creative fields.
Participants will:
Set up and operate cutting-edge XR, motion capture, and biometric monitoring systems.
Explore multimodal data acquisition, synchronization, and analysis in live research or performance scenarios
Design and prototype immersive experiences using Unity or Unreal Engine.
Transform complex data into compelling visual stories and actionable insights.
Explore ethical best practices in human-centered data collection and analysis.
Collaborate in interdisciplinary teams, fostering innovation and creative problem-solving.
Apply synchronization and export standards for high-quality data workflows
Analyze motion and biometric data using real-time and post-processing tools
Create compelling data visualizations for communication and storytelling
Explore applications in fields such as healthcare, sports science, education, design, and creative tech
Course Dates & Times: July 21 to 24, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day
Location: In-Person at MIT.nano Building 12, Immersion Lab 12-3207
Contact: immersion@mit.edu
Program Overview
Title: Immersive Technologies for Creative and Research-Driven Practice
Duration: 4 Days (Full-time, In-person)
Audience: Mid- to senior-level professionals in research, design, health, performance, creative industries, and innovation roles
Format: Hands-on labs, guided demos, group discussions, real-world case studies
Cost: $3,750
Location: MIT.nano Immersion Lab
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will:
Understand the foundations and applications of immersive technologies in professional practice
Operate VR/AR systems, motion capture rigs, and physiological monitoring tools
Design and test basic immersive experiences with real-time feedback
Identify ways to incorporate multimodal data into research and creative workflows
Collaborate across disciplines in a lab setting
Tools & Technologies Used
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) headsets
Motion capture systems
Physiological monitoring equipment (e.g., heart rate, GSR sensors)
Software for real-time data visualization and analysis
Unity or Unreal Engine for immersive environments
Multimodal synchronization tools
Grading & Assignments
There are no assignments and no grading in this professional education course. The focus is on exploration, collaboration, and experimentation.
Accessibility Statement
We strive to make all course activities and materials accessible. If you have any accessibility needs or accommodation requests, please contact us at immersion@mit.edu prior to the course start.
Resources Included
Access to all lab technologies during the course
Templates, analysis scripts, and workflow documentation
Post-course resource library + optional follow-up call
Schedule
Day 1: Biomechanics and motion capture: infrastructure & tech foundations
Welcome & Orientation: Overview of goals, team introductions
Tech Ecosystem Tour: VR/AR headsets, motion capture, EEG, EMG, and heart-rate sensors
Hardware Deep Dive: How to power, setup, and run motion capture systems
Animation Data, FBX/BVH, markersets, virtual production
Day 2: physiology of human interaction: Data Acquisition Best Practices
Session Design: Planning physiology and biometric capture sessions
Physiology Setup: Working with sensors and participant data acquisition
Custom Analysis: Scripting for automation and insights (Python)
Timecode & Sync: Aligning inputs across platforms
Case Study Breakdown: Real-world example of a capture workflow
Data Export: Organizing outputs for analysis and processing
Day 3: immersive experiences: From Data to Insight
Data Workflows: Pipeline from raw motion and physiology to visual insights
Multimodal Analysis: Correlating motion with biometric trends
Virtual and Augmented reality development and eye tracking capabilities
Avatar scanning and digital twins
Visualization & Storytelling: Transforming data into compelling outputs
Day 4: Real-World Implementation
Hands-on final project based on learned tools
Closing Remarks: Certification, next steps, and ongoing support