Virtual Reality has the potential to transform the lives of those with disabilities by providing experiences that would be otherwise inaccessible under ordinary circumstances. Walking With Reality is a documentary that follows Evan Gadda, a musical theatre major at the University of Nevada, Reno.
As a wheelchair user and someone who suffers from asthma, attending an event like Burning Man in the desert would prove to be nearly impossible for Gadda. Thanks to the team at One Digital Media, his dream to walk and run on his feet “metaphorically” was fulfilled. Gadda was able to experience the festival in a virtual setting, and this had a profound impact.
Gadda voiced his support of visiting new places via virtual reality, and vouched for his life-changing experience by saying “I think VR is not just for me, it’s for every handicapped person.”
The short film is beautifully shot, with the opening scenes allowing the viewer to get a glimpse into Gadda’s life on campus as an aspiring actor. The film also perfectly captured Gadda’s raw emotion when given the opportunity to ski down Lake Tahoe after not being able to do so for many years.
Walking with Reality is directed by Michelle Rebaleati, a production manager and former multimedia production specialist at the University Gadda attends. Rebaleati specializes in utilizing VR for preservation purposes, and has given multiple TED Talks on emerging virtual reality technologies.
This is a must-see film for anyone interested in pursuing a career in production or design for virtual/augmented reality. VR is a rapidly growing industry that needs innovative thinkers to come up with creative ideas. According to Dr. Eelke Folmer, an associate professor of human computer interaction, “It really depends on people for this field to move forward…to have people that can dream of applications that don’t exist right now.”
I would give this film a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The video was very educational as well as inspiring to watch. Though there were a few clips of Burning Man, I would have loved to see more of what Gadda was seeing.
Watch films on Planet Classroom’s YouTube Channel now
Ashlyn is a journalism student at Western Washington University majoring in public relations and minoring in business administration. In addition to her job as a communications associate for CMRubinWorld, she has been a staff writer on newspaper and periodical publications, and has experience doing PR work for non-profit organizations
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