IIT Madras launches the 'MovingMemory' app for Metaverse exploration, uses AR & VR technology

In a pioneering breakthrough, the Center for Memory Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has revealed the 'MovingMemory' app. This cutting-edge application harnesses augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies simultaneously, empowering users to explore the Metaverse while digitally preserving diverse aspects of memory.

'MovingMemory' is accessible through Android and iOS mobile apps as well as web browsers, distinguishing itself with its unwavering commitment to inclusivity.

In what could be a potential advancement in the field of #metaverse world, @MemoryIITM, @iitmadras, has launched a ‘MovingMemory’ app which is a #spatial app that uses technology of #AugmentedReality & #VirtualReality simultaneously. It makes use of digital reconstruction method. pic.twitter.com/vOEHwZFVOr

— IIT Madras (@iitmadras) September 21, 2023

A glimpse into the Metaverse

The 'MovingMemory' app is designed as a spatial wonder with the capability to immerse users in the Metaverse world. It empowers users to choose avatars and navigate through three-dimensional spaces, enriched with additional layers of video, audio, 3D imagery, and interactive elements. These features serve as models for sustainable and heritage-oriented teaching and research methods.

Unveiled at the International Memory Studies Conference

The official launch of 'MovingMemory' took place during the second annual Indian Network for Memory Studies conference, themed 'Memory, Ecology, and Sustainability.' This international event, held from 20th to 22nd September, 2023, drew participation from around 100 presenters and over 500 attendees from India, the USA, the UK, Germany, New Zealand, Morocco, Canada, Sweden, Bangladesh, and beyond.

Fostering an interdisciplinary approach

At the conference's opening session, Professor V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, underscored the importance of incorporating collective memory into policies concerning ecological issues such as climate change. He advocated for interdisciplinary and collaborative research, including the study of non-human forms of memory, to shape memory studies as a discipline.

The conference, coordinated by Dr. Avishek Parui, Associate Professor at IIT Madras, seeks to bridge technology studies and the humanities to create a more intricate model for exploring memory, ecology, and sustainability. It also connects these themes to issues like disaster studies, anticipatory governance, and durability.

International collaboration for a sustainable future

Ms. Seema Massot, Director of the American Centre at the US Consulate General, Chennai, called for collaboration between IIT Madras' Centre for Memory Studies and the American Centre to address pressing issues like water preservation, climate change, and eco-friendly living through digital interactive and immersive models.

Dr. Merin Simi Raj, Associate Professor at IIT Madras, highlighted the institution's collaborations with the University of St. Andrews, Durham University, Titan Company Ltd., Tata Consultancy Services, and Ernst & Young.

These partnerships have fueled industry-oriented research at CMS, culminating in the development of the 'MovingMemory' app, which also holds the potential to tackle digital security challenges.

The 'MovingMemory' app represents a bold step towards merging cutting-edge technology with the study of memory, ecology, and sustainability. As it opens doors to the Metaverse, it promises a new dimension in research, education, and understanding our complex world.