XR Stories explores the future of broadcasting for young people

Three new XR Stories research projects are exploring what the future of public service broadcasting could be for young people. 

The research projects are running a series of public engagement activities for those living in Bradford and surrounding areas, and are supported by the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. 

‘Future Media Broadcasting’ led by Dr Dylan Yamanda-Rice and Dr Eleanor Dare of XORdinary Stories will give children aged 7 – 11 the opportunity to explore the future of broadcast media in relation to new technologies including Cardboard VR, photogrammetry and metaverse platforms. Using art and design methods, the project will investigate how the children might consume future TV content. A blog by Dr Yamanda-Rice provides more information about the research.

‘Untold Stories’ led by Chol Theatre and Arts Company and Dr Becky Parry invites groups of young women from Bradford, Rotherham and Sheffield to imagine the future of broadcasting as a means of storytelling. Using a pop-up museum approach, the young women will work with artists, academics and industry partners to create digital media (sound, film and still images) for their own exhibition. This will be shown in a touring van called the Cholovan where young women from local community groups will be invited to participate, share and develop their own perspectives.

‘Interactive Broadcast Futures’, led by Dr Rob Eagle and the BFI, aims to gain an understanding of how Gen Z audiences (ages 16-24) envision future formats and technologies of screen-based entertainment. Supported by those working with interactive technologies in industry, the activity will culminate in a bootcamp or ‘hackathon’ where teams get together for intensive brainstorming, iterating and building of a prototype.

The three research projects build on the success of a research and development project supported by XR Stories as part of the recent Switched On! exhibition in the National Science and Media Museum. The project explored a possible future for broadcast through Prox & Reverie’s research and development work.

The projects are funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Published on 5 January 2023

Filed under: R&D Projects, Research, XR Stories