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Virtual Reality (VR) in the Library

Experience virtual reality by borrowing a headset in the Library!

Applications of Interest

First Steps
Friendly robot waving "hi"

Take your first steps in VR and get to know your controllers in this short experience that showcases the power of Oculus.

ESRB Rating: Everyone
Duration: 15+ minutes
Supported Player Modes: Standing, Roomscale
Languages: English, Chinese (China), Chinese (Hong Kong), Chinese (Taiwan), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French (France), German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian (Nynorsk), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), Turkish


Anne Frank House VR
Anne Frank House VR text in front of a notebook

In 1942, during the Second World War, Anne Frank, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family were forced to go into hiding to escape persecution from the Nazis. For more than two years, the Franks and 4 others would live in the “Secret Annex” of an old office building in Amsterdam, sharing the burden of living in hiding in confined quarters with the constant threat of discovery. Anne Frank House VR offers a unique and emotional insight into these two years. Experience the world-famous Secret Annex in a never before seen way. Travel back to the years of the Second World War and wander through the rooms of the Annex that housed the group of 8 Jewish people as they hid from the Nazis. Immerse yourself in Anne’s thoughts as you traverse each faithfully recreated room, thanks to the power of VR, and find out what happened to the Annex’ brave inhabitants.

ESRB Rating: Everyone
Duration: 25 minutes
Supported Player Modes: Standing, Roomscale
Languages: English, Dutch, French (France), German, Hebrew, Portuguese (Portugal), Spanish (Spain)


Home After War
"Home After War" and destroyed building background

"Home After War" is a room-scale, interactive virtual reality experience that takes you to Fallujah, a city that was, until recently, under Islamic State (IS) control. The war against IS has ended but the city is still unsafe.

There’s one looming fear for returning refugees – booby trapped homes and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the neighbourhoods.

Ahmaied Hamad Khalaf and his family returned home after the fighting subsided.

Explore Ahmaied’s home by either walking physically or teleporting in the space as he tells you his story about returning to a home that might be booby trapped. Witness life outside the four walls of his house through 360° videos embedded in the space.

Hear Ahmaied speak of his loss, and his hopes. Learn what it's like to fear the home you once loved.

WARNING: This experience contains disturbing content. Viewer discretion is advised. It may not be suitable for people with photosensitive epilepsy or post-traumatic stress disorder.

ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
Duration: 18 minutes
Supported Player Modes: Sitting, Standing, Roomscale
Languages: English, Arabic, Chinese (China), French (France), German


MLK: Now is the Time
MLK: Now is the Time VR Experience

It’s been sixty years since Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, but the messages from that speech resonate today.

“MLK: Now is the Time” is an immersive journey that explores key themes of Dr. King's speech and highlights systemic inequities that persist in our society. Through first-person stories and interactions, “MLK: Now is the Time” drops you into a thoroughly modern interpretation of a contemporary March on Washington that will inform and inspire a new generation of activists.

ESRB Rating: Everyone
Duration: 20 minutes
Supported Player Modes: Sitting, Standing, Roomscale
Languages: English


Notes on Blindness
Notes on Blindness text in front of blue black background

Arte Experience presents Notes On Blindness, a VR journey into a world beyond sight. In 1983, after decades of steady deterioration, John Hull became totally blind. To help him make sense of the upheaval in his life, he began documenting his experiences on audio cassette. These original diary recordings form the basis of this project, an interactive non fiction using new forms of storytelling to explore his cognitive and emotional experience of blindness. 

Produced by Ex Nihilo, Arte France in co-production with Archer’s Mark. Executive Producer, Audiogaming. Supported by TFI New Media Fund and Ford Foundation – JustFilms, CNC and Région Midi-Pyrénées.

ESRB Rating: Everyone
Duration: 25 minutes
Supported Player Modes: Sitting, Standing, Roomscale
Languages: English, French (France), German


Sharecare YOU Anatomy

Experience the human body like never before!

Sharecare YOU Anatomy is a larger-than-life exploration of the Human Body that allows viewers to visualize, understand and interact with their organs. This is not a boring anatomy app, nor simple 2D video demonstration–it is a fully immersive and interactive 360-degree experience you have to try for yourself!

Sharecare YOU Anatomy is the latest in the award-winning VR series from Sharecare, giving you an anatomical adventure like no other! It includes: 

  • Over a dozen organs to explore from all angles, both inside and out 
  • Informative labels and contextual information with voice-over pronunciations 
  • High quality textures and animations, showcasing the organs' functions in full detail 
  • Challenging self-quiz so you can test your knowledge 
  • Enhanced visual quality on Oculus Quest 2 

Interested in more Sharecare products, including deeper looks into physiology, disease conditions and treatments? Find them here: https://www.sharecareyou.com

ESRB Rating: Everyone
Supported Player Modes: Sitting, Standing
Languages: English


Traveling While Black

Traveling While Black text in front of a mountain landscape

Traveling While Black is a cinematic VR experience that immerses the viewer in the long history of restriction of movement for black Americans and the creation of safe spaces in our communities.

Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams and Emmy Award-winning Felix & Paul Studios' film transports you to historic Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC. The viewer shares an intimate series of moments with several of the patrons of Ben's as they reflect on their experiences of restricted movement and race relations in the U.S. 

Confronting the way we understand and talk about race in America, Traveling While Black highlights the urgent need to not only remember the past but to learn from it, and facilitate a dialogue about the challenges minority travelers still face today.

ESRB Rating: Teen
Duration: 19 minutes
Supported Player Modes: Sitting
Languages: English


We Live Here
"We Live Here" text with images in letters

Rockey lives in a tent in a park. We meet her on the day police and sanitation workers come to clear the park of the homeless people seeking shelter there. Rockey flees, unable to salvage her personal belongings. Through interactivity, explore Rockey’s personal objects, objects that hold Rockey’s memories and illustrate her past. Pick up her journal to reveal an animated poem, the story of the first homeless man Rockey saw when she was ten. Find a small wooden box filled with Rockey’s photos. Wind up a music box to hear Rockey’s dream of having a home again. Pick up a small cut out of a motorcycle and open up a psychedelic animation telling the story of the day Rockey got married on the back of a motorcycle on her way to Sturges. Finally, a novel from Rockey’s childhood opens to reveal an animation of Rockey’s last desire - to be a cowboy.

ESRB Rating: Everyone
Duration: 20 minutes
Supported Player Modes: Roomscale
Languages: English


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