Campus News

UK ITS, Media Depot Introduce Virtual Reality Room

UK library

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 5, 2019) — University of Kentucky Information Technology Services (ITS) and Media Depot @ The Hub in the William T. Young Library are introducing a new experience — a virtual reality (VR) room.

In support of UK's Smart Campus initiative and through a partnership between UK Libraries and ITS, this space was created to meet the demand from UK students and esports members for VR technology. 

In the VR room, students have the ability to virtually witness historical events, interesting architecture and geographical content, play artistic and creative games, or simply take a break from studying and relax. This space creates numerous possibilities for new and engaging learning experiences as well a fun escape for students right where they study.

“People are excited to try out new gaming technology they won’t be able to use at home,” said Elias Conwell, a Media Depot employee.

As of November 2019, the VR room is open and free to use for students by simply signing up for a time slot at https://mediadepot.mywconline.com and reserving the VR kit (wands, controller and games) from the library AV desk in the back of the Media Depot. Although the new VR room is now open, it is still currently in the beta phase. This means feedback from students, faculty and staff will be sought by ITS staff in order to provide improvements.

If you’d like to see for yourself what the VR room has to offer, visit the Media Depot Twitch Channel at www.twitch.tv/mediadepot/ and watch the stream.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.