Virtual Human-Computer Interaction (VHCI) laboratory is a research laboratory focused on exploring immersive technology's cognitive, affective, and behavioral implications on humans.[1] The lab was established by Eugene Ohu, a Nigerian researcher during a visit to Gannon University.[2]
Background
During a visit to Gannon University in 2017, Eugene had the opportunity to explore Virtual Reality technology within Professor Ikechukwu Ohu's lab.[3] This experience had an impact on him and inspired him to establish a VHCI lab in 2018 at Lagos Business School, setting a new course for his career. He has since been involved in several projects involving VR technology and has been invited to speak at several international conferences.[4][5][6][7]
The lab was granted funding in 2020 by the Templeton World Charity Foundation to promote perspective-taking, empathy, and compassion among diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria. The project will utilize game jams as a tool to achieve this objective in public schools across the country. Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million, is home to more than 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages.[8][9][10][11]
In 2022, the VCHI lab established a partnership with Meta to conduct a cross-cultural academic research study across Africa using virtual reality (VR). The research aimed to explore how participation in VR game design can increase empathy and compassion among study participants.[12]
