The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) at Ball State University The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) at Ball State University explores the intersection between the arts, sciences, and humanities. Founded in 2005, the IDIA Lab is centered in the BSU College of Architecture and Planning. Working with clients worldwide, the lab designs scholarly, creative, and learning projects that investigate a wide range of emerging technologies, including virtual reality, augmented reality, mobile apps, interactive art, museum exhibitions, and 3D animation.
The Foundering
An augmented reality artwork by John Fillwalk Neil Zehr (development), Dr. Michael Rhoades (music) To get the iPhone app visit the Apple App Store at the link below: The Foundering Created by the Institute for Digital Intermedia Art / IDIA Lab / Ball State University This augmented reality site-specific artwork, designed by artist John Fillwalk […]
Read More About The FounderingAI Art Installation Beijing
AI Art Installation Beijing Wishing Well (许愿池) by media artist John Fillwalk and IDIA Lab, is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) installation that was invited into the 5th Arts and Science International Exhibition and Symposium (TASIES 2019) at the National Museum of China in Beijing located on Tiananmen Square. The exhibition curated the work of international […]
Read More About AI Art Installation BeijingPumapunku Reconstruction
Pumapunku Reconstruction There’s something fascinating about looking at ancient ruins and imagining what the lives and culture might have been like of the people who lived there. With the everchanging advancements in technology, researchers can get closer than they ever have to solving these mysteries. Ball State University faculty John Fillwalk, senior director of the […]
Read More About Pumapunku ReconstructionBSU HOSTS XR CONFERENCE
IDIA Lab was invited by the Campus Alliance for Advanced Visualization to host their annual conference (CAAV) in Fall 2023 at the College of Architectures and Planning. The CAAV is a nonprofit organization that promotes the capabilities for use of extended reality technologies, such as CAVE-style immersive VR systems, video walls, headsets, and advanced visualization […]
Read More About BSU HOSTS XR CONFERENCEIndiana University VR Exhibit
Indiana University VR Exhibit Indiana University Virtual Museum Exhibition Opens BSU IDIA Lab recently launched its virtual reality exhibition interpreting the Angel Mounds heritage site at the Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (IUMAA). The gala ribbon cutting event opened a portion of the collections of the former Glenn Black Laboratory of Archaeology and […]
Read More About Indiana University VR ExhibitAPOLLO 11 50th ANNIVERSARY
3D simulation of Apollo 11 landing created for the John F. Kennedy Library’s 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission. Produced for the International MoonBase Alliance. Produced by the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University. https://idialab.org/ About IMA The International MoonBase Alliance (IMA) is an association comprised of leading scientists, educators, and […]
Read More About APOLLO 11 50th ANNIVERSARYShackelton Crater Animation
Shackleton Crater is an impact crater lying at the South Pole of the Moon. The ridges along the crater’s rim are exposed to almost continual sunlight, while the interior is perpetually cast in shadow. This low-temperature interior of the crater functions to capture frozen water shed during impacts on the Moon. Some sites along Shackleton’s […]
Read More About Shackelton Crater AnimationInteractive Virtual ChatBots
Interactive Virtual ChatBots The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) at Ball State University has developed a demonstration of how artificial intelligence can drive real-time gestural and vocal responses in 3D virtual characters within the Unity game engine. This project showcases a new generation of AI-enabled non-player characters (NPCs) capable of engaging users through […]
Read More About Interactive Virtual ChatBotsVirtual Elementary School
Virtual Elementary School The Virtual Elementary School Project, designed by the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) at Ball State University for Maryknoll Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, creates a fully interactive digital twin of the school’s physical campus. This innovative platform extends Maryknoll’s educational mission into an immersive online environment, enabling students, teachers, […]
Read More About Virtual Elementary SchoolDeep Mapping / VR / GIS
IDIA Lab: Deep Mapping Platform – Unity / ArcGIS (DMP) Features: Map Layers Progressive Global Maps and ArcGIS data integrated into platform Map view – selectable integrated ArcGIS Maps Maps provide teleportation to targeted locations Togglable map layer integration (i.e., Sanborn, Cadastral, Topographic) through UI or browser 3D Object Layer Live import 3D building layers […]
Read More About Deep Mapping / VR / GISSmithsonian VR Exhibition
Smithsonian VR Exhibition BSU IDIA Lab developed Virtual Milestones of Flight, an immersive head mounted display prototype designed for the permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Both the exhibition and simulation celebrate selections of the most significant airplanes, rockets, and spacecraft in history. Some of these craft incorporated into […]
Read More About Smithsonian VR ExhibitionByōdō-In
Experience Byōdō-In, by IDIA Lab, is an immersive virtual tour exploring the richness of Japanese heritage. Virtually travel to the past to interact with this important historical temple complex. The simulation provides users with elements such as detailed 3D models, interactive zones, animated characters and fauna, and user interfaces to learn about the significance of […]
Read More About Byōdō-InRiver Data Visualization
River Data Visualization oneWAPIHANNE is an interactive artwork visualizing live streaming data from water stations along the White River in Indiana. The stations are installed and monitored by the United States Geological Survey [USGS] – reporting the current gauge height and water speed over time. The visualization graphically represents each stations’ data in their entirety […]
Read More About River Data VisualizationDisplaced Resonance v2
IDIA Lab was invited to exhibit their virtual and hybrid artworks at the Third Art and Science International Exhibition at the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing, China. http://www.idialabprojects.org/displacedresonance/ Displaced Resonance v2 John Fillwalk Michael Pounds IDIA Lab, Ball State University Interactive installation, mixed media 2012 Displaced Resonance v2 is an interactive installation consisting […]
Read More About Displaced Resonance v2Virtual Hadrian’s Villa Launch at Harvard Center
Virtual Hadrian’s Villa Launch at Harvard Center IDIA Lab has designed a virtual simulation of the villa of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site located outside of Rome in Tivoli, Italy. This project has been produced in collaboration with the Virtual World Heritage Laboratory (VWHL) at Indiana University (IU), directed […]
Read More About Virtual Hadrian’s Villa Launch at Harvard CenterVBAM: VIRTUAL BROAD ART MUSEUM COMMISSION
Press Release VBAM Introductory Lecture John Fillwalk and the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) at Ball State University were commissioned to design and build a virtual museum artworks for the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum in East Lansing, MI. The physical Museum, was designed by architect Zaha Hadid and opened to the […]
Read More About VBAM: VIRTUAL BROAD ART MUSEUM COMMISSIONMellon Foundation Humanities Virtual World Consortium
BSU’s IDIA Lab was contracted by the Mellon Foundation Humanities Virtual World Consortium to design and develop a major open source virtual world initiative for Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage projects. The consortium – comprised of Kings College, London; UCLA; the University of Virginia and Trinity College, Dublin – turned to the expertise of BSU’s […]
Read More About Mellon Foundation Humanities Virtual World ConsortiumMesa Verde AR Visitor Interpretation App
Mesa Verde AR Visitor Interpretation App Ball State Univeristy’s IDIA Lab has been contracted by the US Department of the Interior to develop virtual visitor experiences for the Mesa Verde National Park. The park preserves and interprets the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from […]
Read More About Mesa Verde AR Visitor Interpretation AppVirtual Meridian of Augustus: Presentation at the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Archeology
IDIA Lab virtual celestial simulator and 3D interpretation of the Meridian of August in ancient Rome. Project commissioned by the Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at Indiana University, directed by Bernard Frischer. Findings presented at the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Archeology in Rome Thursday December 19th, 2013 A Digital Simulation of the Northern Campus Martius in […]
Read More About Virtual Meridian of Augustus: Presentation at the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of ArcheologyKhan Academy
The Khan Academy featured HDT / IDIA Lab and Virtual World Heritage Laboratories Digital Hadrian’s Villa Project. Hosted by Beth Harris, Dean of Art and History at Khan Academy, a walkthrough with archeologist and HDT research fellow Dr. Bernard Frischer showcases the project. A virtual tour of Hadrian’s Villa using a 3D digital model of […]
Read More About Khan Academy