Drosera Obscura

Drosera Obscura is an innovative project that merges cutting-edge extended reality  (XR) technology with full sensory engagement to create a truly immersive experience.  The installation combines virtual reality, animatronics, sound design, olfactory stimuli,  and physical interaction, blurring the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds.  Through this multi-sensory approach, the project seeks to redefine immersion, allowing  audiences to experience a narrative not just through visuals, but also through sound,  touch, and scent. 

 This collaborative effort brings together experts from diverse fields such as music,  vocal performance, art, industrial design, engineering, and computer science. The  interdisciplinary team is dedicated to pushing technological boundaries while exploring  deeper, more engaging experiences. Central to the development of Drosera Obscura are  two major institutions: the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) at  Virginia Tech and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and  Technology (CIRMMT) at McGill University. These institutions will support the  installation’s creation through their advanced facilities—ICAT Cube and McGill’s  Multimedia Room—providing ideal spaces for developing and testing this multi-sensory  XR performance. 

 In addition to XR technology, the project draws on the expertise of researchers and  students working on pioneering aspects of interactive sound and music synthesis. The  team will explore new ways to blend computational acoustics, immersive systems, and  adaptive interfaces, expanding how technology interacts with human senses in a  performance setting. The collaboration between ICAT and CIRMMT will strengthen  institutional connections, fostering knowledge exchange and advancing technologies with  significant potential for the music, sound, and interactive media industries.  Over the next year, the project will undergo multiple iterations, leading to live XR  performances at both locations. These performances will showcase the integration of  sound, visuals, and physical interaction, testing the technology while demonstrating the  potential of immersive art to engage participants in entirely new ways. Drosera Obscura  aims to be a groundbreaking project in the field of multi-sensory immersive experiences.  Drosera Obscura aligns with ICAT’s mission to explore the intersection of technology and human experience, making it a groundbreaking project in multi-sensory  immersive experiences. Through collaboration across disciplines, it pushes creative and technological boundaries to redefine immersive storytelling and engagement.