Redesign of Design: Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Empathy

It is no small thing to leave a mark on our fast-changing, complex world. As architects, we design for people in one of the most permanent design fields. This lasting impact makes inclusive design our foremost value and responsibility. To do this, we need to develop a deep awareness of the social, cultural, and environmental needs of the people we serve. The proliferation of the digital toolset has given us the ability to transcend traditional architectural practice for the first time in generations. Capitalizing on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), we have the ability to better understand the people who inhabit our buildings by simulating experiences related to vision, mobility, and communication. We can’t expect to truly comprehend an individual’s contextual and cumulative experiences, but if we are able to tap into others’ abilities and sensorial comprehension, our designs can be more sensitive to the broader community and cause fewer impediments in the built environment.