IDIA Lab The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University

08/31/2026

07/31/2026

Ball State University’s IDIA Lab is developing a virtual moon base simulator for a large-scale LED wall installation in partnership with Mechdyne.

This immersive experience is based on NASA prototypes for potential future lunar base configurations - labs moduels include: greenhouse, science , fabrication, crew quarters, medical, fitness, command, and communications.

Using an interactive controllers, visitors will be able to learn about individual functions of the modules and immersively explore interior and exterior aspects of the design. The display system also supports stereoscopic viewing, adding depth and presence to the first person experience. WIP Images below.

Learn more about IDIA/Mechdyne immersive educational experiences: https://buff.ly/znJ0eiT

Learn more about IDIA Lab: idialab.org
Learn more about Mechdyne: mechdyne.com

07/30/2026

More Work-in-Progress screenshots from an immersive virtual recreation of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Acropolis in Athens for large scale LED wall experiences powered by Mechdyne’s getReal3D platform.

Designed for interactive educational exploration, the experience combines historically informed 3D environments, real-time rendering, and advanced immersive visualization technologies to allow audiences to engage with ancient architecture and cultural heritage in new ways.

Learn more about IDIA/Mechdyne immersive educational experiences: https://buff.ly/znJ0eiT

06/30/2026

BSU IDIA Lab Social Media Accessibility Checker

The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) in Ball State University's College of Architecture and Planning has developed a web-based application helps users review social media post drafts and accompanying media for accessibility considerations and alignment with Ball State University communication practices before publication. The tool supports content intended for Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), providing an efficient workflow for identifying potential accessibility issues early in the content creation process.

The Social Media Accessibility Checker evaluates post copy and attached media against WCAG-aligned accessibility guidelines and University documentation. Users can review content through an interactive checklist that addresses topics such as emoji usage, CamelCase hashtags, link clarity, alternative text, image text considerations, color contrast, captions, thumbnails, and other platform-specific accessibility requirements. The application also includes AI-assisted suggestions for improving post copy and alternative text descriptions while maintaining user control over all final decisions. Where human review is required, the system highlights items that require manual verification.

Currently, the WCAG tool is in an internal BSU closed beta trial to assess usability, functionality, and overall performance. Feedback collected during the trial will help guide refinements before the University's broader rollout planned for 2027.

Video Overview

A brief overview of the Social Media Accessibility Checker is available here:

https://buff.ly/s0Q0J65

IDIA Lab has developed a Social Post Accessibility Compliance Checker web app to help Ball State University faculty, staff, and students review social post drafts and media files for accessibility compliance and institutional alignment before publishing. Currently in beta, the tool helps identify co...

06/09/2026

Ball State IDIA Lab Launches Mesa Verde Virtual Companion App

The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) at Ball State University has launched the Mesa Verde Virtual Companion, a free mobile app for iOS and Android that uses augmented reality, interactive 3D content, animated interpretation, and educational experiences to help users explore the cultural heritage of Mesa Verde National Park.

Developed under contract from the Department of the Interior, with guidance from tribal experts and designed for both on-site and remote learning, the app provides new ways to engage with the history, architecture, and cultural practices of the Ancestral Pueblo people. The experience includes accessibility features such as voiceover-supported learning content and intuitive mobile navigation.


Learn more and download the app:

Ball State University Press Release
https://buff.ly/gUclrV3

06/04/2026

Join Ball State University’s IDIA Lab and the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning TODAY, Thursday, June 4 from 5–8 p.m. at Harmony Movement Studio, 312 E Main St., Muncie, IN, for a hands-on interactive installation that transforms movement into live digital performance.

Using a real-time game engine and depth-camera technology, visitors can move, dance, and puppeteer a 3D digital character through gesture and motion. Step into the experience, explore creative technology, and play with immersive art in motion.

06/03/2026

Ball State University’s IDIA Lab is developing a large-scale virtual recreation of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Acropolis in Athens for immersive LED wall experiences powered by Mechdyne’s getReal3D platform.

Designed for interactive educational exploration, the experience combines historically informed 3D environments, real-time rendering, and advanced immersive visualization technologies to allow audiences to engage with ancient architecture and cultural heritage in new ways. The project is being developed in collaboration with Mechdyne for next-generation XR and immersive learning environments. Work in progress images below.

Learn more about IDIA/Mechdyne immersive educational experiences: https://buff.ly/znJ0eiT

06/02/2026

Join Ball State University’s IDIA Lab and the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning on June 4 from 5–8 p.m. at Harmony Movement Studio, 312 E Main St., Muncie, IN, for a hands-on interactive installation that transforms movement into live digital performance.

Using a real-time game engine and depth-camera technology, visitors can move, dance, and puppeteer a 3D digital character through gesture and motion. Step into the experience, explore creative technology, and play with immersive art in motion.

05/28/2026

Ball State University’s IDIA Lab is developing a virtual prehistoric fish aquarium simulator for a large-scale LED wall installation in partnership with Mechdyne.

This immersive experience will bring ancient aquatic life back into view, allowing visitors to encounter prehistoric fish at life size and explore how these species lived, moved, and adapted to their environments.

Using an interactive touch interface, guests will be able to learn about individual species, including anatomy, habitat, behavior, and their place in Earth’s evolutionary history. The display will also support stereoscopic viewing, adding depth and presence to the experience and transforming the aquarium wall into a dynamic window into prehistoric underwater worlds.

https://buff.ly/uHnQXP2

Learn more about IDIA Lab: idialab.org
Learn more about Mechdyne: mechdyne.com

Ball State University’s IDIA Lab has created a virtual prehistoric fish aquarium simulator designed for a large-scale LED wall installation. The immersive experience will bring ancient aquatic life back into view, allowing visitors to encounter prehistoric fish at life size and explore how these r...

05/26/2026

Ball State University’s Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with STQRY, a leading provider of digital storytelling solutions for destinations, museums, cultural organizations, and visitor experiences.

BSU and STQRY signed off on the cooperative agreement to explore deeper opportunities to develop immersive digital experiences that connect people, places, and stories through emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, AI-enhanced systems, high-fidelity 3D visualization, and interactive spatial storytelling.

As a world-class VR/AR development hub within Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning, IDIA Lab specializes in transforming complex ideas, environments, and data into meaningful interactive experiences. Together with STQRY’s mission to help visitors engage deeper, explore further, and discover more, this collaboration creates an exciting framework for innovation at the intersection of technology, interpretation, education, and public engagement.

We look forward to exploring new ways to bring stories to life through immersive media, research-driven design, and experiential learning.

Learn more:
IDIA Lab: http://idialab.org
STQRY: https://stqry.com