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

10/14/2026

article on Echoes of Muncie Project, bringing lost architectural heritage back to life through AR. BSU IDIA Lab partnering with Muncie Downtown Development and BSU Center for Middletown Studies.

https://buff.ly/o30zJeg

Point your phone in the right place, and the old Muncie courthouse rises where a government building now sits. A bank becomes the Wysor Grand Opera House.

09/24/2026

Bring the past to life - Muncie Downtown Architectural Heritage AR app launches during Muncie ArtWalk October 1st 5-8. Supported by Muncie Downtown Development, Ball Brothers Foundation and Center for Middletown Studies at BSU.

Details here:
https://buff.ly/xzD8JwX
Download Apple and Android app links will be posted here before Artswalk!


Designed by IDIA Lab

https://buff.ly/Ov76Eth

Recent projects from Ball State University’s Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA) Lab are creating new ways to explore Muncie’s past—reflecting IDIA Lab’s ongoing use of digital technology to make local history more accessible to researchers, students, and the community.

09/24/2026

09/21/2026

Ball State University's new Center for Innovatoin and Collaboration opens this week - ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept 24th at 4pm in Muncie, IN. Come visit us!

Ball State University will celebrate the official opening of its new Center for Innovation and Collaboration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the corner of Martin Street and Ashland Avenue in Muncie.

09/21/2026

Hope to see you there for the launch of the new apps on Apple AppStore and Google Play for the Echoes of Muncie project! https://projects.idialab.org/EchoesOfMuncie/

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