As part of the ongoing mobility and knowledge transfer initiatives of the META-TOO project, researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and IDIBAPS participated in a multi-day secondment in Barcelona from November 19-21, 2025.
Deep Dives into XR Development at Unity Unite
The first two days were dedicated to the Unity Unite conference. PhD students Christos Lougiakis (NKUA) and Isaac Calvis (IDIBAPS) engaged with the global community of game developers and XR experts to explore technical advancements directly relevant to the project’s goals.
The sessions and discussions focused on:
- Engine Extensibility and Optimization: Crucial for developing smooth, high-fidelity XR experiments.
- AI Integration and Multiplayer Development: Essential for creating dynamic social interactions in the Metaverse.
- Meta XR SDKs: Directly supporting the technical studies within WP2 (Research for the Metaverse).
Hands-On Collaboration and Experimental Prototyping
The secondment concluded on November 21st with an intensive collaborative session at the IDIBAPS lab and the Event Lab. Alongside researcher Justyna Swidrak, the team conducted a series of technical demos and strategic discussions.
A key highlight was the demo of a new harassment experiment prototype designed by IDIBAPS. This activity aligns with WP2 tasks focused on studying harassment prevention and bystander behavior through empathy and perspective-taking in virtual environments.
These activities serve as a vital component of WP3 (Supporting Research Conduct), facilitating the upskilling of early-career researchers and ensuring methodology alignment across the consortium. By fostering the exchange of ideas and research findings, this secondment strengthens the foundation for safer, more inclusive virtual worlds.
