Wrapped in Anansi's Web: Unweaving the Impacts of Generative-AI Personalization and VR Immersion in Oral Storytelling
Project Overview
The document explores the transformative role of Generative AI (Gen-AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) in education, focusing on their application in revitalizing oral traditions through projects like 'Anansi the Spider VR'. It highlights how these technologies can significantly enhance user engagement and cultural learning by providing immersive, personalized storytelling experiences that resonate with learners. The findings indicate that personalization not only boosts engagement and cultural interest but also deepens learners' connections to the narratives and traditions being presented. By integrating interactive and sensory elements, Gen-AI and VR foster a richer understanding of African folklore, illustrating the potential for technology to enhance cultural education while emphasizing the need to maintain cultural integrity amidst technological innovation. The document ultimately showcases how these advancements can create a transformative educational experience, bridging the gap between traditional storytelling and modern learning methods.
Key Applications
Anansi the Spider VR
Context: Educational contexts aimed at young people and those interested in oral storytelling and cultural heritage, particularly learners engaged in folklore and cultural studies.
Implementation: A mixed-method study employing VR technology to create an interactive storytelling environment where users influence narratives based on Anansi folktales through speech-to-text input. This approach personalizes the experience and enhances user interaction.
Outcomes: Significant increases in user engagement, immersion, interest in cultural learning, and personal reflection on cultural values. Participants reported a deeper understanding of cultural narratives, making African folklore accessible and relevant.
Challenges: Ensuring cultural integrity and authenticity in the adaptation of oral traditions, addressing technical limitations of VR technology, and the need for adequate resources to implement such systems effectively.
Implementation Barriers
Cultural Barrier
Maintaining the authenticity and original meaning of cultural narratives while adapting them for modern technology, and ensuring cultural authenticity and sensitivity when representing diverse narratives.
Proposed Solutions: Involving cultural insiders in the design process to ensure the preservation of core narrative elements, and collaborating with cultural experts and communities to validate the representation of stories.
Technological Limitations
The effectiveness of Gen-AI may be limited by issues such as inaccuracies and lack of cultural nuance.
Proposed Solutions: Developing culturally conscious Gen-AI personalization strategies that respect and reflect cultural differences.
Technical Barrier
Challenges related to the integration and usability of VR technology in educational settings.
Proposed Solutions: Invest in user-friendly VR platforms and provide training for educators on effective implementation.
Project Team
Ka Hei Carrie Lau
Researcher
Bhada Yun
Researcher
Samuel Saruba
Researcher
Efe Bozkir
Researcher
Enkelejda Kasneci
Researcher
Contact Information
For information about the paper, please contact the authors.
Authors: Ka Hei Carrie Lau, Bhada Yun, Samuel Saruba, Efe Bozkir, Enkelejda Kasneci
Source Publication: View Original PaperLink opens in a new window
Project Contact: Dr. Jianhua Yang
LLM Model Version: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18
Analysis Provider: Openai