About the Project
Technology companies are spending billions of dollars to develop immersive systems—metaverse platforms, spatial computing, extended reality—often integrated with AI, robotics and other emerging technologies. They're building the infrastructure for a new automated, three-dimensional digital era.
But the visions shaping these technologies—and the assumptions about power, ethics, and society baked into them—haven't been properly scrutinized. Critical questions about harm, accountability, and inclusion are at risk of being left until after problems emerge.
We're an interdisciplinary research team from the University of Sydney, with funding from the Australian Research Council, working on the development of frameworks for public-interest governance of immersive and other emerging technologies. Our mission is to support proactive governance, not damage control!
Key Focus
Proactive harm prevention through critical examination of corporate visions, embedded assumptions, and governance structures before immersive technologies become ubiquitous.
Team
Dr Joanne E. Gray
Chief Investigator
Dr Benjamin Egliston
Chief Investigator
Professor Marcus Carter
Chief Investigator
Dr Milica Stilinovic
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Wenqi Tan
PhD Candidate
Research
Corporate Visions & Power
Examining how major technology firms shape the development and governance of immersive technologies, and analyzing the assumptions embedded in their visions for the future.
Harm Prevention
Identifying potential harms before they materialize, including issues of privacy, surveillance, discrimination, and psychological wellbeing in immersive environments.
Accountability & Inclusion
Developing frameworks that ensure diverse perspectives are included in governance decisions and that accountability mechanisms are built into immersive systems from the ground up.
Regulatory Frameworks
Creating robust, forward-looking policy recommendations that enable proactive governance rather than reactive responses to emerging problems.
Selected Research Publications
Get Involved
We welcome collaboration with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners interested in the responsible development and governance of immersive technologies.
Contact Us