Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Sheridan College's Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT) will work with Toronto-based partner Holy City VR to prototype innovative tools for virtual avatar creation and personalization. Unlike existing avatar creation tools, the prototypes developed will aim to provide a seamless experience for avatar creation and customization within a VR application. These tools will also support multiple visual styles for avatars and will allow avatars and related content to be shared with other applications, including social media platforms. In addition to providing a helpful toolset for Holy City VR to leverage as they create novel immersive experiences, these tools will greatly benefit other developers, content creators, and end-users. These tools will empower other developers and creators to easily integrate avatar creation systems into their own virtual worlds, reducing developments costs while also providing a better experience for end users. Additionally, end-users of experiences developed with these tools will benefit from more creative expression in their digital likeness, and a broader ability to share this with others. This platform will help move us towards a future where individuals have a true digital identity, expressed through their virtual avatars and shared with the rest of the world through a multitude of platforms and experiences.