Symbiosis/\Dysbiosis

Symbiosis/\Dysbiosis is a virtual reality (VR) worldbuilding project that advances a novel set of cross-disciplinary methods for improving intra-player engagement and inter-player connectedness. The project utilizes a variety of technologies to explore interconnected relationships between parallel biological and ecological processes across fungal, human, and environmental scales. These relationships are creatively interpreted with the Resonite VR platform to invite players to experience these congruities in a live-acted narrative-driven context. To this end, conductance (μS/m) is measured in vivo from Ganoderma lucidum with custom bio-sonification hardware. Control voltage and MIDI note values are passed to the VR environment and drive live reactive audio. Players in VR wear Muse 2 electroencephalography (EEG) devices, and processed data validated to reflect meditative states is also passed to the VR environment. The environment is based on British Columbia old-growth forest and data streams drive a number of game mechanics and shader effects. To date, the project is in-progress with a growing dataset (n = 15) of fungal conductance, EEG activity, and player reports. Preliminary feedback has been strong with a number of players reporting states unusual for VR experiences. We believe that this project provides a novel approach to engaging audiences, exploring ways biological, ecological, and technological systems can interact, and championing the philosophy that systems at all levels of discourse are part of a unified whole.