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Immersive Spatial Technologies and Realities Laboratories (ISTaR Labs) is the immersive technology research group of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies at the University of the Philippines Open University. We work where immersive communication systems, instructional communication, and human–computer interaction meet, building and testing extended reality (XR) and metaverse applications that make learning richer and more reachable at a distance.

Research group Immersive Spatial Technologies and Realities Labs (ISTaR Labs)
Flagship program Immersive Open Pedagogies (IOP), running since 2023
Host unit Faculty of Information and Communications Studies (FICS), UP Open University
Where we are Los Baños (HQ) and UP Diliman, with affiliate researchers at UP Cebu and UP Mindanao
Focus Extended reality, immersive learning, spatial computing, science communication

Objectives

Innovate Designs

Develop cutting-edge designs for immersive experiences using virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies.

Develop Local Equipment

Create locally designed and sourced equipment so immersive technology is affordable and repairable here, not just importable.

Provide Application Support

Design applications that address various societal needs, including education, healthcare, tourism, and more.

Research and Development

Foster research and development in immersive technologies to push the boundaries of current capabilities and explore new possibilities.

Collaborate and Partner

Build partnerships with local and international organizations to promote knowledge exchange and project collaboration.

Mentor Emerging Scholars

Support graduate researchers through supervised research, immersive systems work, mobility, publication, and conference participation.

Scope and Activities

The ISTAR Labs encompasses a wide range of activities, primarily focusing as of now on its flagship Immersive Open Pedagogies (IOP) Program including:

  1. Hardware and Software Development:
    • Design and development of VR/AR headsets, motion tracking systems, and haptic feedback devices.
    • Creation of software platforms and applications for immersive learning, virtual simulations, and remote collaboration.
  2. Innovative Projects:
    • Development of virtual tours and simulations for educational purposes.
    • Creation of immersive therapy and rehabilitation tools in healthcare.
    • Design of interactive and immersive experiences for tourism and cultural heritage preservation.
  3. Research Initiatives:
    • Conducting studies on the effectiveness of immersive technologies in various fields.
    • Exploring new methods and approaches to enhance user engagement and experience in virtual environments.
    • Investigating the potential of immersive technologies to support remote and distance learning.
  4. Training and Capacity Building:
    • Offering workshops, seminars, and training sessions on the use and development of immersive technologies.
    • Providing hands-on experience and practical knowledge to students, educators, and professionals.
  5. Community Outreach:
    • Engaging with local communities to demonstrate the potential benefits of immersive technologies.
    • Collaborating with schools, healthcare facilities, and other organizations to implement pilot projects.
  6. Graduate Research and Mentorship
    • Supervised thesis and dissertation work in immersive learning, XR systems, and science communication.
    • Research assistantships and internships on live lab projects.
    • Co-supervision with mentors across UP constituent universities, so students aren’t limited to the expertise of a single campus.

Dr. Roberto Figueroa introduces the IOP Program.

The Immersive Science Communication Open Laboratory (ISCOLab).

Facilities and Resources

The ISTAR Labs will be distributed across multiple locations, each equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software. Key facilities will include:

  • VR/AR development studios
  • Motion capture and tracking rooms
  • Haptic feedback and tactile technology labs
  • Audio-visual production studios
  • Collaboration and innovation spaces

As of writing, the Immersive Science Communication Open Laboratory (ISCOLab—right) is now fully operational.

ISCOLab is our flagship physical facility, funded by DOST-PCIEERD. It’s an immersive, interactive space built around extended reality: we curate and produce instructive immersive content, run hands-on activities and experiments, design for cooperation and social engagement between users, evaluate and iterate on the experiences we build, and hold ourselves to accessibility and inclusivity in all of it.

For Resources and Images, please see the link below:

Expected Outcomes

As the flagship of ISTAR Labs’ Research Programs, The IOP Program aim to achieve the following outcomes:

  • Development of innovative immersive technology solutions that address real-world problems.
  • Increased accessibility and affordability of immersive technologies in the Philippines.
  • Enhanced learning experiences and educational outcomes through immersive learning tools.
  • Improved healthcare interventions through the use of immersive therapy and rehabilitation tools.
  • Strengthened local and international collaborations in the field of immersive technologies.

To the right are some of the Research Papers published by members of the Lab under IOP.

Full-Length Paper

Abstract
The metaverse is a digitally created virtual world that can be explored through extended reality, allowing individuals to engage with one another using avatars. As the metaverse becomes more widely used, it is becoming increasingly important to comprehend its impact on individuals and society. This paper presents a case where the metaverse was used to evaluate collaborative online international learning (COIL) activities while empowering participants by showcasing their creativity as contributors to the open educational resources collective through virtual exhibits. The exhibitors were participants in a COIL initiative involving online activities that aimed to facilitate cross-cultural exchanges and global learning among universities in three countries: the USA, Japan, and the Philippines. Data collected from 82 virtual exhibits in the metaverse were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, revealing benefits related to cultural exchange, personal growth, and positive learning experiences. Furthermore, reflections collected from the virtual exhibits were more profound and expressive than text-based platforms, suggesting that creative processes in visually stimulating environments like the metaverse could promote critical and out-of-the-box thinking among individuals.

Full-Length Paper

Abstract
This chapter presents an autoethnographic analysis of our insights as higher education practitioners in an open and distance e-learning (ODeL) university. Our conversations revolved around how we view the Metaverse as a learning space that might afford the most significant competencies in our fields and how we envision the future of education in view of this. We recognize that we are “at the edge” or at the beginning of an era, and the spaces of learning themselves are still in their nascent stages. In spite of this, we acknowledge that many practitioners are also new to the Metaverse, and that it is part of our duty as educators to put forward our views on its use. We put forward our visions on discipline-specific uses of the Metaverse as a learning space. We found an important tension between the possibilities and difficulties in using it and other related technologies in the Philippines and other developing countries. Although our iterative analysis suggests that the Metaverse as a learning platform is a promising space, we also foresee issues relevant to equitable access to quality education. We hope this chapter initiates dialogues on how the adoption of the Metaverse as a learning technology might help narrow increasingly widening digital divides.

Full-Length Paper

Abstract
This study explores the relationship between situational interest and spatial presence, as well as the hardware or viewing platform used in observing a virtual art exhibit in the Metaverse. It employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing correlation analysis and qualitative thematic analysis to understand participant experiences. The study found a positive correlation between situational interest and spatial presence among participants in the virtual space. However, the viewing platform used did not significantly impact spatial presence or situational interest. External environmental factors and limited usage of certain viewing platforms may have influenced the findings. Further research is recommended to comprehensively understand the nuanced effects of viewing platforms on spatial presence. The results of this study encourage designers to focus on creating immersive and realistic virtual exhibits in the Metaverse to motivate students through their heightened situational interest and presence. Insights from this study can guide the development of future virtual exhibits. The study shows how understanding virtual spaces like the Metaverse can shape art experiences. It highlights the potential of Metaverse-based exhibits in providing accessible and immersive cultural engagement, transcending physical limitations. It adds to the evolving knowledge of Metaverse applications, specifically in art displays. It introduces insights into the relationships between situational interest, spatial presence, and viewing platforms, and challenges existing assumptions that can pave the way for further exploration.

Full-Length Paper

Abstract
Open universities have provided quality higher education through open and distance education to serve learners who could not attend traditional in-person universities. While open universities vary in terms of providing their services to learners at a distance, many have shifted to e-learning using cost-effective platforms. A common platform that is essential for online teaching and learning is the learning management system (LMS). While there are common processes observed among open universities in the way they use their LMS, there are also subtle differences caused by each institution’s unique and special context. Their contextual challenges often drive them to develop technologies or techniques that may easily be adopted by others. Thus, benchmarking activities are often recommended for mutual improvement. In this regard, a comparative study of open universities in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Pakistan was conducted for decision-makers to understand how they could improve in providing quality education to their learners through Moodle, which is their primary LMS. The Delone and Mclean Model was used to systematically compare system, information, and service quality in e-learning delivered through their LMS. The authors hope that the results and recommendations from this study may help other educational institutions overcome similar challenges in their learning platforms.

IOP has supported graduate researchers since 2023 through research opportunities, immersive systems work, mobility, publications, and conference participation.

Next two years: Build a sustainable national research ecosystem around ISCOLab and the CENDEF grant [EXPAND THIS ACRONYM] — integrated physical and virtual laboratories with satellite hubs across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Years three to six: Secure international funding and partnerships to widen the research, mentorship, and innovation network beyond the Philippines.

Membership and Structure

ISTAR Labs operates as a network of nodes. The UPOU headquarters node in Los Baños and the UP Diliman node both focus on virtual reality, working in Unity and Blender with VR headsets, with Diego Maranan as assistant lab head at Diliman:

  • UPOU Headquarters node
    • Research Priority Area:
      • Virtual Reality
    • Equipment:
      • VR Goggles
      • Unity VR
      • Blender
    • Program Leader:
      • Assoc. Prof. Roberto B. Figueroa, PhD
        Immersive communication systems; educational technology; intercultural communication
    • Core Faculty:
      • Diego S. Maranan, PhD
        Human–computer interaction;         embodied cognition; interactive art and design
      • Shari Eunice San Pablo, PhD
        Creative communication; projection mapping; immersive art
    • Researchers:
      • Ria H. Borromeo, PhD
        Analytics; data science; crowdsourcing
      • Jean A. Saludadez, PhD
        Communicative constitution of organizations; organizational communication
      • Mary Kristine Clariño
        Information systems; extended reality
      • Al Francis Librero
        Environmental science communication; game studies; media studies
      • Raz dela Torre
        Broadcast communication; immersive media
      • Blancaflor Arada
        Information systems; Internet of Things
    • Affiliate Researchers
      Mentors from other UP constituent universities who co-supervise doctoral research with us:

      • Crina Tañongon, PhD
        Science communication; College of Communication, Art and Design, UP Cebu
      • Armachesa Satina, PhD
        Computer science; College of Science and Mathematics, UP Mindanao
    • Lab Interns:
      • Ziedell Alexander Figueroa
      • Bazer Nuñez
      • Liam Iñaki Gillamac
      • Daniel Alexis Cruz

Conclusion

The ISTAR Labs represent UPOU’s commitment to leveraging advanced technologies to address societal challenges and improve quality of life. By fostering innovation, research, and collaboration, the ISTAR Labs will position UPOU as a leader in the field of immersive spatial technologies and realities, making a significant impact on education, healthcare, and beyond.

For more on our Portfolios:

The First Metaverse Academic Nexus for Global Opportunities (MANGOs) Philippine Forum held on October 21-23, 2024, at UP Open University’s Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL).

Partners:

The Japan Foundation, Manila

ISTaR has partnered with The Japan Foundation, Manila to advance Nihongo Learning and Cultural Interest in Japan via the latest technologies in AR/VR, providing accessibility even with distance, to empower Nihongo teachers and learners. We also aim to promote enhanced cultural activities with AR/VR that incites cultural interest, understanding, and exchange between the Philippines and Japan.

JFMO Home Page

FrameVR

FrameVR has also supported us by providing a MetaVerse with up to 300 participants for exclusively holding events and meetings for the lab, UP Open University, and its partners.

FrameVR Home Page

Chulalongkorn University

Based in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University has also been at the forefront of VR development and its use for education. ISTaR has been a long-standing partner as well. We have conducted exchanges, symposiums, workshops, and seminars to facilitate VR development upskilling and its continuous widespread use.

Chula Home Page

World Immersive Learning Labs

A worldwide group of Virtual Reality Learning Labs. ISTaR is a proud member. Every year, these labs gather at a symposium to share new knowledge in the field and generate connections between those labs.

World Learning Labs

MANGOs (Metaverse Academic Nexus for Global Opportunities)

MANGOs is a virtual education ecosystem that leverages immersive VR and XR technologies to foster global collaboration, learning, and research across universities worldwide.

MANGOs

Work With Us!
We’re open to collaboration in a few concrete shapes:

  • Joint research and co-authorship in immersive learning, XR systems, science communication, and human–computer interaction.
  • Pilot deployments with schools, museums, healthcare facilities, and cultural institutions that want to test immersive tools in a real setting.
  • Institutional exchange such as symposia, workshops, and upskilling programmes with partner universities and labs.
  • Graduate mentorship, including co-supervision of doctoral research with mentors across UP constituent universities.

Tell us what you’re working on: [email protected]

Contact Us:

Los Baños, Laguna Philippines, 4031
[email protected]
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PHT

University of the Philippines Open University
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, 4031
(+6349) 536-6001 to 06
[email protected]
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PHT

University of the Philippines Open University
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, 4031
(+6349) 536-6001 to 06

© 2025 UP Open University

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