The University of Barcelona is pleased to announce that Pico Interactive has donated 12 virtual reality (VR) equipment to the Joint Master in Cyberspace Behavior and E-therapy. This two-year program, known as CYBER, aims to offer a transdisciplinary approach to study and intervene in human behaviour through digital processes, products, and services. CYBER brings together international students with backgrounds in human behavioural sciences and in engineering and exact sciences and it is taught in three different universities: University of Barcelona (Spain), University Lusófona (Lisbon, Portugal),  and Université Paris Cité (France).

A long-standing collaboration between Pico Interactive and the Event Lab in the Faculty of Psychology University of Barcelona and IDIBAPS (the Neurovirtual AGAUR group) has resulted in Pico making 12 of their virtual reality head-mounted displays available for students on the new Masters course. The course ‘Cyberspace Behavior and E-therapy’, teaches students about the use of digital technology for various forms of behavioural change and rehabilitation. The course includes a module devoted to virtual reality which is being taught this semester at UB in the Faculty of Psychology. 

The overall Masters Course Director at UB, Professor José Gutierrez Maldonado said: “The academic committee of this Erasmus Mundus master's program is pleased that companies like Pico Interactive, which are at the forefront of research and development of virtual reality systems, contribute to the training of our students. This university-industry collaboration will undoubtedly open up new opportunities for the training and employability of our students”.  

The virtual reality module is taught by researchers from the Event Lab at the University of Barcelona and IDIBAPS. The co-Directors of the Event Lab, UB Distinguished Investigator Mel Slater and IDIBAPS ICREA Professor Maria V. Sanchez-Vives said “The virtual reality equipment donated by Pico will be a valuable resource for CYBER students, who will have the opportunity to use them in the program and in their research projects. We are grateful for Pico’s support of the program and look forward to continuing to collaborate in the future."

The donation of the virtual reality systems by this leading virtual reality company will allow students to explore the intersection of virtual reality and human behaviour. The systems will provide hands-on experience with the latest virtual reality technology, preparing students for future careers in the field.