Envisioning Tomorrow: The Role of Extended Reality in Shaping Future Research Methodologies
- AVimmerse
- Oct 2, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 8
In September 2024, I was invited to deliver the Day 2 keynote at the National Centre for Research Methods’ flagship MethodsCon: Futures conference in Manchester. This annual event brings together researchers, academics, policymakers, and innovators to explore new and emerging approaches to research design and methodology.
My keynote, Envisioning Tomorrow: The Role of Extended Reality in Shaping Future Research Methodologies, examined how Extended Reality (XR) — including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) — is reshaping the way researchers model, test, visualise, and communicate insights.
How Extended Reality in Research Methodologies Shaped the Keynote
The presentation explored six core themes demonstrating how immersive technologies are transforming research practice across disciplines.
1.Introduction to XR Technologies
An overview of VR, AR, and mixed reality, including the current landscape, technology evolution, and their increasing relevance beyond entertainment.
2. XR in Futures Methodologies
A look at how immersive tools support foresight, scenario planning, simulation, behavioural studies, and futures thinking.
3. Case Studies and Applications
Real-world examples from healthcare, heritage, education, creative technology, and community engagement, showing XR used as a research instrument.
4. Methodological Innovations
New approaches to data collection, interpretation, visualisation, and experience-based inquiry enabled by immersive technologies.
5. Future Directions
Key innovations on the horizon including AI-driven immersive experiences, synthetic environments, multi-modal data overlays, and more participatory research models.
6. Q&A Session
An open discussion with attendees on challenges, ethical considerations, and opportunities for scaling XR inside the research ecosystem.
Download the Official Conference Guide
The full schedule for MethodsCon: Futures 2024, including the keynote listing, can be accessed in the downloadable conference guide below.
Research Methods Conference Guide (PDF)
The PDF includes venue details, session descriptions, and the full agenda for both days of the event.
Keynote Listing on the NCRM Programme
The official conference programme lists the keynote as:
“Envisioning Tomorrow: The Role of Extended Reality in Shaping Future Research Methodologies”
Session Convener: Keith Myers, AVimmerse
Day 2 — 09:25 to 10:15
This session explored how XR technologies can transform the way researchers approach future methodology development.
About the National Centre for Research Methods
The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) is the UK’s leading organisation for methodological innovation, providing training, resources, and leadership across social science and interdisciplinary research.
Learn more at: https://www.ncrm.ac.uk
Why Extended Reality Matters for Research
XR opens genuinely new pathways for how research can be designed and delivered, enabling:
Immersive data visualisation
Scenario replay and simulation
Embodied learning environments
New models for community engagement
Enhanced qualitative and ethnographic exploration
AI-powered synthetic research environments
These capabilities are accelerating the shift towards multi-modal, immersive and interactive research methods, and will play an increasingly central role in the UK’s research landscape over the next decade.
Related Reading & Further Work
Extended Reality in Research
How immersive tools are creating more engaging and accessible research experiences.
Immersive Technology Case Studies
Examples of work delivered by AVimmerse across heritage, education, and training.
AVimmerse’s Academic Innovation Projects
Our growing involvement in research programmes, universities, conferences, and methodological innovation.
You can explore more of our immersive case studies and applications in our recent projects, or learn how AVimmerse supports organisations through XR consultancy and immersive training services.
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