Literature and virtual reality

The USS Humanities Lab, in conjunction with the Corporación Cultural de Vitacura, Lo Matta Cultural and SomnumX developed an innovative virtual reality experience for the Vitacura International Book Fair in April 2026. This activity integrated Humanities with technology, responding to the avant-garde mission of the USS Humanities Lab.

For the experience, 3D viewers were used to transport users to the literary worlds of six emblematic works of Western literature. The activity was carried out in the Casas de Lo Matta, between April 9 and 12, through the installation of six mobile virtual reality stations. In them, more than a thousand attendees entered a digital environment that includes images and music of reference to the universe of the book and its context, complemented by a voice-over that offers a synthesis of the work. All this was accompanied by an olfactory experience designed to achieve a complete sensory immersion in the literary worlds of each work.

The objective of this proposal was to appeal to the senses of the participants to encourage interest in reading and the content of these works. It was a pertinent, entertaining and updated initiative to current technological means, which sought to generate greater interaction of the public with literary culture.

The development of the virtual literary worlds was carried out from a creative work with the company SomnumX, applying its vast experience in the generation of digital content for the promotion of art, history, philosophy and literature. In addition to the virtual reality stations, the space had ergonomic chairs to guarantee a comfortable and safe experience, a screen with an explanatory video for attendees and a team of collaborators who provided constant support to users.