Our Story

As members of the MIT family, we were saddened to discover MIT's class of 2020 would not have an in-person commencement ceremony this spring due to physical distancing guidelines. As a result, graduates around the world could not experience the elements of graduation and would not be able to share their academic achievements with the world. In response, embodying the "Mens et Manus" MIT spirit, we decided to act. We banded together as a team of expert digital creators and engineers to develop a virtual commencement memento for students, bringing Killian Court and the sounds of graduation into their homes. This memento allows students to share this monumental moment with friends and family while also celebrating their accomplishments and success!

The power of augmented reality is the ability to bridge the physical and the digital. We all believed that it would be a great medium to bring a piece of graduation that just can't be conveyed through a traditional live-stream video. Beyond just recreating moments from graduation, Augmented Reality also enables us to bring concepts not possible in the real world. The Volaroid experience leans on magical realism to show the emotions of commencement.