Meet Ian, a UNT undergraduate student researching VR, AR, machine learning, AI, and robotics!
Ian’s math mojo is matched by his skill as a musician and artist. His honors research thesis is focused on accelerating rendering of point cloud data structures. Since joining the lab in fall 2019 as a sophomore, he’s worked on several different projects involving VR, AR and spatial computing including INSTRUMENT | One Antarctic Night, Elemental Mayhem, heterogeneous VR platforms, and more. He’s also worked on research covering robotics and AI.
Outside of the lab, Ian is a man of many interests. He loves playing video games and some of his favorites include The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Outer Wilds. He reads and writes his own horror stories. He also enjoys hiking, biking, and cooking.
Here’s a quick Q + A to get to know more about Ian’s experience as a member of the lab and his life outside of it:
Q: What motivates you to pursue art + science research?
A: Besides the fact that it’s fun, I love having the ability to create art by way of the mathematical and scientific knowledge I have collected over the years.
Q: What is your most memorable, meaningful, proud, or fun experience at the lab?
A: My favorite moment at the lab was finally being able to show Elemental Mayhem to the rest of the lab and see everyone’s reactions.
Q: What is your most meaningful, memorable, proud, or fun experience in your life?
A: During my junior year of high school, my school’s band went to Disney World and we marched and performed through Main Street. I was the drum leader so I was the one keeping time.
Q: What is something about you that might surprise your labmates?
A: I performed at Disney in high school.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: It by Stephen King
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Into the Spiderverse
Q: What is your favorite place to visit?
A: Palo Duro Canyon
Q: Who is your favorite musical artist?
A: Foo Fighters
Q: What is your favorite charitable cause?