DECADOCS is a pioneering research and training programme enabled by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN) aimed at reinterpreting the concept of decadence. Traditionally associated with decline, decadence will be explored through new perspectives, focusing on sustainability, transnationalism, and sensoriality. The programme offers tailored intersectoral training in collaboration with museums, archives, galleries, and other partners, reinforcing its scientific and social impact.
‘Decadence and Haptic Virtual Reality: Testing Visual and Audio Stereoscopic Compositions’
🇫🇷 & 🇵🇹
The term haptic refers to the transmission of tactile sensations through vibrations, force feedback, visual, and acoustic information. VR remains visually dominant yet sensory-limited. While most haptic studies focus on vibrations to enhance virtual interactions, more research is needed on how stereoscopic 3D and 3D sound affect user perception in VR. This PhD project focuses on the haptic potential of historical stereoscopic compositions and their application in virtual environments. It addresses two main research questions:
- Which photographic compositions historically enhanced haptic perception when viewed through stereoscopic devices?
- Can visual and audio ‘haptic compositions’ improve interaction in VR and serve as viable alternative feedback mechanisms?
Research Activities:
The successful candidate will conduct archival research and undertake secondments at two major European collections—The Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy (UK) and The Musée Nicéphore Niépce (France)—to select and analyse 100 historical stereoviews noted for their strong tactile visual effects. This analysis will focus on categorizing key visual elements such as composition, form, and texture that contribute to perceived hapticity. Building on these findings, the candidate will help develop a virtual reality environment featuring ten historically significant haptic compositions, with technical support from the Early Visual Media Lab – CICANT at Lusófona University (Portugal). To enhance user immersion, this VR space will be further enriched with 3D audio cues in collaboration with the ImViA Laboratory and the Cognitive Psychology Laboratory (LEAD) at the Université Bourgogne Europe.
Duties:
Conduct Archival Research
- Conduct archival research and analyse stereoscopic materials from The Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy (UK) and The Musée Nicéphore Niépce (France), selecting a corpus of 100 still life stereoviews known for their strong haptic visual effects.
- Identify and categorise recurring « haptic compositions » while assessing their perceptual intensity.
Collaborate on Virtual Reality Development
- Design a VR environment featuring the ten most prominent historical haptic compositions, in collaboration with a programmer and designer from CICANT at Lusófona University.
Integrate Multimodal Feedback Systems
- Work with the ImViA Laboratory and Cognitive Psychology Laboratory (LEAD) at the Université Bourgogne Europe to incorporate 3D audio cues into the VR experience.
- Assist in developing and implementing a user testing protocol to evaluate immersive and tactile perception.
Produce High-Quality Research Outputs
- Develop and present a working VR haptic prototype at academic research labs and media art exhibitions.
- Prepare and submit two conference papers based on project findings.
- Write and submit a scholarly article to an open-access, peer-reviewed journal.
Engage in Network Activities
- Actively participate in DECADOCS training events, workshops, and seminars.
Secondments:
The Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy is based in England and owns an extensive collection of Victorian stereoscopic images totalling over 200,000 photographs on metal, glass and paper, as well around 500 stereoscopes of all shapes and sizes from the 1850s to the 1970s. This collection is curated by Denis Pellerin, a photo-historian who has written several articles and books on stereo photography, as well as curated several exhibitions and events on stereoscopy.
The Nicéphore Niépce Museum, located in Chalon-sur-Saône, France, has over 100,000 stereoviews, both on glass and on paper, from 1840 to 1960. The research on these two collections will also allow the consultation of several historical publications (books, newspapers, magazines, leaflets) that can contribute to the understanding of stereoscopy as a unique Victorian cultural phenomenon.
Supervisors
Victor Flores
DECADOCS 