When Jack Wesson’s girlfriend was unable to visit her family over fall break last semester, he knew how to give her an enchanting glimpse of home.
Wesson brought her to the Center for Collaborative Arts & Media (CCAM) — an interdisciplinary research center at 149 York St. where traditional arts blend with computer science and technology. A Google Earth virtual-reality experience there enables users to stroll the streets anywhere on the globe.
She donned a headset and was instantly transported to Malibu, her hometown. Wesson followed along on a monitor as she toured her neighborhood. She showed him the route she used to take to school. The experience made Wesson better appreciate the technology and the center that provides such easy access to it.
“It was emotional,” Wesson said. “I thought: ‘Wow, this is actually really powerful.’”
Wesson, a junior majoring in…