Women in STEAM Through the Lens of an Immersive-Based Storytelling Design

This paper explores the co-creation and co-design of a virtual reality application using Unity 3D and Meta Quest 2, aimed at representing, through a storytelling process, the life of Ada Lovelace who is a recognized woman in STEAM disciplines. The immersive-based storytelling design was represented through an interactive escape room. Beginning with ideation and research, the project employed digital narrative techniques to highlight key aspects of Ada’s contributions to mathematics and computing. Scene creation utilized Unity’s assets and XR capabilities, ensuring immersive environments aligned with historical contexts. Feedback from stakeholders informed needed improvements which could enhance narrative coherence and user experience. Moreover, the integration of VR hardware facilitated realistic interactions, highlighting the potential of VR in educational storytelling. This study underscores the technical and creative challenges of VR development while showcasing its application in the design and development of an immersive narrative experience.