Sailing and Wayfinding in Kilo Hōkū VR. The host for this episode is Mitch Ewan. The guest for this episode is Patrick Karjala.
Kilo Hōkū VR is a virtual reality simulation of the Hōkūleʻa, a double-hulled Hawaiian sailing canoe. The simulation was built to help both instructors and learners of non-instrument navigation, or wayfinding. This practice involves using clues in the environment in order to determine your position on the open ocean without using any modern-day navigation tools such as GPS or compasses. The simulation recreates the environment a navigator would find themselves in, and allows for the display of additional learning aids. We consulted with the Polynesian Voyaging Society on the construction of the simulation, and have performed a user study to determine the acceptance of the simulation by students learning about Hawaiian celestial navigation. The simulation is now available for download as a free application for any user with an HTC Vive virtual reality headset; work is underway to port the simulation to additional VR platforms.
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