  As the internet of things (IoT) has integrated physical and digital
technologies, designing for multiple sensory media (mulsemedia) has become more
attainable. Designing technology for multiple senses has the capacity to
improve virtual realism, extend our ability to process information, and more
easily transfer knowledge between physical and digital environments. HCI
researchers are beginning to explore the viability of integrating multimedia
into virtual experiences, however research has yet to consider whether
mulsemedia truly enhances realism, immersion and knowledge transfer. My work
developing StreamBED, a VR training platform to train citizen science water
monitors plans to consider the role of mulsemedia in immersion and learning
goals. Future findings about the role of mulsemedia in learning contexts will
potentially allow learners to experience, connect to, learn from spaces that
are impossible to experience firsthand.
