DR. JACQUELYN FORD MORIE: PIONEERING IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY

By NAOMI GOLDMAN

All photos by Moloshok Photography.

Dr. Jacquelyn Ford Morie is a luminary in the realm of virtual reality and a defining voice of immersive technology. Standing at the intersection of art, science and technology, she has been shaping the future of virtual experiences worldwide since the 1980s, and remains dedicated to mentoring the next generation of VR innovators while forging ahead with new paradigms in immersive media.

For her immense contributions to the computer animation and visual effects industries, by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work, the Society honored Dr. Morie with the Georges Méliès Award at the 23rd Annual VES Awards. “Dr. Jacki Morie redefined the possibilities of immersive media, infusing them with profound emotional and educational resonance,” said VES Chair Kim Davidson. “Her visionary leadership has shaped pivotal projects across health, space exploration, art and education, underscoring her as a transformative innovator and thought leader.”

Chief Research Officer of Eyeline Studios Paul Debevec, VES gave this heartfelt introduction to his longtime friend: “I had the privilege of working with Jacki for over a decade at USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies. We were two of the first research leaders hired in 2000, and I was lucky to have a colleague who helped set the tone that this institute would not just be about developing technology, but also about exploring its creative possibilities. Jacki has developed computer animation training programs that have educated a generation of digital artists. But perhaps her most impactful contributions have been pioneering work in VR experiences, creating new forms of multisensory feedback, like helping NASA astronauts combat isolation on long-duration space missions by keeping them emotionally connected to Earth. It is a theme of Jacki’s work to develop technology and experiences to make life better for others.”

In accepting her award, Morie remarked, “To say I am honored to receive this award is hardly representative of what I am feeling. It is not everyone who gets to be at the birth of a new medium, and yet here tonight we celebrate both film and computer graphics and effects. I have spent my entire career trying to make this new medium of VR more meaningful, more emotional, more purposeful. I’d like to think that my work also honors those who are trying to follow the desire lines of where we want to take this medium. I am glad to have started this journey and look forward to many more artists taking it up and making it truly something spectacular! My sincere thanks to the VES for recognizing me and the birth of this new art form.”