Highly Detailed Models of Historic Sites and Scientific Data Scales from Classroom to Virtual Labs to Fully Immersive Experiences.
Marshalltown, IA (February 3, 2026) – One of the common barriers to adoption of immersive technology in educational spaces is the availability of relevant content. Many higher education institutions understand the potential for immersive and virtual environments but may need a library of content available when they invest in an immersive solution, so results are seen sooner. To help give educators and researchers a head start, Mechdyne, in its 30th year of providing extended reality solutions, and Ball State University’s Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA) Lab have partnered to offer impressive content ready for immersive displays at any scale.
Mechdyne can resell content developed by the IDIA Lab to education clients as part of its High-Performance XR solutions (Hi-PerXR™) such as collaborative headsets, immersive rooms, and virtual reality environments like the CAVE. The impressive collection of content includes:
- Witness Stonehenge as it evolves through thousands of years, letting you explore richly detailed 3D reconstructions, observe ancient wildlife, and experience NASA-driven solar and lunar alignments as this prehistoric monument transforms across millennia.
- Venture to the Moon’s South Pole at Shackleton Crater, where you traverse sunlit polar ridges, explore shadowed regions that may conceal frozen water, and navigate a scientifically accurate lunar landscape crafted from NASA orbital data to reveal how this extreme environment could support future bases and human exploration.
- Follow humanity’s ascent from the earliest flight to the space age, guiding users from the Wright Brothers’ first Flyer to Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the X15, and Sputnik in richly detailed interactive environments that celebrate the innovation and imagination that carried humanity into the skies and beyond.
- A journey inside the Pantheon, showcasing the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome as sunlight pours through the oculus to reveal celestial alignments, with rich historical insights into its evolution from Roman temple to enduring architectural icon.
- Step into ByōdōIn’s ancient temple world, where richly detailed 3D architecture, interactive discovery zones, animated characters, and intuitive learning tools reveal the spiritual and cultural legacy of this UNESCO World Heritage site from its origins in 998 A.D. to its transformation into a celebrated Buddhist temple in 1053.
“Our education clients typically invest in immersive technology for development of their own research and education content, but need quick-start content to demonstrate potential for the technology.” said Chad Kickbus, General Manager of Mechdyne’s Integration Business Unit. “Content from the IDIA Lab is perfect because users can likely find subject matter close to their own areas of interest, meaning they get highly useful content that will last beyond their startup phase.
A complete list of available content with links to details is available on Mechdyne’s website.
About Mechdyne
Mechdyne Corporation is a broad-based technology partner specializing in high-performance extended reality, software solutions, audiovisual, managed information technologies (AV/IT), and technical support services. It addresses enterprise-scale projects where an in-depth understanding of user requirements leads to the development of customized solutions involving any combination of displays, computing, software, and professional services. Headquartered in Marshalltown, Iowa, Mechdyne serves a global client base that includes leading government laboratories, university and research centers, energy, aerospace, manufacturing, medical organizations, and other advanced technology users.
About Ball State University’s Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts
The Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) as part of Ball State’s Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning, investigates the intersection of the arts, sciences, humanities, and technology. Their award-winning scholarly, creative, and pedagogical projects investigate virtual and augmented reality, human-computer interface, mobile apps, visualization, and 3-D simulation. The Lab empowers students and staff to work with international partners on educational, museum, and animated content for broadcast.
For more information about the IDIA Lab, please visit the Lab’s website.
