Hi, I'm Cyan, a Stanford PhD Candidate researching how immersive technologies shape the way we learn, create, and connect.

Cypherspace: Designing for Embodied Learning in Immersive VR

[ grant ]

Situated in arts & humanities education, we are investigating how VR can cultivate joyful learning experiences through meaningful movement-based interaction. We present Cypherspace, a system that engages learners with the history of hip-hop through embodied learning activities. The project aims to promote a more active paradigm for VR education experiences. Art by: Grace Wang

Supporting Technology Career Interest and Prosocial Attitudes through Virtual Reality Co-creation in the Classroom

Cyan DeVeaux, Kai Frazier, James A. Landay, Jeremy Bailenson. In Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR) ’26 Adjunct (TeacXR ’26).

[ short paper ]

Grounded in creative learning and culturally responsive computing, this case study investigates the use of virtual reality (VR) co-creation as a meaningful context for K-12 students' engagement with spatial computing.

Social Conjurer: Multi-User Runtime Collaboration with GenAI in Building Virtual Reality Worlds

Amina Kobenova*, Cyan DeVeaux*, Samyak Parajuli*, Andrzej Banburski-Fahey, Judith Amores, Jaron Lanier. In Proc. ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology (VRST) '25.

[ poster ] [ arxiv ]

We present Social Conjurer, a system and framework that enables real-time, AI-augmented creation of virtual 3D environments for multiple users.

Audiovisual Realism in MR: Investigating the Effects of Room Acoustics on Co-Presence with Photorealistic Avatars

Cyan DeVeaux, Elizabeth H. Hall, Andy J. Shaw, Andrew Frederick Francl, Paulus van Horne, Frank M. Nieuwenhuizen, Sebastià V. Amengual Garí, Madeline Huberth. In Proc. IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR) '26.

[ paper ]

In this exploratory, within-subjects study, we investigate the effects of audio quality on co-presence and associated experiential outcomes during avatar-mediated conversations in MR.

Black Immersive Virtuality: Racialized Experiences of Avatar Embodiment and Customization Among Black Users in Social VR

Cyan DeVeaux, Eugy Han, Zora Hudson, Jordan Egelman, James A. Landay, Jeremy N. Bailenson. In Computers in Human Behavior, 2025.

[ paper ]

Leveraging Intersectional Tech and the Virtual Identity Discrepancy Model as frameworks, we report on findings from an interview study and experimental study aimed at understanding the avatar embodiment experiences of Black users on VRChat, a social VR platform.

An Exploratory Investigation into the Language of Social VR

Cyan DeVeaux, David M. Markowitz, Eugy Han, Mark R. Miller, Jeffrey T. Hancock, Jeremy N. Bailenson. In Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2024.

[ paper ]

We explore language patterns as a behavioral link to presence in VR using an exploratory text analysis of over 4,800 min of conversation in social VR, consisting of over 130,000 spoken words from 126 participants.