Immersive Court and Trial Simulation
The Immersive Court and Trial Simulation project aims to transform courtroom experiences through immersive environments and interactive simulations. It seeks to enhance access to justice, strengthen professional training, and raise public awareness about judicial realities. This initiative represents a core focus of the Cyberjustice Laboratory's research into virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), forming the basis for several case studies.
Main Application Areas
- Conducting Real and Simulated Hearings: Supports accurate replication of judicial environments and interactive experimentation
- Professional Training: Enables legal professionals to acquire practical skills within an innovative framework.
- Public Awareness and Preparation: Effectively prepares litigants for real courtroom appearances and testimony.
Project Components:
1 - Courtoom Reproduction
- Virtual: Accurate 3D modeling of the Cyberjustice Laboratory courtroom.
- Real: 360-degree video capture of the Cyberjustice Laboratory courtroom.
2 - Trial Simulation
- Use of virtual agents or avatars representing courtroom participants (judges, lawyers, witnesses, litigants).
- Scripted scenarios or experimentation with generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create interactive trial simulations following initial contextualization.
⮕ Case Study: Virtual Justice and Best Practices
- This case study involves an in-depth exploration of best practices for conducting virtual trials in immersive environments (Focus Area #1).
- It evaluates the impact of immersive technology on judicial quality and user experience.
- This study examines a hybrid virtual trial, combining the physical courtroom at the Cyberjustice Laboratory with its digitized counterpart, accessible remotely via VR headsets and simultaneously projected onto large screens.
- The scenario is developed in collaboration with research centers equipped with suitable infrastructures known as "Computer Augmented Virtual Environments" (CAVE). The objective is to assess technological feasibility, test realistic scenarios, and identify best practices to ensure the quality and legitimacy of virtual hearings.
Project Phases
Phase 1: Platform Exploration and State-of-the-Art Review
Testing existing solutions and identifying optimal technologies for trial virtualization. Review of immersive court projects and VR justice initiatives globally.
Phase 2: Tool Development
Creation of an immersive courtroom prototype, including the interface connecting to VR headsets.
Phase 3: Experimentation and Validation
Organizing case studies and workshops to enhance user experience and define best practices.
Expected Outcomes
1. Creation of « CYBERVERSE »
- A comprehensive platform encompassing the representation of legal concepts (Project 3) and the Immersive Court, both designed to improve awareness and access to justice. CYBERVERSE will enable students, legal professionals, and citizens to engage in judicial scenarios through virtual reality, fostering a better understanding of law and enhancing justice accessibility.
2. Insights on Virtual Reality Use in Legal and Judicial Contexts:
- Identification and categorization of best practices according to technological application. For instance, while 3D evidence (Project 2) may not be suitable for trials involving high-stakes litigation, it could effectively serve professional training and public education through simulated trials.
- Workshops to experiment with and disseminate identified insights, also summarized in a detailed report.
This content has been updated on 07/15/2025 at 9 h 16 min.