Where interaction, immersion and intelligence converge.
Where Humans and Technology Meet the Future
Spatial Lab is a Research & Development Lab at CENFOTEC University in Costa Rica. We explore new ways for people to interact with technology through Extended Reality (XR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies.
To push the limits of XR, AI, and interactive experiences — building solutions that are innovative, inclusive, and centered on human needs.
We work through interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together computer science, psychology, design, and engineering to ensure that our technologies are both advanced and accessible.
Explore our cutting-edge research areas
We investigate how XR and spatial computing can transform physical spaces — from immersive museums and cultural heritage sites to adaptive workplaces and interactive retail environments.
We explore how XR can revolutionize learning and professional training, from virtual STEM labs and immersive medical simulations to AI-driven adaptive learning systems.
We design XR experiences that are inclusive and adaptive for people with different abilities, including real-time sign language in immersive environments, learning tools for neurodiverse audiences, and cognitive accessibility in XR.
Peer-reviewed research produced by the lab
Sharifeh Alaei, Marco Raoul Marini, Briam Mora, Franklin Castro Rodríguez, Luigi Cinque, Gian Luca Foresti
International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (IJHCI), Taylor & Francis · 2026
Research notes, experiments, and ideas on XR, AI, and interaction.
When innovation meets neighborhood effort to transform an abandoned coffee farm into a peaceful site for all species.
Read
How VR and Precision Hardware Preserve an Ancient Art, Include the Left-Handed Community for the First Time, and Open Its Learning to Anyone
ReadSpatialLab is the Research and Development (R&D) Laboratory at CENFOTEC University in Costa Rica, where interaction, immersion, and intelligence come together. Learn what we do and why it matters.
ReadDiscover our innovative projects that showcase the potential of XR and Artificial Intelligence
An open-source platform for research and experimentation with intelligent virtual agents in Extended Reality (VR/AR) environments.
An interactive conversational interface that personifies AI with a real-time animated avatar, complemented by an optional LESCO sign language translation module for video calls.
Strategic soft skills training initiative that transforms virtual learning on Moodle into an immersive, interactive, and user-centered experience.
An interactive Unity WebGL experience exploring urban ecological restoration and the protection of endangered endemic species across time, accessible directly through the web browser.
An adaptive Extended Reality (XR) framework that senses user emotions in real time using Meta Quest 3 to personalize virtual environments, pacing, and avatar dialogues.
A mixed reality showroom presenting CENFOTEC University’s academic programs through immersive environments inspired by Costa Rican landscapes and powered by hand tracking navigation.
A WebAR treasure hunt that transforms visits to the Children's Museum into an interactive adventure with 3D dinosaurs and face filters, no app downloads required.
A WebAR treasure hunt that turns the exhibition into a hunt for hidden toys and cars, smartly guiding visitor traffic toward less frequented areas.
Meet the researchers and developers behind our innovative AR/VR and interactive experiences
