[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":268},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Fblogs\u002F2026\u002Fwhat-we-learned-when-people-stopped-paying-attention":3,"team-items":196,"other-blogs-\u002Fblogs\u002F2026\u002Fwhat-we-learned-when-people-stopped-paying-attention":243},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"date":185,"description":186,"extension":187,"image":188,"meta":189,"navigation":190,"path":191,"seo":192,"stem":193,"visible":194,"__hash__":195},"blogs\u002Fblogs\u002F2026\u002Fwhat-we-learned-when-people-stopped-paying-attention.md","What We Learned When People Stopped Paying Attention","Juliano Calil",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":171},"minimark",[10,15,19,22,25,28,31,35,41,44,47,50,52,56,61,64,67,71,74,80,83,85,89,104,106,110,115,118,121,124,127,131,134,137,141,144,147,151,154,157,160],[11,12,14],"h3",{"id":13},"lessons-from-8-years-of-immersive-work-under-real-world-constraints","Lessons from 8 Years of Immersive Work Under Real-World Constraints",[16,17,18],"p",{},"Something shifted in 2025, and we didn’t see it coming. We stopped hearing “what are immersive stories and should we try that approach?” and started hearing “how fast can you deploy it?”",[16,20,21],{},"That shift started slowly, then picked up fast. After demos, site visits, and workshops, the follow-up questions changed. People stopped asking about headsets and platforms and started asking whether something could be ready for a public meeting in a few weeks (in most cases, the answer is yes).",[16,23,24],{},"Most of our work in 2025 happened in real places under real constraints at over a dozen communities across California, Florida, Oregon, Maryland, and Delaware, including Santa Cruz, Fort Lauderdale and Morro Bay. We met very different audiences and geographies but all facing the same challenge: how to make risk real, hold attention, and move the conversation forward.",[16,26,27],{},"And after nearly ten years of teaching and working in community settings, I’ve learned to pay special attention to where people tune out and come up with ways to recapture their attention. One clear pattern keeps showing up: when someone recognizes a place in the experience, their (physical) posture changes, their questions change, and they stop reacting as a passive audience and start engaging as a stakeholder. That’s the moment the conversation turns, and it’s the moment we design for.",[29,30],"hr",{},[11,32,34],{"id":33},"what-stopped-working","What stopped working",[16,36,37],{},[38,39],"img",{"alt":34,"src":40},"https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2026-02-10-H02-32-53\u002Fimages2D\u002FrichContentImg_0.jpg",[16,42,43],{},"Image: Toastmasters International",[16,45,46],{},"Some approaches that worked a few years ago fell flat in 2025. Long, open-ended introductions and too much explanation stalled the conversation and made it harder to keep people engaged. Even in public settings, attention is more fragile than it used to be. If it takes five minutes to explain what someone is looking at, you’ve already lost the room. People aren’t tuning out because they don’t care; they’re overwhelmed, distracted, and constantly filtering, and that’s the reality we have to design for.",[16,48,49],{},"One moment that stuck with me happened recently in Morro Bay. We replaced nearly fifty PowerPoint slides with a seven-minute video at a community event, which clarified complex ideas and freed up time for real conversation, VR demos, and actual engagement. That tradeoff is what we’re optimizing for now.",[29,51],{},[11,53,55],{"id":54},"what-worked","What worked",[16,57,58],{},[38,59],{"alt":55,"src":60},"https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2026-02-10-H02-32-53\u002Fimages2D\u002FrichContentImg_1.jpg",[16,62,63],{},"Image: A short guided experience focused on a familiar place and real choices",[16,65,66],{},"What held attention most consistently were short, guided experiences with a clear narrative and a clear reason for what people were seeing. When the experience started with a place people recognized, a cliff, a familiar beach, a local estuary, everything made sense more quickly. Short demos worked better than long walkthroughs, especially when the goal was engagement and discussion rather than explanation.",[11,68,70],{"id":69},"co-creation-isnt-optional","Co-creation isn’t optional",[16,72,73],{},"The work that proved most effective this year wasn’t delivered to communities; it was built with them. Showing up with a finished product and asking for feedback rarely works. What does work is a shared process, where we provide tools, production capacity, and structure, and our partners bring local knowledge, community trust, and the real constraints that shape what’s usable. That collaboration is what separates something that looks good from something that gets used.",[16,75,76],{},[38,77],{"alt":78,"src":79},"Co-creation isn't optional","https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2026-02-10-H02-32-53\u002Fimages2D\u002FrichContentImg_2.jpg",[16,81,82],{},"Image: Cascading Climate Disasters Workshop at Portland State University",[29,84],{},[11,86,88],{"id":87},"how-we-think-about-immersive-storytelling","How we think about immersive storytelling",[16,90,91,92,103],{},"This approach comes out of years of field experience, shaped by research from places like MIT Co-Creation Studio and the Worlding Program, and Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab, but grounded in how people actually engage with the work. We put people inside real places, and we design data and lived experience to work together. From there, the focus shifts to showing change over time rather than risk frozen in a single moment, helping people see adaptation as a pathway made up of choices, tradeoffs, and actions they can realistically take over time. If you want a deeper look at how we think about immersive storytelling, we’ve written more about our core principles here: ",[93,94,96],"a",{"href":95},"\u002Fblogs\u002F2025\u002Fstorytellingprinciples",[97,98,99],"em",{},[100,101,102],"strong",{},"The Art of Impactful Storytelling: VPT’s Principles for Change",".",[29,105],{},[11,107,109],{"id":108},"why-we-focus-on-action-not-awareness","Why we focus on action, not awareness",[16,111,112],{},[38,113],{"alt":109,"src":114},"https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2026-02-10-H02-32-53\u002Fimages2D\u002FrichContentImg_3.jpg",[16,116,117],{},"Image: Solutions being considered in Santa Cruz, CA",[16,119,120],{},"A lot of climate communication still assumes more information leads to better decisions, but that's not what I see on the ground. Kris De Meyer's research reinforces what experience keeps showing us: awareness alone rarely moves people. Action does, even small ones, because doing something builds agency, and agency makes the next step easier and more likely.",[16,122,123],{},"How that action is introduced matters. Stories tend to work better than facts on their own, especially when they follow someone over time and show change rather than collapse. When people recognize themselves in the story and can see where their choices fit, the information starts to matter differently.",[16,125,126],{},"Interactivity plays a role here as well. Passive viewing keeps people at a distance, but making choices inside an experience, even simple ones, shifts them into participation. That shift is often where the conversation changes.",[11,128,130],{"id":129},"vr-still-hits-differently","VR still hits differently",[16,132,133],{},"We delivered more online and video content this year, mostly because speed and reach matter. Some organizations see VR as optional and nice-to-have, or assume it’s more spectacle than substance, but the reactions on the ground tell a very different story. Standing inside a flooded version of your own neighborhood isn’t the same as watching a clip of it.",[16,135,136],{},"VR changes how people process risk, especially when the place is familiar and the stakes are local. Video and web tools play an important role, but they don’t create the same shift from observation to presence. Both formats matter, but they are definitely not interchangeable.",[11,138,140],{"id":139},"heading-into-2026","Heading into 2026",[16,142,143],{},"Immersive engagement isn’t experimental anymore. What we’re hearing now is about timing, not proof. Teams are working under tighter deadlines, climate impacts are already visible, budgets are stretched, and there’s little room for tools that don’t directly support meaningful engagement and decision-making.",[16,145,146],{},"What I keep coming back to is this: it has to be personal. If people don’t recognize themselves or their place in what they’re seeing, it doesn’t work. A map doesn’t carry the same weight as a flooded street. A shaded polygon doesn’t start a conversation the way a kid missing school does. I’ve seen too many polished maps and GIS tools sit unused because they never crossed that threshold.",[11,148,150],{"id":149},"if-this-sounds-familiar","If this sounds familiar",[16,152,153],{},"If this sounds familiar, and you’re running into the limits of slides, GIS, Story maps, models, and other products that work for technical analysis but break down in public or cross-disciplinary settings, a short conversation might be useful.",[16,155,156],{},"Going into 2026, we’re focused on faster deployment, clearer stories, and experiences designed for real conversations. The goal is simple: the work has to help people decide what to do next.",[16,158,159],{},"We're happy to share what's worked, what hasn't, and whether immersive might fit what you're trying to do. No long deck, unless you really want one.",[16,161,162,170],{},[93,163,167],{"href":164,"rel":165},"https:\u002F\u002Fmeetings-na2.hubspot.com\u002Fjuliano-calil\u002Fmeet?uuid=66236b68-56c6-4104-b011-daf654df6cbd",[166],"nofollow",[100,168,169],{},"Book a quick intro call"," or send me a message.",{"title":172,"searchDepth":173,"depth":173,"links":174},"",2,[175,177,178,179,180,181,182,183,184],{"id":13,"depth":176,"text":14},3,{"id":33,"depth":176,"text":34},{"id":54,"depth":176,"text":55},{"id":69,"depth":176,"text":70},{"id":87,"depth":176,"text":88},{"id":108,"depth":176,"text":109},{"id":129,"depth":176,"text":130},{"id":139,"depth":176,"text":140},{"id":149,"depth":176,"text":150},"2026-02-14 09:56:00","A 2025 recap from Juliano Calil on how immersive engagement shifted from novelty to practical tool, based on real-world climate and resilience projects. Lessons on attention, storytelling, and why immersive tools now need to deploy fast, stay grounded in place, and drive action.","md","https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2026-01-14-H17-56-40\u002Fimages2D\u002F0.jpg",{},null,"\u002Fblogs\u002F2026\u002Fwhat-we-learned-when-people-stopped-paying-attention","[object Object]","blogs\u002F2026\u002Fwhat-we-learned-when-people-stopped-paying-attention",true,"im3_0Q1uon5Z6y0KG_D5p_5Jt8KSAP2g0D_q_QbDWNg",{"id":197,"extension":198,"meta":199,"stem":200,"team":201,"__hash__":242},"team\u002Fteam.json","json",{},"team",[202,209,216,223,230,237],{"image":203,"name":6,"description":204,"socialMedia":205},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcontent\u002Fteam\u002Fjuliano_calil.png","Our Scientist and data expert with a PHD in ocean science and coastal adaptation. Also a certified drone pilot.",[206],{"name":207,"link":208},"linkedin","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjulianocalil\u002F",{"image":210,"name":211,"description":212,"socialMedia":213},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcontent\u002Fteam\u002Fgianluca.png","Gianluca Tessicini","Our Lead Artist, exploring new techniques, and styles to create visually compelling and emotionally engaging works.",[214],{"name":207,"link":215},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fglucat\u002F",{"image":217,"name":218,"description":219,"socialMedia":220},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcontent\u002Fteam\u002Frafael_batista.png","Rafael Ferreira","Our Lead Programmer, staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies to deliver the best user experience.",[221],{"name":207,"link":222},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Frafael-batista-901bb01a9\u002F",{"image":224,"name":225,"description":226,"socialMedia":227},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcontent\u002Fteam\u002Fjerfesson_jesus.png","Jérffeson Jésus","Our Dynamic Developer, blending a passion for gaming, reading, and biking adventures into innovative tech solutions.",[228],{"name":207,"link":229},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjerffesonj\u002F",{"image":231,"name":232,"description":233,"socialMedia":234},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcontent\u002Fteam\u002Faline_moromizato.png","Aline Moromizato","Our Multimedia Designer, crafting stunning visuals that showcase adaptation and sustainability, Aline blends UI design and digital artistry to create immersive, impactful experiences.",[235],{"name":207,"link":236},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Falinemoromizato\u002F",{"image":238,"name":239,"description":240,"socialMedia":241},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcontent\u002Fteam\u002Fgustavo_moraes.png","Gustavo Moraes","Our Immersive Writer, with 20+ years of experience, he goes far exploring ideas to create a unique vision to our projects.",[],"SVA0t-VEUZWT0ytt61zwvJEn6EXXi-cZSXJ8PBHDJXM",[244,250,256,262],{"title":245,"description":246,"path":247,"image":248,"date":249},"Three Coastlines, a New Platform and a Free Video","New experiences, Future Climate Now, and a question for you.","\u002Fblogs\u002F2026\u002Fthree-coastlines-one-question","https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2026-02-17-H22-30-31\u002Fimages2D\u002F0.jpg","2026-02-17 14:30:00",{"title":251,"description":252,"path":253,"image":254,"date":255},"Virtual Planet FAQ: Climate Visualization & Immersive Storytelling","Answers to the most common questions about Virtual Planet's work.","\u002Fblogs\u002F2026\u002Fvirtual-planet-faq","https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2025-12-22-H19-52-36\u002Fimages2D\u002F0.jpg","2025-12-22 11:52:00",{"title":257,"description":258,"path":259,"image":260,"date":261},"🎥 Behind the Headsets: Immersive Climate Stories for Coastal Resilience","Co-creating across coasts to transform data into experience.","\u002Fblogs\u002F2025\u002Fbehind-the-headsets","https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2025-10-21-H22-27-54\u002Fimages2D\u002F0.jpg","2025-10-21 15:27:00",{"title":263,"description":264,"path":265,"image":266,"date":267},"🌊 A Climate-Ready Vision for Morro Bay and Los Osos","A quick look behind the scenes of our latest project in Morro Bay.","\u002Fblogs\u002F2025\u002Fmorro-bay","https:\u002F\u002Fvp-site-images-db.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\u002Fblogs\u002F2025-10-21-H20-21-35\u002Fimages2D\u002F0.jpg","2025-10-21 13:21:00",1775743445562]