by Keara Dwyer
March 7, 2025
Imagine trying on clothes without stepping into a fitting room. Thanks to the groundbreaking work of GCC’s Media and Academic Technology Specialist, Puck Gross, and others, students and faculty can now experience the magic of virtual clothing try-ons using innovative Magic Mirror technology.
Gross, as well as some other faculty members, worked together to create a 3D VR system that allows people to view clothing on their body. “The biggest challenge is probably how new this technology is,” he said. “I hadn’t realized it when our grant first started, but this Magic Mirror physical hardware is just barely appearing in retail spaces.”
The Magic Mirror system is created using different programs and filters to create a visual image on the screen while connected to a laptop that displays a person with a chosen piece of clothing on them. The person is seen using a webcam that is mounted to the television.
Magic Mirror technology has been used in many ways so far, not just for fun but also for educational purposes. “The fashion show is coming up and there’s going to be a showcase of digital fashion there, both with the Magic Mirror and with a virtual reality show room,” Gross said. “And that highlights designs made by students they are putting on in addition to their physical walk down the runway. They’re also doing digital designs that are displayed in this 3D way.”
This type of technology isn’t only being used at GCC. It’s starting to be used everywhere, such in clothing stores. It is even being used in Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot in relation to furniture. Gross said, “If you are in your Walmart or Home Depot app, they’ll have this. So, it’s using the same augmented reality tracking. So, we are seeing some of that pop up in mobile.”
These new advances in technology are accessible to about everyone. Gross said, “Right now, I accompany the physical hardware to events just because its new, but since its web-based anyone can use it as long as they have the link.”
The technology world continues to grow in epic proportions and the GCC technology and online learning team are not falling behind. They are providing technology that helps create entertainment, as well as career opportunities, to students and faculty. “We’re also seeing more opportunities for careers in just digital fashion,” Gross said. “There are people putting on just 3D fashion shows in the metaverse and in VR, and people creating clothing and selling it for games like Roblox and the Sims. We’re seeing a little bit of a split, and so I’m excited to see how it will merge, but there will definitely be more career opportunities.”