Florida Courtroom Makes History with Virtual Reality
put oneself in someone’s shoes: to imagine how it feels to be in another person’s situation
A Florida courtroom just stepped into the future with the first use of VR evidence in US history. In 2023, Miguel Albisu was charged with assault after pulling out a gun during a fight in a wedding hall. He said it was justified, and he was only trying to protect himself. His lawyer, Ken Padowitz, recently used VR to put the judge into Abisu’s shoes. With VR headsets on, the judge experienced how Abisu was threatened and needed to defend himself.
This isn’t the first time a judge has sought to understand a case firsthand. In 1976, Judge Elwood McKenney said he needed to try cocaine to understand its effects before deciding on a drug case. After people complained, he abandoned the plan but ruled cocaine possession laws unconstitutional anyway!
Compared to that idea, VR seems like a much safer and saner way to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Sample sentences
Before arguing with her, try putting yourself in her shoes and think about how hard her day has been.
If you were the teacher, how would you feel? Put yourself in the teacher’s shoes for a moment.
Designing websites for people with disabilities requires putting yourself in their shoes to understand their challenges.
Read More:
Florida Judge Allows VR Simulation of Alleged Crime to Be Submitted as Evidence