Elizabeth Olivares Flores

Anthropologist | M.A. Social and Cultural Analysis

Immersive Technology & Society Research

Exploring the boundaries people draw around virtual futures
and turning them into how we build.

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01 / Research

Latest Research Project

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Imagining Immersive Futures Through the Meta Quest 3: An Exploratory Study with University Students in Tokyo

International Christian University · Tokyo, Japan · January 2025 – February 2026

Master's ThesisImmersive Technology

Examined how internationally diverse university students in Tokyo imagine the future of social life after hands-on engagement with immersive technology, through exploratory questionnaires and VR-based semi-structured interviews grounded in the Social Construction of Technology framework, proposing the Augment-Inhibit Model of Imagined Immersive Social Life.

02 / Projects

Latest Project

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July 2026

Umbra

AI Avatar Companion

An AI avatar companion built around the witch's familiar concept, an animated cat meant to walk through everyday life with you, bringing a little magic and comfort along the way. First built at Perxona's Tokyo workshop.

03 / News

Latest Updates

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01Aug 8, 2026

Won 2nd place in the Build Your Own AI Avatar Hackathon

Placed 2nd at Perxona's Build Your Own AI Avatar Hackathon in Tokyo with Team MehMeh. Together with Mike Moniex and Shuenn Yuen Han we built Konbini AI Night Shift, a 3D virtual clerk that brings hospitality to the usually desolated late night shift at the convenience stores like FamilyMart in Japan.

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02Aug 7, 2026

Facilitated the workshop "From Ideas to Impact: Technology Tools for Creating Positive Change"

Facilitated a pre-departure workshop for International Christian University's students preparing for an International Service-Learning II course in Thailand. The session introduced design thinking and AI tools for research, creativity, and collaboration, emphasizing their use in understanding social challenges and designing solutions that benefit others.

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03Jul 22, 2026

Attended the "Tokyo AI Avatar Builder Workshop" hosted by Perxona

SSpent the day building AI avatars at Perxona's workshop in Tokyo. I got the opportunity to use Perxona's console to develop a fantasy AI avatar companion, Umbra. Built around the witch's familiar concept, a companion meant to walk through your everyday life with you, bringing a little magic, a spell or two, and some comfort to lean on through the harder days.

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