When it comes to virtual experiences, the idea of spending time in a cell measuring 6×9 feet won’t be everyone’s idea of entertainment, but this is exactly what UK news outlet The Guardian are asking their audience to do in their latest interactive documentary 6×9. Placing the viewer inside a computer-generated solitary confinement prison cell, where they can scroll around the room to hear the stories of those previously incarcerated in these conditions.

The Guardian’s first foray into the world of virtual reality is certainly an immersive (and somewhat unsettling) experience that really tries to place those that experience it inside the headspace of those imprisoned in these facilities – as is explained in the following statement from an article on 6×9:

The purpose of 6×9 is to demonstrate, using immersive journalism, how being in long-term solitary can affect the mind of prisoners held in segregation around the world, an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 of them in the United States alone.

This method of storytelling is a highly effective way of highlighting the sensory deprivation that solitary confinement entails.

You can view a short segment of the project in the video above, but to immerse yourself in the full experience you’ll need to download the app from iTunes or the Google Play and as always with this kind of project, it’s best watched through a VR headset.