Yearly Archives

2020

Pros and cons of virtual and augmented learning experiences

The usage of AR and VR in education adds an entirely new dimension to a field that has remained relatively static for the majority of its existence.

Only a decade ago, technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) were firmly confined to the realm of science fiction. But with the advancement of science and the ongoing digitisation of the world, what was once considered impossible has now become practically commonplace. Nowhere does this hold truer than in the fields of VR and AR.

Industries across the board have been quick to adopt and benefit from the potential of these technologies. Global corporations have enhanced efficiency and profitability through the incorporation of these techniques; e-commerce and retail businesses have pushed the boundaries of the home shopping experience; and the gaming and entertainment sectors have taken immersiveness to whole new levels. And the next field undergoing a radical transformation as a result of these new advancements is that of education. The usage of AR and VR in education adds an entirely new dimension to a field that has remained relatively static for the majority of its existence. They unlock new possibilities, enhance existing practices, and allow for unique methodologies and techniques to be implemented. However, the introduction of such a radical set of tools to a sector as critical as education merits debate. To that end, this article will examine the advantages and disadvantages of using these technologies in a learning environment.

The pros of VR and AR learning experiences Heightening the interest of students Traditional classroom experiences have always been reliant on a teacher’s ability to capture and maintain the attention of their students. Unfortunately, this ideal outcome isn’t always realised, and students can frequently find their attention drifting when faced with a stream of dry concepts and figures. The usage of VR and AR can radically alter this dynamic. By incorporating a visual and interactive component to otherwise abstract information, the focus and interest of students will sharply increase. This will motivate them to actively engage in classrooms, and positively influence the way in which learning is approached. Experiential learning and practice Educators have long struggled with the challenge of encouraging students to pursue a career in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. VR and AR offer a solution to this issue. Purely theoretical subjects such as mathematics can be made more interesting through the visualisation of the theories and formulae being studied in a three-dimensional framework. The implementation of augmented reality in fields such as medicine and engineering allows students to practice the techniques they are taught and gain valuable first-hand experience in a safe, controlled environment. Showcasing these critical fields to learners in an entirely new manner has the potential to spark a lifelong interest at an early age, and produce a generation of highly skilled, motivated, and enthusiastic specialists. Revolutionising distance learning The decade has seen online learning surge in popularity, both in India and across the world, driven by improved access to the internet, the professionalisation and standardisation of the field, and a growing acknowledgment of its usefulness. However, this increase in popularity has also exposed several shortcomings. Key among them is the absence of the classroom environment and lack of engagement with teachers and fellow learners. The introduction of VR and AR has opened an avenue through which these issues can be addressed. An academic model that combines the advantages of online learning with the experiential possibilities of these technologies has the potential to overhaul the system and have lasting impact on the future of education. The cons of VR and AR learning experiences Barriers to entry Although VR and AR technologies have advanced in leaps and bounds since their inception, they are still comparatively rare and prohibitively costly. This limits their availability to institutes and individuals with the financial means to access and utilise them.

As such, they have the potential to create an imbalance in the field of education, creating a stark division between the haves and have-nots. The potential for isolation While interactive technologies can prove hugely beneficial to learning outcomes, they do come with a caveat. Strapping on a pair of VR goggles and learning in an entirely virtual environment can lead to isolation and undermine the element of human interaction that is so vital to successful learning environments. It is therefore vital that VR and AR be used to supplement interpersonal learning techniques, rather than replacing them entirely.

Addictive nature of virtual environments In our rush to embrace the latest advancements in education, it is important to recognise the potential hazards and downsides associated with them. VR addiction is a form of digital addiction associated with the use of VR applications, offering users an avenue through which they can escape the stress and concerns of everyday life. Given the relatively recent nature of these new technologies, a great deal of research remains to be done on the long-term impact of their prolonged usage. Until then, it is best to use these devices in moderation. (Edited by Javed Gaihlot) (Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.) Want to make your startup journey smooth? YS Education brings a comprehensive Funding Course, where you also get a chance to pitch your business plan to top investors. Click here to know more.

Quelle:
https://yourstory.com/2020/07/pros-cons-virtual-augmented-learning-experiences

3. August 2020 0 comment

Examples

Angst vor Federn: OVB-Redakteurin stellt sich ihrer Phobie in einer virtuellen Realität

„Iii“: Entsetzte Aufschreie sind beim Anblick von Mäusen und Spinnen eine häufige Reaktion. Doch wenn aus Ekel eine Angststörung wird, ist eine Therapie notwendig. Das kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum in Wasserburg erforscht seit vier Jahren in einer der ersten Studien den Einsatz virtueller Realitäten (VR). Ein Selbstversuch.

Als Kind bin ich schreiend davon gelaufen, wenn beim Familienurlaub an der Nordsee die frechen Möwen zu nahe kamen. Der Fasching war für mich stets die schrecklichste Zeit des Jahres – angesichts der vielen federgeschmückten Indianer. Eine Schwalbe, die sich vor Tagen durch das offene Fenster in die Redaktion der Wasserburger Zeitung verirrte und mich entsetzt unter dem Schreibtisch in Deckung gehen ließ, zeigte erneut: Die Angst ist nach wie vor da.

Übung für Menschen mit Höhenangst: Blick hinunter aus 50 Metern Höhe von einem Aussichtsturm. Hier pfeift sogar der Wind. „© VTplus GmbH“

© „Virtuelle Umgebung Tetraeder, VT+Expo2017, © VTplus GmbH“

VR als geschützter Raum und Hilfsmittel

15 Prozent aller Menschen leiden unter einer Angststörung, berichtet Dr. Julia Diemer. Die Diplom-Psychologin forscht seit 2009 unter Leitung von Professor Dr. Peter Zwanzger, Ärztlicher Direktor des kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikums und einer der renommiertesten Angstexperten, zur Frage, wie sinnvoll virtuelle Realitäten in der Therapie eingesetzt werden können. In Wasserburgs Stadtteil Gabersee werden Erfahrungswerte von 65 Menschen mit Angststörungen gesammelt.

Eins steht schon heute fest, sagt die psychologische Psychotherapeutin Diemer (42): Die virtuelle Realität kann eine Therapie, die den Wurzeln der Angst auf den Grund geht, nicht ersetzen. „Die VR ist vielmehr ein Hilfsmittel, ein geschützter Raum, in dem sich die Patienten ihrer Angst stellen können – und durch regelmäßiges Üben lernen, den Teufelskreis aus Angst und Vermeiden aufzugeben.“

Das könnte sie auch interessieren: Angstexperte Zwanzger über die Coronakrise: Viele haben „Situation noch immer nicht verstanden“

Angst ist weit verbreitet

Bei meiner Vogelphobie ist Vermeidung einfach: kein Federbettzeug, kein gefiedertes Haustier, kein Besuch im Freifluggelände des Tierparks. Im Forschungsraum des kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikums gibt es jedoch kein Entrinnen. Psychologin und Doktorandin Magdalena Sich und ihre Kollegin, die Fachärztin Dr. Ines Sam, bereiten den Computer für seinen Einsatz vor. Angst vor Vögeln ist so weit verbreitet, dass es ein eigenes Programm gibt – ebenso wie etwa für Angst vor dem Fliegen, vor dem Autofahren, vor Menschenansammlungen (Agoraphobie).

Ich werde mit Mund-Nasen-Schutz und einer 3-D-Brille ausgestattet, ein Steuerungsgerät mit Schalthebeln in der Hand. Dann heißt es: Augen zu, nach wenigen Minuten in der Dunkelheit wieder auf – und ich befinde mich in einem großen leeren Raum. Und schon kommen sie durch ein offenes Fenster herangeflattert – meine gefiederten Feinde. Eine Krähe, eine Taube und eine Möwe.

Noch halten sie sich auf Abstand zu mir, jedoch ich kann mich auf sie zubewegen. Die Drei picken auf dem Boden, schlagen mit den Flügeln, hüpfen herum – und kommen näher und näher. Vor allem die Taube schaut so echt aus, dass mir der Schweiß ausbricht. Und die Krähe hat diesen in meinen Augen typisch bösen Blick. Die Möwe ist so distanzlos wie ihre echten Kameraden an der Nordsee.

Lesen Sie auch: Die Furcht vor den Blicken der anderen

Mittlerweile sitzen sie genau vor meinen Füßen – bilde ich mir ein. Ich gehe mutig in die Hocke, auf Augenhöhe. Die Farbmusterung des Federkleides ist genau zu erkennen – ekelhaft! Aber kein Grund, schreiend das Labor zu verlassen. Langsam gewöhne ich mich an die Situation, schicke die gefiederten Gesellen heran und wieder weg. Ich bin gespannt, ob ich den Tauben auf dem Rathausplatz in Wasserburg beim nächsten Kontakt lockerer entgegentreten werde.

Zum Schluss darf ich noch zwei andere virtuelle Welten betreten. Es geht über offene Treppen und mit einem Aufzug 50 Meter hoch auf einen Aussichtsturm, auf dem der Wind heult und sich ein weiter Blick ins Fränkische Land ergibt – kein Problem. Und in einen Hörsaal, wo ich einen Vortrag halte. Selbst als die Psychologin die Einstellungen so verändert, dass immer mehr Menschen in den Raum kommen und meinen Ausführungen gelangweilt folgen, was an ihren Gesichtern deutlich zu erkennen ist, verspüre ich: nichts.

Wichtiges Frühwarnsystem

Angst vor der Höhe oder vor Menschenansammlungen, vor Mäusen und Spinnen: All das ist nach Angaben von Diemer eine natürliche Reaktion. Denn Angst sei ein wichtiges Frühwarnsystem für das Überleben. Eine Hypothese aus der Forschung gehe davon aus, dass Tierphobien ihre Wurzeln in der Frühgeschichte haben. Giftspinnen und Skorpione konnten den Menschen gefährlich werden – ebenso Mäuse und Ratten, Überträger von Krankheiten. Die Reaktionen von schnellen Krabbeltieren sind außerdem nur schwer zu kontrollieren, erläutern die Expertinnen. Angst vor Kontrollverlust und davor, ausgeliefert zu sein: Darum gehe es oft auch beim Fliegen.

Schränken solche Phobien den Alltag so sehr ein, dass das Leben kompliziert wird, besteht Handlungsbedarf, betont Diemer. Das heiße immer: sich der Angst stellen per Konfrontation – zuerst in virtuellen Realitäten? Im kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum wird erforscht, ob das Sinn macht. „In der aktuellen Studie können die Patienten die VR zunächst ohne Angstauslöser erleben. Bis zum Einsatz von VR-Szenarien in der Angsttherapie ist es auch in Wasserburg noch ein weiter Weg“, sagt sie.

QUelle:

Foto: OVB-Redakteurin Heike Duczek stellt sich im Selbstversuch ihrer Phobie vor Vögeln. © dr. diemer

https://www.ovb-online.de/rosenheim/landkreis/angst-voegeln-ovb-redakteurin-stellt-sich-ihrer-phobie-einer-virtuellen-realitaet-13844337.html

3. August 2020 0 comment

Knowledge Research

Training Employees Is Four Times Quicker In VR

Training in virtual reality. (Image courtesy PwC.).

It is four times faster to train employees soft skills when using virtual reality than when using traditional in-person classroom or online training, according to a new study by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

And it’s cheaper, too — organizations spend about $195 per trainee when using virtual reality, compared to the $207 to $265 average costs for traditional training.

Training modality cost per learner. (Image courtesy PwC.).

The results of the study begin to help clarify the potential value of using virtual reality for soft-skills training such as leadership, sales, customer interactions, and change management, Scott Likens, PwC’s emerging tech lead, told Hypergrid Business.

“Our study found that virtual reality is ready to deploy at enterprise scale,” he said. “The PwC team was able to provision, deploy, and manage a large fleet of head-mounted displays with a very small team.”

Virtual reality is particularly useful during the pandemic when training budgets may be shrinking and it is not safe to train groups in-person. But it can also help companies prepare for future the future, he said, offering low-cost but still effective training at scale.

And just how effective is it

According to the study, which involved 1,600 new managers, workers trained in VR are 340 percent more confident in their new skills, and feel four times as emotionally connected to content as classroom learners.

Training in virtual reality. (Image courtesy PwC.).

PwC has already trained more than 4,000 of its own employees using virtual reality, he said.

“As a next step from the virtual reality soft-skills training study, we are conducting a readiness review to inform a global learning and development strategy for virtual reality at the firm,” he said.

And PwC isn’t alone. According to a PwC’s June 2020 CFO Pulse survey, 52 percent of executives are planning to make remote working a permanent option for roles that allow it and this will likely increase remote training opportunities.

“Virtual reality and augmented reality have the potential to add $1.5 trillion to the global economy by 2030, and up to $294 billion of that amount will be for training,” said Likens.

And it’s not just for soft skills, he added. Virtual reality can also be employed in teaching hard skills such as operating machinery or using new software.

Quelle:

https://www.vrroom.buzz/vr-news/trends/training-employees-four-times-quicker-vr

3. August 2020 0 comment

Examples

Mit virtuellen Bildwelten interaktive Kundenerlebnisse schaffen

Im Zeitalter der Digitalisierung stehen Unternehmen vor neuen Herausforderungen. Märkte werden transparenter, überall gibt es zu jeder Zeit Information im Überfluss. Kunden sind eher bereit, die Marke zu wechseln. Deswegen wird die Customer Experience immer wichtiger. Das Porsche Museum in Stuttgart geht hier nun mit einem Virtual Photobooth einen eigenen Weg, um sich hoch innovativ zu differenzieren.

Die Digitalisierung hat die Automobilbranche verändert. Das betrifft nicht nur die Produktionsstätten, die sich zu Smart Factories wandeln, sondern auch alle nachgelagerten Abteilungen, wie zum Beispiel das Marketing und der Vertrieb. Es geht heute nicht nur um die beste Fahrzeugtechnik, sondern wie sich die Marke auf digitalen Märkten positioniert. Denn die Digitale Markenführung oder Digital Branding entscheidet darüber, ob und wie die Marke im World Wide Web sichtbar ist. Heute geht es aber längst nicht mehr um passive Empfänger, so wie bei den einst so erfolgreichen Image-Kampagnen im Fernsehen. Der heutige Customer will mehr als einprägsame Slogans und ein gutes Produkt. Er will dabei sein, emotional aufgeladen will er die Marke fühlen, er will interagieren. Immersion lautet daher das Stichwort.

„Augmented Reality schafft hier beispielsweise eine erlebbare Markenbotschaft mit emotionaler Interaktion“, so Pablo Kern, General Manager des Medien- und IT-Dienstleisters Meyle+Müller. „Neue Technologien der Digitalisierung sind dazu imstande, auch Lösungen für das interaktive Marketing zu kreieren. Künstliche Intelligenz zum Beispiel ermöglicht es, dem Kunden gezielt personalisierte Angebote zu machen. Algorithmen des Machine Learning durchsuchen riesige Datenmengen in Echtzeit und können aus den Informationen Erkenntnisse ziehen. So ist eine Personalisierung auf jeden Kunden möglich, die es vorher nicht gab und die enorm wichtig für eine enge Kundenbindung ist.“ Umgesetzt hat Meyle+Müller ein solches Konzept bspw. mit der Lösung des ‚Porsche Follow-up Mailings‘.

Die Branche Automotive hat hier einen großen Vorteil, denn nie war Mobilität so wichtig wie heute. Und weil die Fahrzeuge die User überall hin begleiten, wird Vernetzung im Auto ebenfalls immer bedeutsamer. Kunden suchen gezielt nach Connectivity-Angeboten und sind laut einer McKinsey-Studie sogar bereit, dafür die Automarke zu wechseln (20%). Mit Künstlicher Intelligenz im Auto treten Mensch und Maschine zum Beispiel in einen intuitiven Dialog. Fahrzeug-Entriegelung per Gesichtserkennung, Vorschläge für Anrufe gemäß dem üblichen Verhalten des Fahrers, Spracherkennung oder sogar autonomes Fahren sind dank der neuen Technologie nur einige mögliche Anwendungen.

Interactive Branding stellt hochwertige Interaktion mit dem User in den Vordergrund

Den Kunden ins Zentrum der Marke zu stellen – ihn quasi immersiv einzubinden – ist auch für das Automobil-Marketing daher dringender denn je. Denn der Markt ist transparent und gesättigt, auch im Luxussegment. Kundentreue ist nicht mehr selbstverständlich und Neukunden zu gewinnen ist bei der Vielzahl an Produkten durch die Globalisierung schwieriger denn je. Die effektivste Möglichkeit, Aufmerksamkeit zu erregen ist die beste Customer Experience anzubieten und die Marke erlebbar zu machen. Im Sinne des Interactive Branding muss die emotional hochwertige Interaktion mit dem User im Vordergrund stehen.

Doch wie macht man ein Auto „erlebbar“, wenn nicht durch eine Probefahrt? Das Porsche Museum in Stuttgart geht hier unter dem Motto “Ein Stück Porsche Feeling zum Mitnehmen” einen neuen Weg. Am neu installierten Selfiepoint kann sich der Besucher aktuell in einen Porsche 911 setzen. Dank Wireless Auslöser im Fahrzeug und einem Preview-Display betätigt er den Auslöser einer Spiegelreflexkamera, welche in die Architektur des Museums eingebunden wurde. Auf dem Endprodukt ist dann aber nicht mehr das Auto in der Umgebung des Museums zu sehen, sondern es wird samt Besucher in eine virtuelle Bilderwelt, die nach Kundenwunsch ausgewählt wird und mehrfach verändert werden kann, hineingesetzt. Das Foto, auf dem der Besucher mit 911er virtuell durch Bergwelten oder urbane Metropolen fährt, lässt sich dann entweder auf Social Media Plattformen teilen oder direkt ausdrucken. Der QR-Code auf dem Eintrittsticket erlaubt dem Besucher die eindeutige Identifikation und den Zugriff zu weiteren Stationen, an denen er sein Foto weiterbearbeiten kann. Die neue digitale Customer Experience „Virtual Photobooth“ hat das Porsche-Museum in Zusammenarbeit mit Meyle+Müller und medialesson konzipiert und umgesetzt.

Augmented Reality: Porsche Museum installiert Virtual Photobooth

„,Ein gemeinsames Erlebnis schaffen und dem Kunden ein exklusives Luxusgut näher bringen‘, so hat das Museum die Mission grob formuliert”, erinnert Kern. Bereits in einem Vorprojekt für Mixed Reality Experiences für die Designabteilung von Porsche hatte der Autohersteller mit den Partnern zusammengearbeitet. Die dort erreichte Qualität verhalf dem Partner medialesson zum begehrten Mixed Reality Partner Status bei Microsoft als einem der ersten Partner überhaupt im deutschsprachigen Raum. Mit der Microsoft HoloLens (MR-Brillen) konnten so fehlende Bauteile am physischen Modell, die wenn überhaupt, mit hohem Kosten- und Zeitaufwand real darstellbar wären, virtuell angezeigt werden. Auch für das Museum sollte schließlich eine neue Experience mit Mixed Reality Anwendung entstehen, die die hohen Ansprüche, die die Marke Porsche an sich selbst stellt, erfüllt. „Moderne Technologie, Innovation, nicht stillstehen, erlebbar – all diese bilden Erlebnisaspekte der Lösung”, so Kern. „Als Spezialist für digitales Storytelling haben wir für das Porsche Museum in der Konzeptionsphase eine Auswahl an Use Cases für interaktive, virtuelle Exponate identifiziert.“ so Philipp Bauknecht, Gründer und CEO von medialesson. Aus der Riege an 50 Ideen, die zwischen Meyle+Müller, medialesson und letztlich dem Projektverantwortlichen der Ausstellungsleitung abgestimmt wurden, hat das Porsche-Museum den Virtual Photobooth ausgewählt. Die Ausschreibung der Lösung führte Ende 2019 zur Beauftragung von Meyle+Müller.

Besucher findet sich in Virtuellen Bilderwelten wieder

Obwohl der Besucher nur die Installation aus vier Kioskstationen mit Touchscreens, eine Spiegelreflexkamera und einen großen Monitor zur Preview sieht, ist der technische Aufwand im Hintergrund beträchtlich und hochkomplex. Ein Hochleistungsrechner stellt dank künstlicher Intelligenz in kurzer Zeit die Bilder der Besucher im Fahrzeug frei und platziert sie auf stehende Hintergründe oder in virtuelle Welten, die vom Meyle+Müller Tochterunternehmen [zerone] kreiert und für dieses Erlebnis abgestimmt werden. Als herausfordernd hat sich dabei die im Konzept definierte Anforderung herausgestellt, den Hintergrund rund um das Fahrzeug zu ersetzen ohne dass dafür ein Green Screen nötig ist. Dies geschieht bei normalem Museumsbetrieb, jedoch unabhängig von unvorhersehbarer Veränderung durch Besucher im Umfeld. Zur Umsetzung wurde die Lichtinstallation vielmehr so angepasst, sodass Auto, Museumsumfeld und virtuelle Bilderwelten aufeinander abgestimmte Lichtverhältnisse aufweisen. Denkbar ist für die Zukunft eine Ausweitung des Service und den Photobooth auch gleichwertig an weiteren Standorten, wie Messen oder Verkaufsflächen einzusetzen.

Fazit

Customer-Experience ist heute für Automarken – neben innovativer Fahrzeugtechnik – der Schlüssel zum Erfolg. Die Marke muss an allen Berührungspunkten emotional erlebbar sein. Dies stellt nicht nur eine große Herausforderung für die Marken-Botschafter dar, sondern ist auch der richtige Moment für innovative Ideen, die den Kunden neue positive Erfahrungen bieten. Dank Technologien wie Augmented und Virtual Reality, Künstlicher Intelligenz oder Machine Learning können sie ihr Marketing digitalisieren, mit dem Customer interagieren und sich dadurch einmalig differenzieren. Die so geschaffene Brand Experience ist eine nachhaltige Möglichkeit, Nähe zwischen Kunden und Marken herzustellen und das Vertrauen in die Marke zu erhöhen.

Weitere Informationen:

www.porsche.com/museum/de/

Quelle:

Foto: Porsche Museum

https://www.it-daily.net/it-management/e-business/24891-mit-virtuellen-bildwelten-interaktive-kundenerlebnisse-schaffen

3. August 2020 0 comment

Knowledge Research

Using Virtual Reality In Corporate Training

Virtual Reality (VR) along with Augmented Reality (AR) is the next big thing in employee training and development in corporate organizations, as well as something which will be quite commonplace by the middle of the next decade.

Learn How Virtual Reality Can Be Useful In Corporate Training

By the looks of it, it does seem that a lot of corporate organizations with the means to implement Virtual Reality in their employee Learning and Development (L&D) programs are actually exploring VR as a means to provide immersive learning and training to their employees. Thus, for those organizations that haven’t looked into implementing VR as a digital learning strategy/method, it’s time to start preparing because, whether you like it or not, VR is coming to the L&D industry, and it’s better to get on with it now, rather than jumping on the bandwagon later on. But first, let us understand VR a little better.

What Is VR And How Can It Help Corporate Organizations?

VR, or Virtual Reality as the name suggests, creates a simulated environment using 3D-generated images in which the user is immersed. This makes the user feel like they are in that environment, very much like reality. VR can be used in 3 ways, depending on what fits the organization’s requirements and budget:

Mobile VR: is quite simple and requires a VR headset. The user’s smartphone is inserted into the VR headset and the simulation is run on the smartphone.
Standalone VR: is a more advanced form of VR than mobile VR and does not require any additional devices or cables to run other than the VR headset itself.
Desktop VR: is the most high-end form of VR which provides the most immersive experiences to the user. It requires powerful computers as well as an advanced VR headset.

It should be obvious how helpful and amazing VR can be for corporate training, as it provides employees with a virtual world where they can learn, train, explore and make mistakes without any real-world consequences, and without any other costs. Not to mention, VR is highly-engaging and immersive. This automatically increases the absorption and retention rates of all that they experience and learn. Experiential learning, after all, has been proven to be the most effective way to learn, as it is how our brains absorb and retain information.

How Can Corporate Organizations Best Use VR?

The best thing about VR is the fact that it can be used in any industry to teach any thinkable skill, which is why it has such a high adoption rate. It can be used to train doctors to perform surgery, to train chemical engineers to properly synthesize hazardous chemicals, to train military personnel, to train automobile engineers, scientists, astronauts, you name it all without any risk or any additional expense.

Thus, it is really up to the corporate organization using VR to get creative and find how they can best train their employees. A lot will depend on the quality of the digital learning simulations that the designers at the organization create, which will require a lot of expertise. But, it is worth having smart, knowledgeable, and productive employees who have been trained using this training method. VR has been used and is usually used in corporate organizations to train employees in skillsets such as:

Business and soft skills
These are skills that require thorough practice to improve and include skills such as public speaking, sales, negotiation, and networking (to name a few) which can be simulated using VR.
Diversity, inclusion, harassment, and compliance training:
These are usually mandatory trainings that would otherwise bore the living daylights out of employees. Thankfully, VR is very engaging, and thus puts the user in the middle of all the action, thus helping them learn what to do and what not to do. As VR is simulated reality, it leads to actual behavioral change in employees, rather than them behaving in the way the organization wants just for the sake of it.
Customer handling training
This is perhaps one of the best and easiest uses of VR, as it is perfect to train customer experience executives on how to handle customers. The training simulation is (or at least should be) made up of branching scenarios all based on how a customer would react in real life.
Recruitment And onboarding
VR can be used to train HR professionals and managers to better interview candidates that apply to their organization. Once a candidate has been selected, they can be onboarded using VR. The onboarding training may include an intro to the organization, its origin, its locations worldwide, important personalities of the organization, and the like, making for an onboarding experience which is sure to leave a mark on the new recruit.

Quelle:

Foto: Mr. Tempter/Shutterstock.com

https://elearningindustry.com/using-virtual-reality-in-corporate-training

3. August 2020 0 comment

#lernvontorsten

#lernvontorsten – 004 – Was ist Virtual Reality (VR)?

Neue Folge von #lernvontorsten ist Online

Fragen über die Kommentare oder mit dem Hashtag #lernvontorsten gerne willkommen.

#lernvontorsten – 004 – Was ist Virtual Reality (VR)?

Bau von vollständig digitalen Welten in Echtzeit.

Vorteile:

Inhalte zeit- und ortsunabhängig zur Verfügung stellen
In realer Größe
Komplett begehbar
Interaktion und Feedback mit der digitalen Welt
Motorische Interaktion durch Controller

Devices für VR: VR Brillen

Abonniere gleich den Kanal und erhalte jede Woche neue Impulse und Erklärungen.

#vr #ar #xr #mr #virtualreality #augmentedreality #360degree #immersion #immersivelearning #spatialcomputing #learning #lernvontorsten #corporatelearning #transfer #torstenfell

Quelle:

Torsten Fell, Institute for Immersive Learning

2. August 2020 0 comment

#lernvontorsten Knowledge Podcast

#027 Immersive Learning Podcast – Besprechung LinkedIN-Artikel und VR Collaboration Modell – #lernvontorsten

Podcast rund um das Thema Lernen und Arbeiten mit und in Virtual-/Augmented (VR/AR) und Mixed Reality (MR).

Meine Reaktion auf den Linkedin-Artikel von Dennis:
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:…134740762542080/

VR Collaboration
– erste Einblick in mein Modell und Überlegungen
– Einsatzgebiete von VR Collaboration

#027 Immersive Learning Podcast anhören

Aktuelles Video #lernvontorsten

2. August 2020 0 comment

Knowledge Research

Training for the Future: AR Marketing Course at Brock University in Canada

Joachim Scholz, marketing professor and researcher specialized in augmented reality marketing, has recently joined Brock University to teach the innovative AR marketing course.

Future marketing specialists can start their career specializing in the latest technologies thanks to a new AR marketing course offered by Brock University in Canada. The St. Catherines (Ontario) university has recently enlisted professor Joachim Scholz, who spent the last six years researching and teaching augmented reality at California Polytechnic State University.

Why the Need for an AR Marketing Course?

For professor Scholz, there is a real need for this specific course in the academic field. So far, universities are teaching digital marketing with augmented reality as a small component of the overall curriculum. What he proposes to do at the Goodman School of Business at Brock University is to focus exclusively on AR techniques in marketing.

“Students will become marketing experts who are familiar with the types of AR experiences that resonate with customers, and they will gain first-hand experience in how to design an AR marketing initiative,” Scholz said in a press release sent to ARPost.

He further explained that many students and marketers confuse augmented reality with virtual reality. Thus, they need in-depth learning through the AR marketing course to understand the use cases and benefits of AR in business.

What Will Students Learn While Attending the AR Marketing Course?

Professor Scholz structured the course in four specific learning blocks:

A series of lectures that cover basic concepts of AR, its strategic potential in marketing, AR experience design, and how augmented reality is applied in advertising, retail and experiential marketing;
Presentations by guest speakers experienced in industry practices;
Presentations created by the students covering topics related to current AR experiences;
The core of the course – a project developed by the students for a client.

The AR marketing course launched in May and so far the students have already created a project for a client – a winemaking kit brand.

How the Students Work on the Practice Project

Professor Scholzestablished a collaboration agreement with an AR/VR company, UP360, to help the students develop the client project within the AR marketing course. Harrison Olajos, President and CEO of the company, stated that he is “excited” to offer working space, mentorship and coaching for free to the AR marketing course students.

In their turn, the students worked closely with the client and with other industry partners focusing on:

Understanding the objectives of the business
Develop skills in the creative process
Learning how to create a persuasive pitch
Build and implement the ideas they’ve come up with.

Plans to Develop the AR Marketing Course

At the moment, professor Scholz’s course is available exclusively online. However, he plans to incorporate it into his syllabus, taught at R3CL facility, an AR/VR reality consumer laboratory equipped with Microsoft HoloLens and other cutting edge technologies.

“Beginning with the R3CL and now this new unique AR marketing course, Brock University and the Goodman School of Business is on a trajectory to become a centre of excellence in the area of AR marketing,” said Dean of the Goodman School of Business at Brock University, Andrew Gaudes. “Goodman students will be among the first to have a solid foundation on how to use AR in marketing strategy.”

Quelle:

Training for the Future: AR Marketing Course at Brock University in Canada

2. August 2020 0 comment

Examples

New AR Game Lets You Trade Real World Properties

Become a virtual real estate mogul in New York, Paris, or anywhere on earth with Landlord Go

Walking down the street you notice something has changed. You take out your phone hastily, to check the available properties around you. Yes! There they are! New shares and you’re the first one to get them. You don’t think twice, cause you know you must have them! It’s not the first time when on your way to work you come across such valuable finds. We’re all part of this virtual map. With more than 3 billion mobile devices on the planet today, trillions of data trails are left behind unused. Now you can enjoy this mixture of digital and real world in the Landlord GO game.

Landlord Go is a brand new game by Reality – that leverages these digital „footprints“ in a fun and exciting way, allowing players to buy, sell, and collect rent on some of the world’s most famous buildings and landmarks. With over 1 million players worldwide, it’s the first real-world augmented reality game that uses real buildings, real people, and real prices to turn your city into an action-packed strategy game. With more than 92340 players already making deals for virtual ownership of the more than 467 559 in London already, there’s no shortage of fierce competition ready for action.

You walk your neighborhood every day, seeing familiar landscapes and buildings. Now you can view those daily sights in a whole new way by owning a virtual piece of your community. Whether you’re starting small or have grand visions to own the 30 St Mary Axe in London or the Empire State Building in New York City, they’re yours for the taking with Landlord Go.

Do you have unique knowledge of a part of your city that few others know? That local intel can translate into big profits in Landlord Go. If a new coffee shop is opening in your neighborhood and you think it’s poised to become the next Starbucks, put in a bid for it, and start raking in the rent payments from the crowds lined up outside the door.

Using a massive pool of data, including detailed information about more than half a billion real world properties, Landlord Go connects the user to their city in an exciting and innovative new way that no other game can offer.

Players can start small and quickly create a vast real estate empire through savvy investing. Put properties on the market, or engage in furious bidding wars with other players, recreating the experience of competing in the thrilling real estate market right from their phone.

Landlord Go is incredibly accurate, reflecting real-world values of properties using details like distance from the city center and building amenities. By using our own data set combined with NASA satellite scans showing nighttime light emissions, we’ve created one of the most realistic and data-driven property dealing games ever conceived.

You can really get the feeling that the level of realism is truly what sets Landlord Go apart. Anytime another player visits your property in real life, they pay you rent in the game. The more visitors your property gets, the higher its value. Using a proprietary AI and data platform called Big Dots, we’re able to add real-world data to any desktop and mobile apps.

The game is exciting as players see their fortunes grow and engage in sky-high value transactions, competing with other players for dominance in the real estate market. There’s nothing quite like it available today, and nothing that even comes close to the level of accuracy and detail found in Landlord Go.

Press Kit: https://reality.co/media/
Product trailer: https://youtu.be/ppoZ0wz4avo
Product technology explainer https://youtu.be/cfgh52kP-U4
Google Play [Download for Android] or on App Store [Download for iPhone]

Quelle:

https://www.vrroom.buzz/vr-news/games/new-ar-game-lets-you-trade-real-world-properties

31. Juli 2020 0 comment

Knowledge Research

Why The Future Of Socializing Lies In VR

And what avatar technologies are essential in the era of spatial computing.

At the dawn of the internet, people were first only able to communicate through text, with no font or design optionality. Eventual progressions in technology enabled more nuanced design and the onset of digital photo and video. As Mark Zuckerberg said at F8 2016, “We’re always looking for better and richer ways to express ourselves and share with one another”.

Evolution of digital content

In recent years, we’ve seen a rapid rise in live video communication alongside a shift in interpersonal communication and media consumption from desktop to mobile. The next frontier is the eventuality of AR/VR, which allows a user to share content that is closer to the purest form of his or her experience and to consume arguably the most immersive and compelling form of media available to date.

In addition, the use of virtual spaces for traditionally physical experiences is becoming more and more commonplace. The onset of COVID-19 has only accelerated this phenomenon. Examples include people holding wedding ceremonies in Animal Crossing, students recreating high schools to study in Minecraft, and performers hosting concerts in Fortnite.

Communication through avatars

In these aforementioned digital environments, the individual is able to represent his or herself with avatars. The more society employs non storyline conforming uses to these digital worlds, the more important nuanced interpersonal communication becomes for the user base.

This phenomenon highlights the need for a new form of digital communication, particularly in light of the shift to AR/VR interfaces. Current text-based messaging solutions are extremely inconvenient on virtual interfaces, while audio streams don’t fully reflect the emotional dimensions of a conversation. Lastly, while video holograms benefit from their accurate depictions of user emotion, they unfortunately suffer from the uncanny valley effect rendering them less than ideal for encouraging user engagement.

Online multiplayer games like the World of Warcraft and Diablo series originally enabled people to communicate with their avatars through text. Since then, technological advances have enabled audio to stream alongside user characters.

The popular multiplayer game Fortnite has taken a step forward in online user interaction by adding user controlled emotive behavior to their avatars and audio communications. However, these popular Fortnite dances and celebrations are highly limited in their functionality from a communication perspective.

The New York City based venture studio developing Chudo, the next generation virtual social network, sees the next phase of avatar technologies employing real time emotion animations that reflect the speech of the user. Recognizing this progression, Chudo’s developers have reworked the entire way a user can create, as well as interact with avatars.

Chudo’s work on avatar technologies

Chudo developers have set out to create technologies that shift messaging from text-based to voice and animation-based content, using digital avatars to enable emotion rich interpersonal communication.

The first step for the team was developing an automatic tool for creating avatars, which is far more user friendly than the traditional “avatar maker” approach.

The traditional “avatar maker” approach

Incumbent technologies typically employ a manual avatar making toolkit, where the user is expected to build their own personalized digital twin by choosing from hundreds of different facial feature options: eyebrows, chins, noses, etc.

There are three main issues with this approach:

Specific artistic skills are required to design your look-alike avatar.
The user experience is daunting.
It’s workforce intensive for developers to draw many variations of different face parts to match everyone.

Chudo’s machine learning approach for avatar creation

While still providing the ability to customize looks, the team behind Chudo built a tool that allows users to create precise virtual copies of themselves, i.e. digital twins, with ease. To put it simply, Chudo’s team has built a machine learning technology that automatically generates avatars based on a user’s selfie photo.

Of note, the technology runs inference locally on mobile devices without cloud processing users’ sensitive data — face pictures.

Here is how it works:

The process of avatar generation starts by constructing a user’s 3D face model from a selfie shot. With this single photo, one neural network builds a 3D mesh of the user’s head.

Then the mesh goes through the automatic stylization process that makes it look more cartoonish. Afterwards, it is used as a basis for the avatar’s head.

Next, other neural networks swing into action. Face parts such as hair, eyebrows, facial hair and colors are classified and synthesized (generated) onto the mesh in the appropriate style based on the user’s selfie.

Moreover, if a user is wearing glasses another neural network will detect and synthesize a 3D version of them.

In comparison to platforms like Fortnite and Minecraft, Chudo’s product focus is on user interaction and communication, rather than gameplay. With that purpose, Chudo’s team has built a technology that uses machine learning to recognize speech and translate it into real-time emotional animations.

Chudo’s AI Speech-driven Facial Animation allows users to express themselves in a more nuanced way to foster closer emotional connections between users on the platform.

How the technology was built:

As the first step, Chudo pre-trained its neural network on more than 10,000 hours of speech recordings to transcribe audio into phone sequences. These recordings trained Chudo’s network for audio speech recognition.

In the process of training the animation network, Chudo’s team used its proprietary facial performance capture solution to extract animation from the large video dataset and obtain audio-to-animation training examples.

Taking into account that different actors had produced unique animations for the same utterance, Chudo trained its animation network to learn the distribution of possible animations in the generative adversarial framework GAN. This implementation allows Chudo software to choose an animation style based on speech in real time.

The larger speech driven animation network uses full audio recordings to obtain animation, which is fine for audio files. To adopt this solution to real-time streams, Chudo applied a technique called “Knowledge Distillation” for training real-time architecture by the larger and non-real time version. As a result, the real time version has a smaller memory footprint and requires much less computations.

Chudo. Live the future.

The avatar technologies described above are implemented in Chudo, which is now available on the App Store and Google Play. The mobile app is the first step in product development towards building the virtual social platform. For now, Chudo has the very basic functionalities that serve as the foundation of the larger digital world: real-time audio chat, personalized emotes and a multidimensional digital space that the user can explore.

This first version of Chudo allows the team to test out these proprietary avatar technologies in a 3D space and find more specific use cases for virtual gatherings before expanding to new platforms (Oculus, desktop). Chudo is hard at work to refine and expand its functionalities, with your help.

Quelle:

https://www.vrroom.buzz/vr-news/social-xr/why-future-socializing-lies-vr

31. Juli 2020 0 comment