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Virtual Reality in Science Education: Enhancing Learning Experiences

Virtual reality (VR) is a relatively new technology primarily used for entertainment purposes. However, its potential for science education is promising. By immersing users in virtual environments, VR can offer an immersive and experimental learning experience, making complex concepts easier to understand. There are several benefits of incorporating VR into education.

Firstly, VR can increase learning interest in students by creating curiosity and enabling them to grasp concepts more quickly. It provides a platform for building greater knowledge and transforming university learning experiences and student engagement. The resourcefulness of VR technology enhances learning experiences and can be supplemented by online resources, such as professional essay writers, who can provide assistance to students seeking better grades or saving time.

Furthermore, VR improves learner engagement and inspiration. For example, when studying the solar system, students can imagine the topic, but with VR, they can be immersed in the entire system, leading to increased engagement and inspiration. Additionally, the immersive nature of VR can improve memory retention, as students remain immersed in almost real-life situations, leading to better recall of topics and lessons learned.

Moreover, VR can contribute to boosting course outcomes by incorporating writing assignments and enhancing collaboration and socialization among students. Collaboration between teachers and students, as well as peer collaboration, is essential for effective learning in college.

In terms of implementation, more schools are integrating VR into their science courses. VR technology enables students to explore the world of science by investigating different species’ habitats, understanding internal human structures, comprehending various scientific concepts, and learning scientific language effectively.

However, there are challenges to integrating VR into science education. Educators may lack training in using VR in the classroom, and there may be initial implementation costs and technical issues that need handling. Despite these challenges, collaborations between administrators and teachers can help overcome them through proper planning, teacher training, and setting aside budgets for implementation.

As the future of VR in science education looks promising, its adoption in colleges is increasing. Innovators and developers are continuously improving the technology, making it more accessible and user-friendly. The widespread use of VR in science courses can provide students with enhanced learning experiences, attract more students to science courses, and increase student interactions and engagement.

In conclusion, virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize science education. When properly utilized, VR can enhance understanding, inspire curiosity, and improve overall learning experiences. By addressing implementation challenges through adequate planning and teacher training, the integration of VR in science education can offer students a more immersive and effective way of learning.

Quelle:

Virtual Reality in Science Education: Enhancing Learning Experiences

28. August 2023 0 comment

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7 QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE IF VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING IS RIGHT FOR YOU

This article discusses seven critical questions your business should ask when deciding whether Virtual Reality (VR) is the best fit for your training requirements.

Is VR Training Appropriate For Your Company?

VR (Virtual Reality) education takes an average of 8–10 weeks to develop. VR training can be built in as little as four weeks or as long as six months or more.

How Much Time Do You Have For Training Development?

The time it takes to produce VR training is determined by several factors, including the intricacy of the modeling and the amount of competence of the developers. If your firm just has a few weeks to construct a training plan, VR may not be the ideal option. It may work for your organization if you don’t have a hard deadline and can spare numerous months to produce training.

What is the amount of your training budget?

When firms design their training programs, the budget is top of mind. VR training can cost anywhere between $20,000 to $150,000 or more, based on the technology used, hardware and software prices, and a variety of other cost factors. Whereas this price range may be intimidating to some, there are ways to cut expenditures, such as:

Begin with a small cohort of learners in a pilot program;
Use alternate access choices (e.g., desktop, smartphone, cardboard headsets);
Make use of existing training resources at your firm.

Does your workforce have previous experience with 3d visualization?

Although virtual reality is common technology, not all have used it. Organizations must identify solutions to assist their first-time VR training users. Employees may benefit from a walkthrough presentation with a VR specialist before completing their program, or they may benefit from obtaining a printed guide that explains what to anticipate with the headset and VR activities. ee

Is Interactive Virtual Popular in Your Industry?

VR is a powerful training tool in a variety of industries, from industry and manufacturing to healthcare or transportation. Because of VR’s potential to reduce risk and give learners hands-on instruction that builds muscle memory, these industries have adopted technology for training reasons. For example, as part of their onboarding procedure, a retail business may implement a VR training session for newly employed sales staff. This retail firm can use VR to replicate various client situations, such as responding to frequently asked queries and dealing with upset customers.

Does your training topic align with the possibilities of virtual reality?

Among the first steps in developing a new training course is determining the training topic(s). Topics for training may include:

Onboarding
Diversity, equality, and inclusion (DE&I)
Technical training
Leadership training

VR can cover any education topic, but it is best suited for technical jobs that demand hands-on engagement. Learners can conduct an interactive VR exercise in a safe setting while feeling as though they are performing such tasks in real life. For fundamental topics (such as software navigation and cybersecurity), we recommend training modes such as eLearning or Instructor-Led Training, which often cost less and need less development time (ILT).

Do You Care About Conventional Or In-Depth Metrics?

One significant advantage of VR training is that firms can measure detailed KPIs based on their specific training requirements. A manufacturing company, for example, may want to limit the number of workers’ compensation claims. This organization can now track a range of metrics after adopting its new VR safety activity, including:

Body and eye tracking
Learner progress, attempts, and replays
Voice transcription and recognition

This manufacturing business can use these VR training metrics to identify gaps in their learners’ understandings as well as areas that students have mastered. These metrics not only provide information on each learner’s experience with the activity, but they may also assist organizations in demonstrating the good ROI of their training.

Do you already have training that can be used with virtual reality?

Perhaps your company already has training materials that you’d like to use in your new training program. Organizations can employ VR to supplement current content (for example, eLearning modules, facilitator manuals, and ILT slides). Instead of developing training from scratch, businesses can combine their existing resources with their new VR activity. These items could be used to inform VR content or as learning reinforcement tools to accompany the VR experience.

Is Virtual Reality Training the Right Training Mode for You?

We hope that after reading this post, your company has a clearer sense of whether VR is the right training modality for you. So, it’s time to ask oneself, “Is virtual reality a suitable fit for my organization?”

Quelle:

7 Questions To Determine If Virtual Reality Training Is Right For You

12. Juli 2023 0 comment

Examples Metaverse

THE METAVERSE WILL BENEFIT ELEARNING

The multiverse is the latest buzzword in the tech sector. It will strengthen the eLearning industry. We can get closer to designing the metaverse by incorporating VR and AR technologies into eLearning programs.

What Impact Will the Metaverse Have on the eLearning Industry?

Physical learning has long dominated the overall environment for learning and teachers all around the world. Following the pandemic, digital learning exploded and spread to the majority of institutions, converting the traditional learning model into a more technologically-driven learning approach.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have built a solid foundation and are ready to turn the physical world into virtual space. When it comes to AR and VR technologies and apps, Facebook’s Meta update has caused quite a stir in the IT world. A basic question arises: what exactly is the metaverse?

What Exactly Is The Metaverse?

Mark Zuckerberg’s recent introduction of the multiverse to the world piqued everyone’s interest in learning more about the concept. The metaverse is an online social realm in which users can build their avatars, personalize them, and engage in real-life activities.

Facebook is morphing into Meta because it is poised to build a virtual social space that is focused on digital interactions. Companies such as Microsoft, Nvidia, and League Of legends are developing technology and software to promote Vr Technology. Because the multiverse is not 2 different projects, corporations must continue to develop robust and mature technology that can be used by apps. However, there are a few technologies that are already assisting the ideals underlying the metaverse.

Metaverse-Enabling Technologies

Meta has committed ten billion dollars to wearable VR and AR technology, demonstrating the metaverse’s prominence.

VR (Virtual Reality)

Virtual refers to a computer environment in which people interact as if they were in the actual world. One of the more notable examples of VR is in the video gaming business, where gamers wear Virtual reality headsets and glasses to enter the virtual gaming world. Gamers can strike, run, and experience all of the actions represented in the plot.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality generates visual elements in a natural setting, where things interact with the surroundings. Pokémon GO is an outstanding demonstration of an Integrated Reality game in which pokémons and players interact with the actual environment. Holographic technology is another kind of AR, in which a 3D layer is created by picture diagnosis and characterization. As just a result, it can deliver a superior video experience, streaming live and 3D visualization for eLearning systems.

The metaverse, in addition to VR and AR technology and apps, combines certain benefits that offer up new potential for the public.

The Metaverse’s Advantages

Because it focuses on getting Virtual Reality closer to experience, the metaverse has various advantages for the general population.

A World Beyond Boundaries

People perceive the digital domain of a meta world to be comparable to the reality they experience regularly. In video games, users create, drive, shoot, act out storylines, and live the lives of game characters. GTA 5 offers a solid simulation for gamers, but they cannot feel or contact the world. The metaverse immerses players in a 3D virtual world in which they can roam and engage in a variety of activities.

Resolving Remote Work Issues

During the epidemic, the bulk of IT workers worked at home, but there was no real-life contact between workers and employers. Employers can communicate with their staff in a virtual environment using metaverse apps, just as they would in the real world. Similarly, doctors can connect online with their patients.

New Business and Marketing Opportunities

Meta is working on improving social media sites, which will provide prospects for marketers and advertisers. Businesses can provide customers with real-time engagement so they can try on different garments and accessories for their avatars, putting Vr Technology closer to reality.

How Can The Metaverse Help eLearning?

We’ve already seen how the metaverse may help businesses and marketers. Without a doubt, the metaverse will improve the eLearning sector.

Improved eLearning And Play Environment

In modern times, a student prefers to learn through his smartphone rather than a book. Metaverse apps can alter the education industry by creating a virtual area for students to wander, take notes, and engage with other students. They can also play games in a virtual environment which is very realistic. Furthermore, the planned apps allow students to change their attire, haircuts, and expressions, among other options.

Improved Teacher Illustrations Students’ Guide

Although instructors frequently utilize video-calling apps, they cannot provide a proper representation of real-life things with them. Instructors can efficiently convey such graphics to their pupils using technology such as augmented reality. For instance, if a teacher wishes to illustrate automotive parts, they can utilize holographic software to reflect a three-dimensional image. Students will understand mathematical and scientific experiments better.

Improved Parent-Teacher Interactions

The metaverse can help parents understand their students’ development in institutions such as schools. Parents can observe their children’s courses and be confident in the institution’s educational excellence. Parents can also connect with teachers from faraway locations and evaluate the quality of games their children play using Virtual Reality apps. Similarly, parents can schedule regular sessions with teachers to improve their children’s eLearning.

Improved Learning Resources Using 3D Visualizations

The resources for comprehension will be improved when using the metaverse, including 3D visuals. Books can be VR-enabled, allowing students to immerse themselves in the text and comprehend schematics in 3D. For historic topics, the VR can offer animated videos to pupils to help them learn more effectively. When paired with metaverse applications, examinations can become more engaging. For example, exam questions can be dynamic, and students might be given virtual yet realistic case studies. In this way, the metaverse can change educational materials, bringing them closer to reality and so improving the eLearning sector.

Conclusion

eLearning apps are transforming the learning model from offline to online. We can get one step closer to designing the metaverse by incorporating VR and AR technology into such apps. The transformation of the eLearning business into a metaverse will take roughly a decade.

Quelle:

The Metaverse Will Benefit eLearning

10. Juli 2023 0 comment

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The Metaverse And The Future of Work

How the metaverse will influence the future of work

The nature of work has changed drastically over the years, thanks in large part to the evolution of technology. In the last decade alone, we’ve transitioned from traditional office spaces to remote and hybrid working strategies. Digital tools have become the foundation of our work lives, enabling everything from comprehensive collaboration to enhanced communication.

Even AI and bots have become common components of the workplace, assisting with automating tasks, accelerating projects, and connecting individuals. Now, as we look ahead to the next iteration of the future of work, immersive platforms and the metaverse are becoming increasingly intriguing.

Technology giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Varjo are already investing in the idea of “metawork”, introducing new platforms and toolkits intended to connect employees in a universal digital environment. So, what will the metaverse do for the future of work?

The Workplace Challenges the Metaverse will Solve

As a relatively nascent concept in the digital world, the metaverse is still misunderstood by many. As such, it’s difficult to define for certain exactly what the future of work will look like in a metaverse environment. The metaverse draws on the benefits of a wide range of technologies, from blockchain for security and governance, to digital currencies, XR headsets, and machine learning.

Evolutions in the metaverse, such as Horizon workrooms from Meta, and Microsoft Mesh’s integration with Teams, suggests the metaverse will provide companies with a new way to enhance company culture, employee engagement, and align staff in virtual environments.

However, the metaverse could also solve various other workplace challenges present today, such as:

1. Proximity bias and distributed teams

Hybrid and remote work are undoubtedly a common component of the future of work, with countless companies now investing in more flexible working environments for teams. However, while 44% of professionals believe in the benefits of hybrid working, around 25% say they’re concerned that being outside of the physical workplace will mean they miss out on opportunities.

Already, 25% of staff members admit they’re more likely to seek insight and guidance from employees they work with in a shared physical environment. While video conferencing and messaging can help to unify employees, current collaboration tools often lack the power to create a true sense of co-presence. The metaverse, on the other hand, has the potential to bring people together in shared virtual environments, through extended reality, increasing employee bonds.

2. Preserving collaboration and productivity

As a tool for collaborative work, the metaverse can accomplish much more than simply bringing teams together in a unified space. The metaverse promises to bring new levels of connectivity to the world of virtual work, allowing people to interact in real-time with digital twins, explore different environments safely, and share information like never before.

Companies like Matterport have already begun to develop software to digitally replicate physical spaces, which allow employees to engage with each other remotely, building new products, and ideating on projects with minimal risk or resource waste. The metaverse can also make it easier for executives and supervisors to watch over teams, tracking their morale, engagement, and productivity with AI-enhanced insights, to drive future business decisions.

3. Improving onboarding and learning

In the age of hybrid and remote work, it’s easy for onboarding, upskilling, and reskilling employees to take a back seat. Traditional onboarding and learning experiences revolve heavily around the ability to connect with team members in person. However, the metaverse could change all that. The Adecco group, for instance, uses a forklift driving onboarding program in virtual reality to ensure candidates can prepare effectively for life on the job.

PWC has also shared insights into how valuable metaverse technologies like XR can be in teaching employees new hard and soft skills. According to their report, immersive training leads to better knowledge retention, engagement, and confidence among employees. With the metaverse, companies can effectively welcome new team members into the landscape, and ensure their existing team members can develop the skills they need.

4. Increasing employee engagement

One of the major issues metaverse could tackle in the future of work, is the growing problem of employee disengagement. One study found 32% of employees would be happy to work in the metaverse, and feel excited by the concept. The metaverse has the potential to boost employee engagement in a variety of different ways. It can provide companies with tools to develop a stronger culture in the virtual world, where teams can connect and bond more effectively.

Engaging immersive experiences in the metaverse can make team members feel more connected to their colleagues, and more invested in the vision or goals of the business. The metaverse environment also provides access to a range of solutions for gamification, which can help to improve healthy competition in the workplace.

5. Solving talent scarcity

Talent shortages have become a common issue in virtually every industry over the last couple of years. However, the metaverse could help with this. It could ensure that business leaders can access talent from a wider range of environments, by allowing team members to connect more effectively in a border-less, virtual space.

The metaverse also delivers opportunities for training and upskilling new employees, so business leaders can provide staff with more on-the-job skills before they start a role, even if they’re going to be working remotely. Additionally, metaverse solutions like extended reality can make it easier for supervisors and business leaders to assist and support employees on the job.

Is the Metaverse the Future of Work?

Just as the advent of the internet changed the way we live and work on a massive scale, the metaverse promises to have a similar impact. Not only will it transform the way we work, but it could also open the door to new job opportunities and roles for innovators, from metaverse moderators, to 3D content designers, and NFT artists.

However, developing the future of work in the metaverse isn’t without its challenges. Companies will need to consider a number of potential pitfalls when developing their meta-work strategy, from the increasing issue of metaverse fatigue, to the privacy and security problems that can emerge in a digital landscape. A truly effective metaverse workplace will need to be diverse, inclusive, secure, and safe, to ensure teams can thrive in the virtual world.

The metaverse certainly has the potential to transform the future of work, but the metaverse workplace is still definitely a “work in progress.”

QUELLE:

The Metaverse And The Future of Work

24. Mai 2023 0 comment

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Augmented Reality: Your Next Step Into Immersive Learning

A previous article gave an overview of immersive learning. That article was mainly concerned with immersive learning that uses virtual reality (VR). In this article, I will overview another approach to immersive learning, augmented reality (AR).

AR is different from virtual reality (VR). Of the two, VR is probably more familiar to most learning designers, due to its use in entertainment-oriented games. While VR immerses you into a completely digital world, AR is more about overlaying digital content onto our real-world experiences. It takes the physical world and enhances it with computer-generated elements such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data.

AR technology applications

Generally, a user interacts with an AR application on a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or a device designed for geolocation. The device can use the camera and microphone on a smartphone or tablet to capture real-world images and sound. The AR user’s device will not interfere with seeing, hearing, or otherwise receiving real sensory information from the environment (a device used for employing VR generally completely shuts out real sensory information). The AR application combines real sensory information (usually visual and possibly audible or haptic information) with computer-generated digital content to create an interactive experience for the user. For example, an AR app may recognize a physical object and display relevant information about the object on the user’s device.

Augmented reality technology is becoming increasingly popular to support interaction and engagement between users and digital content. It has been used in many industries such as retail, education, tourism, entertainment, health care and navigation. Although it has been around since the late 1980’s, it is only recently that AR has become mainstream. The advances in technology such as smartphones and tablets have made AR more accessible to consumers and businesses alike.

Adding AR to training and support

Is augmented reality effective for training and support? The answer is an enthusiastic „yes!“ for appropriate outcomes. Augmented reality offers an intriguing way to experience digital and sensory content in a combined context. With its interactive capabilities and capacity to enhance learning experiences, AR is definitely here to stay!

An instructional designer’s view

I asked Debbie Richard for her thoughts on the uses of AR and immersive learning. Debbie is the founder and president of Creative Interactive Ideas, where she helps talent development professionals thrive and flourish in their careers.

Debbie offered this reply:

“Developing an augmented reality experience is a great way for instructional designers to get started with immersive learning. There are a number of AR development applications that require little to no programming skills. All the learner will need to access the experience is a smart device.

Some great examples of using augmented reality in immersive learning are:

Performance support: providing just in time text, video and/or conference calls where the information is overlayed over the physical world.

Language support: an AR app such as Google Translate can overlay translated text over the real text.

Visualizations: Overlaying virtual objects over physical ones such showing the inner working of a machine without opening it up.

Example 1

Example 2

New hire orientation: having learners discover information about a company through a gamified scavenger hunt.

As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more applications of augmented reality in our everyday lives. We may soon live in a world where the physical and digital worlds merge seamlessly, creating entirely new experiences for us to explore.”

Some issues for AR developers

Researchers have identified some issues with AR applications that learning and performance support developers must consider. Research in identifying and handling these is ongoing and continues to resolve them. There are some relatively hard-and-fast principles that have emerged as a result. In other cases, there are guidelines but definitive answers are not proven beyond implications that apply generally to instructional design and learning with multimedia technology.

Cognitive load is one such area where research has helped to define the issues for instruction as well as helpful ways to deal with them. Using AR to segment learning lessons and provide just-in-time information are recommended by some researchers as a means to reduce cognitive load.

The effect of the learning environment on the learner’s engagement is another important factor. An immersive VR lab for some settings has been shown to distract learners, resulting in reduced learning outcomes compared to digital slides. At the same time, AR immersion that provides augmented digital content displaying location information increases cognitive engagement and learning gain.

The lesson is that developers must pay attention to research and make relevant decisions depending on the nature of the performance task and the learner characteristics involved. Be careful about unsupported hard-and-fast rules. Challenging assumptions by devising simple A/B tests is a good and useful strategy for developers to continue discovering potential paths for further research.

The path ahead

Augmented reality is not a brand-new technology. But it is certainly becoming a major part of our lives, as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Overall, augmented reality is a technology that has the potential to revolutionize many industries and occupations and to enrich lives. It’s an exciting time to be part of this growing space and see how augmented reality can be used in new and innovative ways!

If you’re interested in learning more about AR and VR technology and their applications, check out the Learning Solutions and DevLearn conferences, as well as the Learning Guild’s online events for more information. The Learning Guild will continue to publish articles and eBooks about the latest developments in immersive technologies, the software you can use to create immersive environments and how they can be used to improve training and support. In these immersive environments, you can experience new ways of learning and engaging with digital content!

Quelle:

https://www.learningguild.com/articles/augmented-reality-your-next-step-into-immersive-learning/

3. Mai 2023 0 comment

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OST informiert über Studiengang im Metaverse

Das Departement Wirtschaft der Ostschweizer Fachhochschule (OST) stellt potenziellen Studierenden das Wirtschaftsinformatik-Studium neu auch im Metaverse vor, ergänzend zu physischen Infoanlässen. Nächster Termin ist am 24. April 2023.

Die OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule geht mit der Zeit und damit ins Metaverse. «Mit den Infoanlässen im Metaverse sprechen wir insbesondere potenzielle Studierende an, welche entweder bereits einen guten Bezug zur digitalen Welt haben oder offen dafür sind, sich darauf einzulassen. Dies sind wichtige Eigenschaften zukünftiger Wirtschaftsinformatik-Studierenden», sagt Thomas Metzger, Leiter der Lehre Wirtschaft an der OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule. «Das Metaverse bietet uns als interaktive Info-Veranstaltung die Möglichkeit, unser Studium abwechslungsreich und auf spannende Art und Weise unseren Interessentinnen und Interessenten zu präsentieren. So werden die Teilnehmenden beispielsweise dazu eingeladen, bei Spielen mitzumachen und erhalten dabei gleichzeitig wichtige Informationen über den Studiengang.»

Zusammenwirken von virtueller und physischer Realität

Das Metaverse ist ein digitaler Raum, der durch das Zusammenwirken von virtueller und physischer Realität entsteht. Die OST setzt dabei auf die Plattform Spatial. «Es gibt bereits unzählige Plattformen, die man als ‹Metaverse› bezeichnen kann. Dazu zählen Vorreiter wie Second Life oder Habbo oder aktuelle Vertreter wie Decentraland oder The Sandbox. Spatial eignete sich für unser Vorhaben deshalb sehr gut, weil es einen sehr niederschwelligen und technisch unkomplizierten Zugang ermöglicht. Auch mit einfachem Gastaccount ohne Registrierung kann das Metaverse ausprobiert und die Interaktionsmöglichkeiten genutzt werden», erklärt Tom Ulmer, Dozent am Institut für Informations- und Prozessmanagement an der OST.

Als erstes müssen die Teilnehmenden einen Avatar bestimmen, eine softwarebasierte, grafische Darstellung des Nutzers. Dann führen verschiedene Wegweiser durch das Space. «Im zentralen Space gibt es Videos, Plakate, Links zum Studium allgemein, zu unseren Praxisprojekten und zum Thema Auslandsemester. So kann sich jeder die Informationen holen, die er oder sie wünscht. Zudem beantwortet die Studiengangsleiterin die Fragen der Studieninteressierten. Dann gibt es Räume, wo am Lagerfeuer mit Studierenden diskutiert werden kann und einen Raum mit den Profilen von Absolventen, damit die tollen Berufsbilder und vielfältigen Tätigkeitsgebiete, die sich nach einem Studium eröffnen, sichtbar werden», so Tom Ulmer.

Individuellere Infos zum Wirtschaftsinformatik-Studium

«Im Metaverse können sich die Interessentinnen und Interessenten viel individueller über die vielfältigen Möglichkeiten des Wirtschaftsinformatik-Studiums informieren. Sie können sich mit anwesenden Studierenden der Wirtschaftsinformatik unterhalten, sich in anderen Räumen Filme über das Studium anschauen oder von der Studiengangsleiterin beispielsweise erfahren, wie man ein Auslandsemester ins Studium integrieren kann», erklärt Thomas Metzger, Leiter der Lehre Wirtschaft an der OST.

Der nächste virtuelle Info-Anlass findet am Montag, 24. April, um 18 Uhr im Metaverse statt: www.ost.ch/de/event/infoabend-bachelor-wirtschaftsinformatik-2-4-2-1-1.

Quelle:

OST informiert über Studiengang im Metaverse

26. April 2023 0 comment

Examples

Spatial launches beta version of its Spatial Creator Toolkit to support gamification of immersive experiences

Spatial, a 3D social and co-experience platform for creatives to build and share interactive online worlds, has today announced the graduation to beta of its Creator Toolkit powered by Unity, enabling the platform to now support gamification & interactive exhibitions.

With the Spatial Creator Toolkit, creators now have the flexibility to design, build, and publish their own games or immersive stories across Web, virtual reality (VR) and mobile. Spatial stated that this will help to save significant time for developers looking to bring their experiences quickly to mainstream audiences. The latest gaming components of the platform include visual scripting, custom avatars, a world linking system, and the ability to set up quests and rewards.

According to Spatial, gamified, immersive experiences on the web are building but friction still remains for developers who must learn and be tied within one system, weighed down with downloads and load times. To address this issue, Spatial’s universal toolkit allows anyone to become a Unity developer in a matter of clicks and enables users to build experiences straight from a browser with no app or platform downloads needed.

Spatial’s alpha toolkit launched in December with a ‘zero infrastructure’ approach, designed to make designing and distribution easier, and marked a first step by the company in expanding the capabilities for major brands on the platform such as Vogue, Hublot, and McDonalds.

“… Unity is the software unlocking 3D games and the new medium of the internet. Spatial is like the YouTube for these games.”
– Anand Agarawala, CEO and Co-founder, Spatial

Spatial’s Creator Toolkit has allowed developers and artists to benefit from enhanced visual quality through real-time lighting, triggers and animations, as well as shaders and textures, and has seen over 5,000 Unity developers join in a matter of weeks, according to the company. The latest gamification features will now open doors to the next level of developers looking to benefit from professional-grade features, zero learning curve and instant scalability.

“This evolution to gamified and interactive co-experiences is a natural expansion for the platform and the internet,” said Jinha Lee, CPO and Co-founder, Spatial. “With more than 1 million registered creators on the platform today, and almost 2 million worlds, we are committed to empowering all creators. Preserving art and culture on the internet has made it a must-see platform for gamers, developers, storytellers and artists alike.”

“As Adobe is for 2D video, Unity is the software unlocking 3D games and the new medium of the internet. Spatial is like the YouTube for these games, enabling instant publishing to the mass market. Anyone can build, the key is unlocking the capabilities to allow the magic to happen,” said Anand Agarawala, CEO and Co-founder, Spatial.

Spatial stated that later this year it will be rolling out an open marketplace with a competitive economic offering that makes building on Spatial an attractive business for any 3D creator. This will complete Spatial’s initial push to empower builders to not only create but also channel their creativity into sustainable businesses.

Spatial will be at the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco this week from March 20 -24 (booth #S1450), where attendees will be able to experience previews of unique Unity-built experiences, demos of interconnected worlds and a look at marketplace prototypes. For more information on Spatial and its solutions for the metaverse and zero infrastructure gaming experiences, please visit the company’s website.

Quelle:

Spatial launches beta version of its Spatial Creator Toolkit to support gamification of immersive experiences

Image / video credit: Spatial / YouTube

31. März 2023 0 comment

Examples

Automotive XR Case Study: VR Vision and Toyota

Toyota Simplifies Training with VR Vision

In the automotive industry, innovation needs to happen at a break-neck speed. Customers in both the business and consumer world are constantly demanding more powerful, intuitive vehicles and a higher level of support and service. Over the years, major automotive brands have leveraged cutting-edge technologies at an increasing rate to achieve their goals.

One of the most exciting new innovations helping to transform this landscape, is extended reality. Through XR solutions, companies can connect employees, improve collaboration, boost productivity, and most importantly, keep team members safe on the job.

Toyota Material Handling, a full-service manufacturer of reach trucks, forklifts, order pickers, and other crucial material handling solutions turned to XR innovator VR Vision to help them train their team members on how to leverage the latest tools safely. Here’s what happened when VR Vision and Toyota Material Handling joined forces.

Tackling the Training Challenge

The Toyota Material Handling company has generated a fantastic reputation over the years, thanks to its commitment to excellent products and experiences. However, with around 1,000 dealerships to support throughout North America, the company often found itself struggling to deliver the immersive and engaging training team members needed to thrive.

Inspired by an age of digital transformation, Toyota quickly began looking for ways to deliver a more cost-effective and efficient training experiences to technicians via XR. The company decided to leverage emerging metaverse technologies from VR Vision, to help place their trainers within virtual environments, where they could walk team members through the steps involved in using equipment.

Leveraging digital twin technology, and hundreds of Meta for Business Oculus devices, Toyota synchronized staff members and trainers in a virtual environment, designed to help them build the skills they needed to manage equipment safely. VR Visions assisted with the full process, handling everything from device management and setup to LMS integrations. The team also consulted on change management strategies, to increase user adoption.

Creating a Virtual Landscape for Education

At the heart of the XR initiative, was the desire to create a truly compelling “digital double” of the Toyota Columbus factor, which included 3D versions of the vehicles the company was creating. Each machine was recreated to pixel perfect detail, and made to be interactive, so team members could actively work with buttons and levers within the vehicle.

The creation of the virtual training environment proved to be a phenomenal success. It gave Toyota a third option for educating their employees, which went beyond the restrictive choices of purchasing a vehicle for training, or traveling to Columbus directly. The virtual reality landscape emerged as a low-cost, highly scalable environment, where trainers could create collaborative virtual sessions.

Today, trainee employees can join educational sessions from any location, and communicate in real-time when working on virtual doubles of their chosen vehicle. Not only does this save Toyota and its dealers time and money, but it also reduces material waste on a massive scale. The project was deemed an overall success for the Toyota brand.

Quelle:

Automotive XR Case Study: VR Vision and Toyota

23. März 2023 0 comment

Examples

AR-Powered Flashcards Offer A Fresh Spin On Learning

Because learning doesn’t have to be boring.

A pair of undergraduate students has developed an immersive learning platform called SmartCards that combines augmented reality (AR) and machine learning technology with conventional flashcards to offer more engaging educational experiences for students, according to UConn Today. The platform is aimed at children ages 2-5, though to be honest, I could see students of all ages benefiting from this kind of technology.

Each SmartCard features a special marker that, when scanned with a tablet, unlocks informative virtual content students can interact with using basic hand gestures and buttons. According to its developers, Justin Nappi and Sudiksha Mallick, SmartCards can be especially useful for neurodivergent students, including those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, or dyslexia.

Different SmartCards can even interact with oneanother. For instance, placing an Earth card next to the Moon card will unlock a unique animation of the natural satellite orbiting our home planet. SmartCards also come with releveant facts to provide additional context.

“Especially when you’re a younger student from grades 2-5, learning doesn’t have to be this thing that’s so stressful and competitive, and you just sit and learn,” said Mallick. “It can be something that’s fun. It can be something that you enjoy doing.”

“It was just something I had in the back of my head from my experience with video games growing up and how they helped me grow as a person, and also my experience with the education system as well,” added Nappi. “I had undiagnosed ADHD growing up. Luckily, I did well in school [and] had the support I needed, but I would still always hear these teachers [saying] ‘Pay attention; stop distracting your classmates,’ and constantly [being] on me about my behavior.”

SmartCards is still a work-in-progress, so don’t expect a commercial product soon. That said, Nappi and Mallik are currently meeting with investors while attending classes. The team recently participated in the Big East Start-Up Challenge, a start-up competition composed of student entrepreneurs.

For more information visit here.

Quelle:

AR-Powered Flashcards Offer A Fresh Spin On Learning

Feature Image Credit: Sydney Herdle, UConn Photo

22. März 2023 0 comment

Examples Metaverse

VictoryXR announces new round of schools will roll out digital twin ‘Metaversity’ campuses

VictoryXR, a provider of augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) content for schools and educational institutions, has recently announced that it is doubling down on its progress with digital twin universities.

The company’s CEO, Steve Grubbs announced a second flight of schools under VictoryXR’s partnership with Meta, following a round of ten successful metaversity launches across the U.S. in the fall of 2022, which saw several educational institutions roll out digital twin campuses in order to provide learning options for students in the metaverse.

VictoryXR’s “Metaversities” consist of digital twin replica campuses that enable students to attend classes and utilize VR labs and classrooms, whether they are physically present on campus or learning remotely.

“Students should have the opportunity to learn in both worlds: real and virtual. Utilizing Web conference tools like Zoom has very limited possibilities, while going to school in a brick-and-mortar classroom is not possible for all students. The immersive VR classroom solves these problems,” said Steve Grubbs, commenting on the success of metaversities to this point.

Dr. Muhsinah Morris, Director of Morehouse in the Metaverse – a project started by Morehouse College to enable students to take classes in the metaverse – stated: “We continue to see growth on our campus as more professors and more students want to learn on the metaversity campus. We are seeing gains in student performance and student engagement.”

The list of educational institutions that will be launching new digital twin campuses includes:

Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Cal State Northridge (CA)
Indiana Wesleyan University (IN)
Metropolitan State University Denver (CO)
Florida A&M University (FL)
Lorain County Community College (OH)
Jackson State University (MS)
North Carolina A&T State University (NC)
Northern Virginia Community College (VA)
University of Montana (MT)
Clemson University (SC)
Luna Community College (NM)
Arizona State University (AZ)
Wake Forest University (NC)
Columbus State University (GA)
Florida State University (FL)

According to VictoryXR, Metaversities help to open up immersive, 3D classrooms to students who are learning in virtual reality. Furthermore, the virtual campuses enable students and professors to be together on a simulated campus in a group setting, empowering students to learn-by-doing much more so than they could through remote video conferencing tools.

For more information on VictoryXR and its virtual reality educational platform, please click here.

Quelle:

Foto: VictoryXR’s solutions allow students learning remotely to attend a digital metaverse campus through virtual reality.

VictoryXR / YouTube

VictoryXR announces new round of schools will roll out digital twin ‘Metaversity’ campuses

13. März 2023 0 comment