It has already been a thrilling year for virtual and augmented truth, with preorders beginning for the Oculus Rift, the reveal of a built in camera for the HTC Vive, and the announcement that Google has formalized a digital reality division likely to aid not just Google Cardboard, but also the secretive Magic Leap investment. While the thrill around any new technology is unique, many people in schooling are asking themselves – isn’t this thinking about leisure?How could this likely be relevant to critical education and analysis activities?In a up to date presentation I gave with co presenter Chris Collins, University of Cincinnati Center for Simulations and Virtual Environment Research, we explored the results of virtual reality in schooling. In researching this topic, we were surprised to find out the diversifications and depth of existing actions during this space. Here are some of my favorite ways that our community is using this generation:Collaboration.
This is in all probability the most important way VR is being used, as it has implications not just for analysis and schooling, but for every body. Virtual fact is going to change the manner we collaborate over distance. The University College of London’s Immersive Virtual Environment tested how interactive virtual avatars can be mapping onto local actual spaces using augmented reality, as has UC Davis. Case Western has been operating with Microsoft to prototype collaborative clinical purposes for the Hololens augmented reality platform. All of the pieces are coming together to see the collaborative promise of digital fact realized. Virtual and augmented fact are important topics within the Internet2 group.
Member universities have an interest in knowing how to best leverage these rising technologies to enhance current actions, and likewise, learning how to advertise criteria and interoperability among allotted digital environments. To facilitate dialogue on these topics, the Metaverse Working Group has been formed, and we are extending a call for participation for participation to members of any Internet2 college – join here. I’m tremendously excited to see what the mixture power of the Internet2 group will generate in this space over the arrival months and years.