So I was at the University of Sunshine Coast a month ago and got to experience the HTC Vive and Google’s Tilt Brush first hand.
The experience blew me away! In my line of work I get to see a lot of emerging tech in the education world and this was one of those moments in life when you are really excited but scared at the same time.
With the VR headset and the controllers you are immersed in a completely different space and the Google Tilt Brush software felt so natural it was like I was learning to paint all over again.
If you have not see their promo watch the video below:
I’ve managed to get our school St Andrew’s Anglican College to invest in one of these, and have been working closely with the Head of Art to start our first set of virtual art displays.
This is just the beginning though. I’ve been looking through some of the other educational applications which are available/coming on the market and come up with the list below which I think could all add heaps of value to different areas of learning around the school.
Interactions:
Experiences:
Aside from these application though when you step back and start imagining what is possible once you introduce a very real feeling Virtual Reality experience into the classroom the possibilities are endless!
My prediction is that once our mobile devices have enough grunt to deal with the demands of a VR experience this is going to be a game changer. There are already predictions that VR will replace the TV set and imagine what a mobile version of this kit would do.
As a dad of a 4 and 2 year old I have to say there is a little part of me that is scared. Sitting on a train in Sydney recently, I noticed everyone looking at their phones with their headphones on – no conversation – we all know the scene. What is our society going to look like once people can pop on their headset and literally be in another world?
For now though, it’s an exciting new space for us to play in and I for one am looking forward to seeing our first VR Art installation next term.
Grant Harbor's Blog 