Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality: Setting New Ways for Learning
We are on the verge of revolution that will essentially alter the way we live, work and play. This change will influence industries to a wide extent, starting from education and healthcare to entertainment and commerce. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are going to change the world with fully-immersive environments and surreal experiences.
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are just a couple of the most popular technologies today. To understand how these two are going to change the world, we will have to know what they actually mean.
Augmented Reality enhances the digital reality while creating digital images that blend with the physical world in no time. It provides both virtual and actual view of a physical world blended with informative virtual aspects about the environment. Augmented reality has come a long way since its inception in 1968, the power of which can be accessed with the smartphone in your pocket, and creating a new possibility for games, education, marketing, and the retail sector. The technology has already gained popularity.
On the other hand, Virtual Reality means a three-dimensional environment, which can be explored by and interacted with a person. The commonly used medium for this technology is using a VR Headset, a device which you can wear like goggles over your eyes. It blocks all the external lights, and shows you an image on high-definition screens through virtual reality and creates realistic images, sounds, and other sensations. It also makes the wearer able to look around and imitates its physical presence and even movements, in a virtual world.
Traditional education systems have been implementing the same old learning technique for years. However, it is going to change with the arrival of technologies like Augmented and Virtual Realities. These offer a customized learning experience and allow students to learn on their own. Using AR and VR gadgets, allows you to learn in and outside the classroom.
In terms of learning, we can differentiate between the two systems with closed and open learning. One system is based on AR solutions, while the other relies on VR headsets. VR system works as a closed learning system — a means of studying. The students put on their headsets and start interactive 3D lessons on their own. This method is called closed because it isolates the subject from the outer influences, and emphasizes individuals work.
An open learning system works with the context-driven algorithms, using AR technology as the device to assist and upgrade everyday studying. Such technology is smart enough to collect external information coming from teachers, peers, and individual users. While doing so, AR continues improving the learning processes and adapts so as to fit the requirements of each child individually.
The practical value of AR and VR learning means nothing without the examples. With these technologies, students are not only able to see the concepts in action, but also get involved directly with the virtual environment to deliberately participate in the scientific method, all by just putting on a headset.
