Virtual reality gaming can transform learning
As technology continues to transform the way in which we live our lives and how we deal with many aspects of our health, fitness and well-being why shouldn’t we also utilise these innovations to improve the way in which many of us learn? Education is a fundamental part of our society and if there are tools and facilities out there that can assist in helping students gain a better comprehension of subjects then what are we waiting for?
The concept of virtual reality has been around for decades but only now is the technology being bought to life as we approach a time when VR-based contraptions could soon be part of our everyday experiences. Many proponents of the technology claim that their reach can extend far beyond just gaming, into other areas and industries that many before have disregarded. From the medical to the travel sectors, these are just some of the ways in which this technology could help evolve and advance certain markets.
We’ve seen how VR has revolutionised our favourite pastimes. No longer are we solely inclined to visit places like the casino when such immersive VR experiences at Australian casino Royal Vegas are available. And now developers are learning from gaming’s success and it won’t be long before we could see these devices in the classroom.
Google’s new educational product called Expeditions is set to make the curriculum come alive, at least according to Google themselves. This cardboard device is foldable and includes an attachable lens that can help a smartphone become a special virtual reality viewer. It allows the student to visit and view places and landmarks around the world without ever having to step outside the classroom.
Of course ‘Expeditions’ isn’t the only VR-related device currently in development. There is the Oculus VR, Sony’s Project Morpheus and Samsung’s Gear VR will all be vying for a place aloft the new VR market. And they will surely be the perfect adaptable trio for providing an educational twist on standard learning techniques going forward.
The idea itself has been met with some opposition from those in the educational field who are yet to see any real value in the concept; instead believing it to be nothing more than simple distraction. However, the scope and potential of such technology, even in its infancy, is truly astounding and certainly something that will provide benefits for children and young adults in the future.