This document discusses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies and their potential applications in higher education. VR uses software to simulate a user's physical presence in realistic 3D environments, while AR supplements the real world with computer-generated input. MR merges real and virtual worlds. These technologies offer opportunities for visualization, creative work, empathy building, and motivating difficult learning tasks in pedagogies. Issues around content discovery, hardware access, and computational challenges must also be addressed to fully realize their educational potential.

1. Virtual reality and higher education
NERCOMP - 2017

2. Ground rules for today
• Please ask questions. We forbid
embarrassment.
• We are assuming a baseline
awareness of being new to VR,
plus AR+MR.
• Please contribute thoughts. This
is a rapidly developing field!

3. VR: introduction
Virtual reality (VR) typically
refers to computer
technologies that use software
to generate realistic images,
sounds and other sensations
that replicate a real
environment (or create an
imaginary setting), and
simulate a user's physical
presence in this environment.

4. VR: historical sketch
http://kotaku.com/the-man-whos-keeping-1990s-virtual-reality-machines-ali-1778990894

5. VR tech now

6. The worst picture ever

7. Maybe the best picture

8. VR tech now
• High end headsets
• Low-end Cardboard
• Capture devices:
scanners, cameras
• VR files or apps

9. Augmented reality

10. Augmented reality
[A] live direct or indirect view of a
physical, real-world environment
whose elements are augmented (or
supplemented) by computer-
generated sensory input such as
sound, video, graphics or GPS data.

11. Augmented reality
A spectrum:
•QR codes
•Location-targeted
services (Google
Maps, Yelp)
•Superimposed
visuals

12. Augmented reality
http://www.instantreality.org/itacitus/

13. Augmented reality

14. Gaming
• Pokemon Go, Ingress, Zombies Run!
https://www.wired.com/2011/09/augmented-reality-zombies-run-augmented-audio/

15. VR+AR=MR

16. VR+AR=MR
Mixed reality (MR), sometimes referred to as
hybrid reality, is the merging of real and
virtual worlds to produce new environments
and visualizations where physical and digital
objects co-exist and interact in real time.
Mixed reality takes place not only in the
physical world or the virtual world, but is a
mix of reality and virtual reality,
encompassing both augmented reality and
augmented virtuality.

17. More MR
Hololens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihKUoZxNClA
Magic Leap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw0-JRa9n9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPMHcanq0x

18. Pedagogies
Visualization
•VR: hard to access content
•“ “ visualize “
•Creative work
•Safe mistake zone
•Empathy

19. Pedagogies
https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/

20. Pedagogies
Dalgarno Lee 2010

21. Pedagogies
• Spatial awareness
• Difficult learning tasks
• Motivation and delight
-Dalgarno and Lee 2010

22. Pedagogies
Visualization
•AR: setting awareness
•Animating textbooks
(http://www.hitl.washington.ed
u/projects/scripps/)
•Students making

23. Augmented reality
http://www.instantreality.org/itacitus/

24. Pedagogies
Gaming
•Community-based
•Location- “
•Creative

25. Pedagogies
MR?
•Mixture of these
•Office work

26. Pedagogies
MR?
•Mixture of these
•Office work

27. Storytelling
Huge importance of setting:
“[I]n VR, we feel an urge to slow down, to
land and really explore the moment.” …
Lajeunesse and Raphaël want viewers to
stay focused on a moment for five, six, even
ten minutes. “For us, it’s not just about the
content itself,” Lajeunesse told me. “It’s also
about creating the right conditions for the
viewer to feel a part of it.”
https://story.californiasunday.com/virtual-reality-hollywood

28. Storytelling
• Viewpoint central,
intervenes
• Power of sound
• Interaction w/objects, a la
gaming
• Character studies: empathy
• Sequence of episodes

29. Socialization
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hagengraf/30508143692/

30. Pedagogies
Socialization
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ha
gengraf/30508143692/
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=MqAGl2JmH4I
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=YuIgyKLPt3s

31. Research

32. Support issues
Consuming and using
•Content discovery – discipline;
publishers
•Access to hardware – equity,
spaces
•Accessibility

33. Support issues
Producing
•Huge computation challenge
•Staff training
•Connect w/maker movement
•Hype cycle potential

34. VR/AR/MR futures
• 3d cinema or the next Web
• Real-time translation
• Vanishing keyboards
• AR public art
• Headset->eyewear-
>contacts?

35. http://bryanalexander.org
bryan.alexander@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/bryanalexander