immersive technologies and the future of education

Immersive Technology Strategieswww.davidwortley.com

Computers and Advanced Technology in Education Conference – CATE 2011

Immersive Technologies and the Future of Education

David Wortley FRSA


Key TakeawayDriven by developments in immersive technologies, education is undergoing a revolution :-

We are entering the era of the portable lifelong personal coach / mentor facilitated by a transformed relationship between humans and technology


Topics

The Prosumer Revolution and our relationship with technology

Definition and role of Serious Games and Immersive Technologies

Example Applications Future Challenges and Trends Summary and Conclusion


The Prosumer Revolution and our Relationship with Technology


Why are Immersive Technologies Disruptive ?


Disruptive Communications Technologies

The internet is different in its scope and impact on businessand society to any previous disruptive technology


The Prosumer

The prosumer effect is unique in our history


The Prosumer Phenomenon

Digital Media Technologies empower individuals in ways previously unknown in

mankind’s history


The Attention Economy

Capturing and retaining attention and loyalty are critical in today’s digital media society


Technology and Society

Is technology replacing human beings in the knowledge economy ?



Knowledge Professionals train for many years to deliver their skills and knowledge more efficiently, and effectively



The internet and digital media delivers current information and knowledge faster, more efficiently, and

on demandbut what is missing ?



Human beings use intelligence, judgement, sensitivity, emotions, empathy and experience to deliver unique and

personal experiences – differentiating us from machines


Machines and Humans

Power, speed, efficiency, accuracy, stamina,

capacity, availability, inflexibility

Judgement, sensitivity, care, humanity, fallibility,

creativity, versatility


Humanising Technology

To love and be loved vs devoid of emotion Treated as individual vs one size fits all Easy to get on with vs unnatural interfaces Be remembered vs blank pages To discover new things vs repeat existing things To be understood vs Memorisation of facts To be Connected vs Self sufficiency Motivated and challenged vs Repetition To create new things vs standard responses

Human Needs Machine Features


Are Immersive Applications Humanising Technology ?

Delivering more control over our lives, our world andour relationships – giving us access to a global network – building personalised relationship with our technologies


Definition and Role of Serious Games and Immersive Technologies


Serious games have been defined as games whose primary purpose is not entertainment but which have been developed for a potentially serious benefit or

outcome. It might also include entertainment games that have been intentionally re-purposed to deliver

serious outcomes

This definition is not always helpful because it does not reflect or embrace the full range or potential of

technologies which create or use immersive experiences to deliver serious benefits. These

applications may not use gameplay at all.


Most Popular Games are Serious

Games generate passion, excitement, commitment, loyalty, belonging, awareness,

support and action


Serious Games are Immersive Experiences

They usually Involve Challenges, Rules, Rewards, Physical and Virtual Worlds, Social Networks, Personal

Development and Commercial Exploitation


Serious Games are NOT New

Games have always been an essential and ubiquitous part of life


Serious Games are Our Personal Choice

Serious Games are where we choose to spend our discretionary time, attention and finances which makes

them very important commercially and developmentally


The Secret of SuccessAttractivenessAccessibilityAffordability

Does it interest/excite me ?Is it easy to access ?Can I afford the time, attention and money ?


Attractive, Accessible, Affordable

Immersive technologies focusing on attractiveness (engagement), accessibility (no barriers) and

affordability (cost and time)


Immersive Technologies

Games Virtual Worlds Social Networks

Immersive Technologies make serious games an attractive, accessible and affordable space in

which to devote our discretionary time, attention and money


The Importance of Immersive Technologies

Immersive Technologies are hugely important because of three main factors – commercial potential, societal disruption and

technological innovation


Example Applications


What are the Key Features ?

Personalisation / relevance Interface and UbiquityCost in time and moneyAbility to control / shapeRichness of experienceChallenge / motivation Intrinsic and extrinsic rewards


Ticking all the Boxes

Immersive Technologies have not only created huge market potential but have driven innovations across all

sectors


Driving Innovation

3D rendering, image processing, broadband speed, collaboration tools, networking, artificial intelligence,

pattern recognition are all driven by Immersive Technology features


Learning through Games

Watch, copy, get feedback, iterate and share


Incubating Creativity

Bringing Science and Art together


Solving Complex Problems

Collaboration under Pressure


Harnessing Local Talent

Empowering citizens and employees


Building Knowledge Networks

Windows help – Get a friend to help you over the internetAsk experts and other Windows users !!


Building Relationships

Using Artificial Intelligence, Geo-location, and Profiling to build new partnerships and knowledge networks


Building Community

Intel’s Planet Blue is an internal social network


Connecting the Physical & Virtual

Building new ways to learn and collaborate


Preparing for the unexpected

Simulating emergency or combat scenarios


Hosting Virtual and Hybrid Events


Future Challenges and Trends


In a Nutshell

Successful Immersive technologies need multiple disciplines


Common Language ?

Experts speak in different languages


Expectations

End users expect console quality action and gameplay


Expectations

Clients expect value for money and modest costs


Likely Solution

Software which has embedded expertise and resources and partners to provide pedagogical and storytelling

skills


Sophisticated Personalisation

Visualisation and Fidelity


Simulations linked to real data


Build your own Training Scenarios


New Devices

Brain wave controllers


New Applications

Using Sensor interfaces to control learning activities


New Devices

Motion / Voice Controllers


Summary and Conclusion


Technology and Learning

Today we use technology to try to make learning faster, easier, more powerful and more efficient in a world which

is exploding with information and new knowledge


Who do we learn most from ?

Technology can help us disseminate information to a global network of learners and through repetition develop skills and memory but humans have traditionally inspire us, influence us, motivate us, shape our attitudes and behaviours and help us to imagine, innovate, dream,

discover, desire and act.


The Challenge of the Digital Native

Immersive Technologies are changing the face of education


The Multi-Tasking Generation

There is medical evidence to indicate that the brains of young people are becoming

increasingly “hard-wired” for multi-tasking - making them able to handle (and expect) multiple simultaneous information sources

and to make judgements on which sources to give attention to.

How can/should society respond to this ?


What does Education need from Technology ?

In a rapidly changing Knowledge Society, Education needs tools and technologies to inspire us, influence us,

motivate us, shape our attitudes and behaviours and help us to imagine, innovate, dream, discover, desire and act.


Conclusion

Tomorrow’s learners are using technologies access and manage a rapidly growing wealth of information BUT they need inspiration,

motivation, and ability to live in a fast changing world


Humanising Technology

We are developing immersive technologies that recognise our voice, our actions and our preferences

to deliver personalised experiences


Key TakeawayDriven by developments in immersive technologies, education is undergoing a revolution :-

We are entering the era of the portable lifelong personal coach / mentor facilitated by a transformed relationship between humans and technology


What will this mean in practice ?

Personalised learning Intelligent persistent lifelong profiling Collaborative peer to peer learning Learning by discovery Virtual worlds linked to real world data Tutor/Mentor/Coach tools for content Learning communities Serious Games linked to societal issues


Questions


Computers and Advanced Technology in Education Conference – CATE 2011

Immersive Technologies and the Future of Education

David Wortley FRSA

immersive technologies and the future of education

Technology

technology definition

humanising technology

advanced technology

immersive applications

immersive experiences

previous disruptive

role of serious games

new games