Technology is advancing at a rapid rate and our daily lives
rely on much of this new technology.
We use it for business, to connect socially, and as an educational tool,
but while the demand for technology is on the rise so is the need for greater
utilization. Education is the cornerstone of civilization and community, and
during this current economic and unemployment crisis we have the power to
utilize our technology to advance peoples lives. By combining the technology of the Microsoft Kinect
and holographic virtual reality, we can take the 2-dimensional online education
experience and augment it into our 3-dimensional world.
Advanced technology is no longer a thing of science
fiction. Primarily used for video
games the Microsoft Kinect uses "a highly innovative combination of
cameras, microphones and software that turns your body into the video game controller." (Crawford, n.d.) These combinations in conjunction
with virtual reality or holographic technology can be used to help advance
online education.
As a throw back to the Holodeck of Star Trek, the device in
question is called the Holoclass. By combining the functionality of the
Microsoft Kinect with the illusionary realism of holographic technology, the
student can step outside of a 2-dimensional box and into the 3-dimensional
world of a physical classroom.
A study done by Abigail Hawkins and Charles Graham indicates
that, "teachers in distance education had to assume a greater managerial
or technical role in online learning environments than in traditional
classrooms to prevent students from getting lost or forgotten." (2012)
While not every student wants the connectivity this could
provide, some do, but are not able to relocate to the school they wish to
attend. The idea behind the
Holoclass came from hearing complaints about students feeling disconnected in
their current online platform. This got me thinking, what if we could virtually
bring the classroom to them. Imagine
that the student could turn on their computer and have the classroom and those
attending the class, get projected into the comfort of their own home. This
would allow them to attend live lectures, ask questions in real time, and
present work for critique in a live setting. It is "critical that teachers
avoid the assumption that online learners are those who prefer less personal
contact with instructors, are independent learners, have high motivation to
learn, are self-disciplined and have high personal self-efficacy."
(Hawkins and Graham, 2012) By bringing the classroom to them, they will not
only get a sense of connectivity but
could also get time with their instructor not found in the traditional
virtual platform.
This of course does not exclude those who want the anonymity
that online offers. If the student
wishes not to attend live lectures, the instructor can prerecord a lecture that
the student can access. Like in
video games, the student will act as the remote and interact with the material
the instructor is presenting. In
regards to the Kinect technology used in video games, Eddie Wrenn (2012) says,
"Instead of being tied to a controller, players could use their body to
control the action in a myriad ways - for instance virtually pulling back a bow
and arrow, or dancing as the console rated how good (or bad) you are at copying
on-screen celebrities." This
idea could be translated into the educational system.
Hearing there is a disconnect between my class and myself, can
be unnerving. Since reaching every student is not possible in the online world,
the Holoclass is a way to offer more connectivity. Of course, as advanced as the technology is, it is still up
to the individual to access the materials given to them. During the discussion of this
technology Rori Paul mentioned, "From being able to "be in" the
classroom for a more interactive experience to being in a meeting to
"feeling" an experience while remaining safe from its true effects
allows us another level of understanding and interaction we currently do not
have."
The reach of this technology can and should reach more than
just those seeking a degree in higher education, but for the moment the focus
is just on them. With the
unemployment rate staying high, many people are seeking degrees to better
themselves or compete in the job market, but are finding cost to be
preventative. If we fold this into the cost of attendance and give more people
accessibility to the classroom experience, college can become a reality for
everyone.
References
Crawford, S. (n.d.). HowStuffWorks "How Microsoft Kinect
Works". HowStuffWorks "Electronics". Retrieved from
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/microsoft-kinect.htm
Fahey, M. (2010, November 3). Holographic Technology Is the
Next 3D. Kotaku, the Gamer’s Guide. Retrieved from
http://kotaku.com/5680798/holographic-technology-is-the-next-3d
Wagstaff, K. (2011, October 20). Microsoft Comes Closer to
Star Trek’s Holodeck With Its Holodesk | Techland | TIME.com. Techland |
News and reviews from the world of gadgets, gear, apps and the web | TIME.com.
Retrieved from
http://techland.time.com/2011/10/20/star-trek-in-real-life-microsoft-develops-new-holodesk/
Wagstaff, K. (2012, August 16). The Technology Behind the
Tupac Hologram at Coachella | Techland | TIME.com. Techland | News and
reviews from the world of gadgets, gear, apps and the web | TIME.com.
Retrieved from http://techland.time.com/2012/04/16/the-science-behind-the-tupac-hologram-at-coachella/
Wrenn, E. (2012, September 12). Microsoft files patent to
bring Star Trek's 'Holodeck' to future Xbox consoles | Mail Online. Home |
Mail Online. Retrieved from
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2202062/Microsoft-files-patent-bring-Star-Treks-Holodeck-future-Xbox-consoles.html
Image References
Steele, M. (2008, July 1). HowStuffWorks "How Holographic
Environments Will Work". HowStuffWorks "Electronics".
Retrieved from
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/holographic-environment.htm
Wrenn, E. (n.d.). Microsoft files patent to bring Star Trek's
'Holodeck' to future Xbox consoles | Mail Online. Home | Mail Online.
Retrieved from
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2202062/Microsoft-files-patent-bring-Star-Treks-Holodeck-future-Xbox-consoles.html
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