Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Education. Myth or Reality?

Abstract

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are not new technologies. But several constraints prevented their actual adoption. Recent technological progresses added to the proliferation of affordable hardware and software have made AR and VR more viable and desirable in many domains, including educa-tion; they have been relaunched with new promises previously unimaginable. The nature of AR and VR promises new teaching and learning models that better meet the needs of the 21st century learner. We’re now on a path to re-invent education.
This work consists of explaining the reasons behind the new rise of AR and VR and why their actual adoption in education will be a reality in a near fu-ture.

Full text

Short Paper—Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Education. Myth or Reality?
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Education.
Myth or Reality?
https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i03.9289
Noureddine Elmqaddem
Ecole des Sciences de l’information (ESI), Rabat, Morocco
nelmqaddem@esi.ac.ma
Abstract—Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are not new technolo-
gies. But several constraints prevented their actual adoption. Recent technologi-
cal progresses added to the proliferation of affordable hardware and software
have made AR and VR more viable and desirable in many domains, including
education; they have been relaunched with new promises previously unimagi-
nable. The nature of AR and VR promises new teaching and learning models
that better meet the needs of the 21st century learner. We’re now on a path to
reinvent education. This work consists of explaining the reasons behind the new
rise of AR and VR and why their actual adoption in education will be a reality
in a near future.
Keywords—Augmented reality, Virtual reality, education, immersive learning
1 Introduction
Augmented reality and virtual reality are not really new technologies. The first vir-
tual reality headset was created at the University of Utah in the 1970s by Daniel
Vickers. With two screens, the headset gives the user the opportunity to observe the
virtual scene presented to him by turning his head. A few years later, a new interface
is developed: the data glove (DataGlove). This device, created in 1982, measures the
movement of the hand and fingers and communicates it to the computer (Fuchs,
2006).
And, the term "Virtual Reality" was proposed in the United States in the 1980s by
Jaron Lanier [1]. As for the term “augmented reality”, it was coined by researcher
Thomas Caudell and David Mizell in 1990 to describe how the head-mounted dis-
plays that electricians used when assembling complicated wiring harnesses worked.
The last technological craze of AR and VR was in the 1990s. But, at that time,
many constraints prevented these technologies from being actually adopted by the
general public.
In this work, we will argument in favor of a real advance of AR and VR and ex-
plain why they finally can be adopted in all domains, including education. We will
explore the evolution of some technologies that are used in AR. Hence, we will try to
verify whether AR and VR are a reality and their adoption in education is finally pos-
sible or are they still a myth.
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Short Paper—Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Education. Myth or Reality?
2 Objective
Explain why AR and VR can finally be seriously integrated into teaching and
learning and demonstrate how much their promises are high.
3 Questions
There are 2 important questions behind this work:
• What makes AR and VR a reality no longer just a myth?
• Why are AR and VR a real new enhancement of teaching and learning? What
makes them more suitable for the 21st century student than the different methods
of learning we have known until now?
4 Research Method
Comparison of some technologies used during the 1990s and their current counter-
parts that affected the use of AR and VR.
5 Results
The nature of AR and VR and their recent enhancement thanks to various techno-
logical advancements allows a new type of learning that better meets the needs of the
21st century learner who wants entertainment, interactivity, participation and manipu-
lation of objects. However, an effective adaption of AR and VR in education and
learning will not happen until some technical and social issues are resolved and edu-
cation programs are more adapted so as to take full advantage of the potential of these
technologies.
6 Discussion
6.1 Virtual reality
A favorite definition, though restrictive, is to consider virtual reality as "human
immersion in a synthetic world" [2]. This definition is especially acceptable for peo-
ple who associate virtual reality with the use of a helmet. And, this is exactly the case
that interests us in this work. Compared to the virtual reality experiments of the 90s,
this technology has improved to an impressive degree.
Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that allows us to immerse ourselves in an arti-
ficial world; this world can be an entirely imaginary universe or only the reproduction
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Short Paper—Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Education. Myth or Reality?
of the real world. The experience can be visual, auditory and, at times, also haptic1.
This immersion is done using a virtual reality headset that places a stereoscopic 3D
display system in front of the eyes (on the nose). Some models are equipped with
sensors that detect head tracking to allow the user to look around. The images are then
recalculated in real time to synchronize with the direction of the head or gaze.
VR has sought to get the attention of the general public since the 1980s, but with-
out an actual success. At that time, technologies related to VR were not known to the
general public, but then they aroused the interest of the media.
Since 2014, virtual reality dedicated to the general public has been boosted by the
arrival of helmets that are both more efficient and affordable. The developer version
of the Oculus Rift headset was released in 2013, and it is only in March 2016 that this
headset was on the mainstream market. Google was the first to play the card of the
democratization of this technology by proposing in 2014 a model of VR helmets in
cardboard called Google Cardboard and which is used with a smartphone as a display
system. Subsequently, other companies have manufactured more advanced versions
of the Cardboard, such as Samsung through its Gear VR (the mobile version of the
Oculus Rift). Versions of VR headphones connected to a computer or game console
are also available on the public market since the year 2016. Besides the Oculus Rift
headphones from Facebook, there is HTC's HTC Vive and Sony's PlayStation VR
amongst many others. These versions of high-end headsets are more expensive and
require the use of a high-performance computer or a recent game console. Less ex-
pensive helmet projects that work with underperforming computers are in progress.
It is only from 2012 that virtual reality finally looks interesting. Several technolog-
ical and commercial improvements now allow the use of VR with enough comfort to
arouse the interest of everyone. On the one hand, the accessibility and power of com-
puters and smartphones. On the other hand, the generalization of Internet access and
the speed of fixed and mobile connections. Not to mention the richness and diversity
of content in VR (thanks to the improvement of other technologies and programming
languages). At the same time, picture or video quality has improved a lot. The "head-
tracking" also improved so much that the use of VR helmets is finally possible with-
out discomfort.
An important evolution in the field of virtual reality is related to the possibility of
manipulating the objects of the synthetic world through the use of controllers such as
Oculus Touch. This allows students, for example, to practice and learn by interacting
with objects in the virtual world in an even more interesting way.
According to Michael Abrash, head of the scientific team of the company Oculus
VR, what the VR allows us to do today was technically almost impossible a few years
ago. The evolution experienced by VR these last 5 years is certainly remarkable. But,
what we will see in the next few years will be even more impressive. (Abrash, 2016)
Giants like Google, Facebook, HTC and Sony (through their Cardboard, Oculus
Rift, HTC Vive and Playstation VR helmet) have given a new breath to this technolo-
gy with promises of real success this time. They are working on gigantic projects to
1 Allows us to experience certain sensations related to touch.
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advance this technology and enable its exploitation in several areas, including the
field of education.
According to the investment bank Citi, the hardware, software, networks and con-
tent in VR market will reach $ 200 trillion in 2020.
The fields of application of this technology are unlimited: training with simulators,
simulation of surgical procedures, architecture, archeology with the reconstruction of
sites, virtual museum visits, treatment of phobias, and various types of learning.
Just like flight simulation, which has long been known for its effectiveness in
learning to pilot when combined with actual flights, why not do the same thing in the
field of education? Michael Bodekaer wants to do even better through his virtual lab
that gives scientists, whether experienced or in training, the opportunity to do tests
and experiments without taking physical risks, and with less costs and more results.
There are also immersive education platforms, such as Engage, a free to use social
education and presentation platform that allows everyone to hold meetings, classes,
private lessons and presentations with people from all around the world in a safe vir-
tual multi user environment. 2
The value of adopting virtual reality in education and learning is related in part to
the fact that this technology can improve and facilitate learning, increase memory
capacity and make better decisions while working in entertaining and stimulating
conditions. In fact, when we read textual content (on a printed document for exam-
ple), our brain uses a process of interpretation of everything we read, which increases
our cognitive efforts. In the case of the use of virtual reality, the process of interpreta-
tion is reduced because there are fewer symbols to interpret and the understanding is
more direct. For example, it is easier to understand how a machine works by visualiz-
ing the process of its operation than by reading a textual explanation. And, when the
visualization is in 3D / VR, it is even clearer. Having physical access to all what we
learn is not possible, hence the importance of VR, which allows us to access every-
thing we want, virtually, as if we really are there. The learner can for example explore
the moon or the ocean floor or the state of a place as it has been in the past. This al-
lows a better understanding of things and phenomena with less cognitive efforts on
the part of the learner, and less cost for the institute that deals with learning. The
learner feels more engaged, more motivated and more receptive and ready to learn
and communicate with others. Virtual reality-based learning has been proven to in-
crease learners' level of attention by 100% and improve test results by 30%.
VR will not only transform the way we entertain ourselves, but it will also com-
pletely change the way students learn in and out of the classroom. However, it will be
necessary to know how to build and deploy educational programs that are well
adapted to this technology and that best meet the requirements of the learner of the
21st century. (Education and VR: Changing the way we learn.
https://youtu.be/SxyuCbMK_rI).
6.2 Augmented reality
Unlike virtual reality (which leads to total immersion in the artificial world), aug-
mented reality refers to a virtual interface, in 2D or 3D, that enhances (or augments)
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what we see by overlaying additional information (digital content) onto the real
world. Immersion in the virtual world is not total, because we can always see the real
world around us.
AR works through a device that films the real world and inverts live virtual objects,
animations, texts, data or sounds that the user views from the screen of a computer, a
smartphone, a tablet, a pair of glasses, a headset or any other on-screen display sys-
tem. The real world and virtual information are synchronized thanks to geolocaliza-
tion and embedded sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope) that locate the user in relation
to his environment and adapt the display to his movements.
Until 1999, AR was confined to scientific research labs. Equipment was expensive
and software complicated enough to make the normal user unable to deal with such a
technology. The release of ARToolKit2 to the open-source community by H. Kato and
Billinghurst in 1999 gave a new start to that technology. At that time already, they
proposed an augmented reality conferencing system, which uses the overlay of virtual
images on the real world and allows users to collaboratively view and interact with
virtual objects using a shared virtual whiteboard [3]. In recent years, AR has attracted
the interest of several actors around the world: Total Immersion, Wikitude, Layar and
many others. Since then, this technology has evolved and became widespread thanks
to the accessibility of smartphones and tablets. The manufacture of AR glasses such
as Microsoft's HoloLens has boosted interest in this technology. Promising projects
are in progress and will allow the real exploitation of this technology in all areas,
including the field of education.
Among the works done so far on how advanced technologies can be harnessed to
enrich teaching, many see AR as an effective tool [4]. Numerous studies have re-
vealed positive effect of VR on the learning process [5]. This technology makes it
possible to interact with objects that belong to the virtual or real world, to learn
through experimentation, participation and interactivity, to increase motivation and
attention of the learner [6]. Learning becomes more enjoyable and effective, even
when it comes to exploring and knowing abstract concepts or complex phenomena,
and this thanks to the possibilities of visualization and realization of the concepts that
this technology makes accessible to the learner [7], [8].
AR tools and applications, including those dedicated to the field of teaching and
learning, are numerous and evolve quickly. Experts predict that in the near future, AR
will be the new computing platform. Screen machines, such as computers and tele-
phones, will be replaced by immersive devices based on VR and AR. The HoloLens
augmented reality helmet from Microsoft has already gone in this direction. Accord-
ing to Pamela B. Davis (Dean, School of Medicine at Microsoft Build 2016), students
will be allowed to learn using the most forward looking educational programs and
HoloLens is a key part of this. It may be the next big transforming and change in
medical education and many other fields. Oculus' John Carmack ascertains that the
next 5 years will technologically and creatively take this medium some place we have
never imagined3 [9].
2 https://www.hitl.washington.edu/artoolkit/documentation/history.htm
3 Oculus' John Carmack Explains Virtual Reality in 5 Levels of Difficulty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akveRNY6Ulw
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The areas of application of AR affect entertainment (including video games) as
well tourism, architecture, medicine, education, industry. In the sector of education
and training, it allows technicians, for example, to learn new procedures in real condi-
tions. Faced with a new device, the person can discover the disassembly procedure
step by step by seeing the instructions appear in real time.
HoloLens for example allows medical students to manipulate and visualize the
human body with unprecedented accuracy [10].
In the cultural field, augmented reality applications allow tourists or museum visi-
tors to discover the history of places or works by simply pointing the camera of their
smartphone in their direction.
According to Kurubacak and Altinpulluk [11], AR provides numerous educational
benefits. For students, these benefits can be summarized as: courses’ being fun, reduc-
ing cognitive load, increase in motivation and interest towards the course, increased
opportunity to ask questions, increase in interaction between students, new opportuni-
ties for individual learning, concretizing abstract concepts, rise of success. As for
teachers, these benefits consist of contribution to the development of creativity in
students, ensuring effective participation of students to the course, students’ being
able to carry out the course with their own pace.
6.3 Recent advances and new perspectives
Advancements in AR and VR do not concern only hardware, but also software. For
Oculus, Rift Core 2.04 promises a more powerful, intuitive and personal VR platform.
Rift Core 2.0 offers a brand new system interface, Oculus Dash and Oculus Home.
Dash takes full advantage of touch and unlocks the entire power of computers allow-
ing the manipulation of desktop apps from inside the VR environment. Hand presence
is a powerful tool for direct manipulation. Thanks to Dash and Oculus Touch, VR as a
computing platform will soon be no longer just a project, but a reality. Dash is meant
to be a massive step forward for VR and will make it a fundamentally new computing
platform, one we will use every day to work, connect and play.
On the other hand, Oculus Home and Facebook Spaces5 show that VR is not only
for entertainment, but can be used for all our activities, including communication and
socialization. This should attract the interest of most of those reticent people who
argument against VR as simply an entertainment medium.
There are many AR platforms that allow developers, as well as beginners, to create
augmented reality applications and products such as Augment6, Layar7 and Blippar8
4 Oculus announces Rift Core 2.0 within Oculus Connect 2017 launch event on October 11 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBjhAYlH35M. Thanks to Dash and Home, the Rift Core 2.0 update
(expected on December 2017) allows a greater level of presence, interaction with friends and manipulation
of applications within VR.
5 www.facebook.com/spaces
https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1036793313023466/ -
https://www.facebook.com/FacebookTips/videos/10155260579068466/
6 www.augment.com
7 www.layar.com
8 www.blippar.com
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(amongst many others). As for Apple’s and Google’s developer’s kits (ARKit9 and
ARCore10 respectively), they will simply open the door even wider for developers to
enrich the AR content. Competition between Google and Apple through their AR
platforms will make these technologies evolve quickly. ARKit and ARCore will allow
developers to propose rich AR and VR contents and varied applications.
Accessibility of VR and AR is another element that should help to popularize these
technologies. Google was the pioneer in proposing cheap VR platforms and headsets
that started with Google cardboard in 2014 (The first VR platform and VR headset).
In 2016, Google introduced a new VR platform and headset called Daydream (that
costs less than 50 $).
Accessibility of VR being very important, Oculus has been working on the project
of new headsets that are more available. To profit from the best quality VR headsets
like Oculus Rift, we had to own an expensive computer (that meets the needs of Ocu-
lus Rift). And Oculus Rift itself was proposed for 700$. The Oculus Gear Vr too ne-
cessitates the new brand Samsung smartphones (Samsung S6, S7, S8 or Note).
Now, thanks to stand-alone headsets like the Oculus Go, we no longer need a com-
puter nor a smartphone. Oculus Go allows a high quality VR experience and costs less
about 200$ for the 32GB version and 250$ for the 64GB one. And the oculus Rift
itself is more affordable (about 400$). Apple is working on a AR glass called iGlass
which will be released soon and should open new perspectives for AR. We also notice
the accessibility of 360° cameras that allow everybody to take photos or videos in
VR/360°. For 170$, Samsung Gear 360, for example, allows to capture high quality
VR photos and videos (4K videos and 15 MP still images). Other VR cameras cost
less than 100$. Few additional improvements on these 360° cameras will make the
production of VR videos and photos accessible to everybody.
7 Conclusion
The main objective of this work was to verify to what extent AR and VR have
evolved and whether they are now mature enough to be integrated in education pro-
grams. In fact, many recent hardware and software improvements show that in a near
future AR and VR will be reliable enough as new computing platforms. This promises
radical changes and new teaching and learning models that should satisfy the needs of
the learner of the 21st century who no longer thinks the same way as in the 20th or 19th
century. The fact that giants like Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Apple consider
VR and AR as interesting fields for investment promises a bright future for these
technologies.
It’s clear that an actual integration of these technologies requires lots of improve-
ments and changes not only on the part of engineers and experts of AR and VR, but
also teachers and all persons related to the field of educational. Engineers must pro-
9 ARKit is a new framework introduced within iOS 11 and that allows to easily create augmented reali-
ty experiences for iPhone and iPad. https://developer.apple.com/arkit/
10 ARCore is an augmented reality software development kit for Android released by Google on Au-
gust 29 2017
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pose VR and AR headsets that are more comfortable and accessible. In fact, a long
use of the VR and AR headsets proposed for now causes some discomfort. As for
persons related to education, they must deploy more forward educational programs
that fit well with the nature of these technologies and fulfil the needs of the learner.
When applied properly, these technologies can create enhanced contemporary educa-
tional environments and enriched learning opportunities for students. In all cases, it is
certain that in the next few years AR and VR will revolutionize the way we interact
with the real world and will be widely adopted in all domains. They will no longer be
only a myth but a reality. What has been said till now about these technologies does
not show their actual potential. It is just scratching the surface of what they will allow
us to do in the near future.
8 References
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9 Author
Noureddine Elmqaddem is associated with Department of Document Engineer-
ing, Strategic Intelligence and Records Management (IDVSRM) at Ecole des Scienc-
es de l’information (ESI) in Rabat, Morocco.
Article submitted 28 July 2018. Resubmitted 22 October 2018. Final acceptance 24 October 2018. Final
version published as submitted by the authors.
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