First Week of Research Assistant's Work and Ideas

Laura: This week I’ve been looking into different ways that students can immerse themselves and learn about different cultures using Google Cardboard and HTC Vive. The most promising thing that I found is an exciting new VR software called ImmerseMe. ImmerseMe is an immersive language learning program that (when it comes out) will be available on iOs and Android via Cardboard. So, through virtual reality you could be sitting at a cafe in Paris, and practice your French by ordering a coffee. The website advertises a student version, a traveler's version, and a business version, all of which could definitely be useful for the WRC team to deploy. Unfortunately beta testing for ImmerseMe isn’t going to available until April, but hopefully we’ll be able to use it then!

 

Bilal: I acquainted myself with the HTC Vive this week. I have never had the opportunity to use VR technology of this caliber so it has been an amazing experience so far. I have begun to do research for a new VR technology called fove. The headset tracks users’ eye movements, making for a more visually interactive experience than other headsets. This product could be great for a class environment because of its ease of use while sitting in a stationary position. Fove is available for purchase and can ship between 2-4 weeks.

 

Nathan: This past week I put a lot of thought into the uses of Google CardBoard within a public speaking class. The importance of the speaker’s audience is always stressed by public speaking teachers. I came up with two ideas. One being that, the speeches would be recorded in 360 degrees. So that the student speaker would be able to watch their speech from every angle and analyze their strengths and weaknesses better. My second idea would be for the speaker and an audience member to use the BodySwap application for Google CardBoard, while doing the speech. This would be a very unique experience not only for the speaker but for the audience member. Even if we cannot get to using these in the classroom. I would like to try using the bodyswap app while doing a speech on my own time.


Xander: I was a part of the WRC this last semester, and I have enjoyed the growth we have faced over the first few weeks this semester. Many of the things we have done has not changed, we still go to our weekly visits at LATIS (the technology lab where we do much of our hands on wearables research) along with many meetings among colleagues in order to keep collaboration on track. I also dove into the ideas of what makes a healthy collaboration, or ways to asses what makes something healthy. I am very excited to get to work this semester and meet many more community members that also share a passion in the wearable technology we research. I would love to see even more technologies that are unique and groundbreaking this semester!

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