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| Hey Insiders —
🗞️ Today's issue features Edtech's venturing into virtual education, a dive into VR glasses interest in Germany, German military investment in a virtual battlefield called GhostPlay, and more.
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| 1 | | Optima Academy Online utilizes VR to deliver a liberal arts and sciences curriculum to 170 full-time students. Critics question the approach, emphasizing the importance of physical social interaction in traditional educational settings. More: - Optima Academy employs Meta Quest 2 headsets for about three hours of formal lessons daily, followed by independent coursework with digital check-ins.
- The OECD states that well-implemented digital education can significantly improve schooling systems' quality, equity, and efficiency.
- OECD data reveals stark disparities in Mexico, where only 24% of 15-year-olds in impoverished schools have home computer access, compared to 87% in wealthier schools.
- A recent Unesco report criticized the hasty adoption of ed-tech, citing issues like "unchecked exclusion" and "staggering inequality."
- The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the education of 1.6 billion schoolchildren worldwide, leading to a rapid increase in online learning.
- Beeban Kidron of the U.K.'s Digital Futures Commission warns that edtech should not be seen as a universal solution but as a means to enrich learning.
Zoom Out: - A study by the National Education Policy Center shows that virtual schools in the U.S. often underperform compared to their traditional counterparts.
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What the numbers say: In 2023, approximately 59% of surveyed individuals in Germany expressed interest in using VR glasses going forward, with the most significant shift in opinion occurring between 2019 and 2020. Relevance: According to IDC's Worldwide AR/VR Spending Guide, Europe is set to invest $1.1B in AR and $3.4B in VR by 2023. This spending is projected to soar to $10.5B by 2027, with a remarkable CAGR of 24.9% from 2022 to 2027. Impact: The release of Apple Inc.'s Vision Pro headset has reignited enthusiasm in the AR/VR sector, which had seen a decline in investment before the launch due to investor uncertainty. | | | |
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| 3 | | The German military is investing in a virtual battlefield called GhostPlay, powered by advanced AI algorithms, to simulate real-world combat scenarios. The platform is part of a €500 million (U.S. $540M) COVID-19 subsidy package to boost Germany's high-tech defense research. More: - GhostPlay is led by 21strategies, Hensoldt, Bundeswehr University Hamburg, and Borchert Consulting and Research.
- The platform can create digital twins of real-world locations, replicating environments "down to the last leaf" using satellite photos and local databases.
- Using open-source intelligence, GhostPlay can also simulate the performance of enemy weapons, especially those from the former Eastern Bloc.
- Researchers are considering transferring GhostPlay's AI logic to existing military equipment to enhance their capabilities.
- The platform also optimized its sensor mix to prioritize immediate threats, such as weapon-carrying platforms over loitering munitions.
Zoom Out: -
Last month, a British Army team tested the military training capabilities of the Interim Combined Arms Virtual Simulation (Deployable) or ICAVS(D), which utilizes gaming platforms such as Xbox and PlayStation. | | | |
| 4 | | Clockwise, a U.K.-based workspace operator with 15 locations, is launching the first-ever office space in the metaverse. The digital platform aims to offer a "utopian" alternative to traditional workspaces, addressing issues like remote work, loneliness, and lack of community. More: - Clockwise Campus will feature dedicated meeting rooms, desk spaces, breakout spaces, call zones, and a contemplation space.
- The platform will host events, talks, and panel discussions in a specially designed amphitheater.
- The metaverse office will incorporate elements from Clockwise's real-life spaces, such as an infinite moat inspired by its Bristol location.
- Users can access the space via web browsers, attend meetings and events, or engage socially.
- Clockwise COO Alexandra Livesey stated that the Campus will be available to members and the wider public, aiming to facilitate business connections in a new digital dimension.
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| 5 | | Metaverse shopping is gaining traction in the U.K., with 43% of Brits showing interest. A study of over 10,500 individuals aged 18 and above across 19 global markets reveals that 82% of U.K. respondents know the metaverse. More: - A third of the U.K. respondents have a deep understanding of the metaverse.
- Watching TV and movies in the metaverse is the second most popular activity, captivating 40% of Brits.
- Gaming and learning in the metaverse hold 33% and 32% interest, respectively, among U.K. respondents.
- Roblox is the preferred platform for 54% of U.K. individuals who have ventured into the metaverse, Toluna reported.
- 27% of Brits express curiosity about the metaverse, while 32% have concerns about privacy issues.
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| 6 | | Crucible Technologies and Futureverse have announced a partnership to integrate Crucible's Emergence SDK into Futureverse's Root Network. The collaboration aims to enhance interoperability across the metaverse, including avatars, wallets, and inventory. More: - Crucible's Emergence SDK was launched last month specifically for Unity developers.
- The SDK makes avatars, wallets, and inventory more interoperable across the metaverse.
- Born Ready Ventures, a fund created by Futureverse's co-founders, will lead Crucible's new funding round.
- Aaron McDonald, co-founder of Futureverse, emphasized that the Open Metaverse is becoming more accessible due to advancements in game engines and AI.
- Ryan Gill, Crucible's founder and CEO, stated that the partnership aims to provide great experiences for both game developers and players.
Zoom Out: - Recently, Futureverse has raised $54M in a new round of funding to combine AI and the metaverse.
- Futireverse also partnered with Muhammad Ali Enterprises to release Muhammad Ali – The Next Legends, the first AI-powered boxing game.
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- Cutting-edge simulation technology at the College of Nursing enhances patient interaction by providing immersive VR experiences for nursing students.
- The Four Seasons Resort in the Maldives has launched its first Hologram Room, offering virtual underwater experiences with manta rays and other marine life from the Baa Atoll UNESCO Reserve.
- Demeo is among the initial immersive games revealed for Apple Vision Pro, a platform where VR/MR gaming has not been a primary focus for Apple or developers.
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