Category: guest contributor

How virtual reality can address inequality in the classroom

Why classrooms will have more VR applications than books

Virtual reality has many uses and most of the common ones are in the entertainment sector. As more applications are being made of this technology, one area of use where the impact is or can be most profound is in the education sector. This is because it can be used to narrow existing gaps that have been a challenge for many years.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Albert Einstein is credited, rightly or otherwise, with this famous quote that seeks to point out that everyone is smart and unique in their own way.

However, with the standardization of tests in learning institutions all over the world, many children are left feeling that they are not as smart when they do not pass exams. But why is this? There are many reasons that affect the performance of students in learning institutions. But we will focus on resources and how technology can help to bridge that gap. For starters, resources play a great role in learning outcomes. Children from affluent families and those from low income families do not have access to the same resources and hence there will be inequality in learning.

This is an area where technology can help bridge the gap. One way of doing this is through virtual reality enhancement in the school system.

Theory vs practice

While children from affluent families have access to all the material that they need to advance their knowledge and interests, those from humble backgrounds do not have that luxury. They have to make do with what is available.

A critical area where there might be a gap is in theory vs practice. This is because certain practical sessions might be expensive for their schools to provide. This could be in the form of latest industry tools, school trips and academic visits or even good and motivated teachers.

Technology can plug this hole by allowing those from humble backgrounds to access cutting edge info from top instructors without traveling far or spending a fortune to get it. They can also make trips virtually instead of expensive physical travel.

Individualized learning

Everyone is unique in their own way and education needs to be approached from this angle. But this is easier said than done because certain schools do not have the resources to employ adequate numbers of teachers who can give students individualized attention and learning schedules as well as follow ups to ensure that no child is left behind.

Virtual reality can help students learn at their own pace and even select areas of interest to learn further. Students can learn even outside of school hours and access the same info as what they would have gotten in the classroom.

Promoting inclusivity of the disadvantaged

This is especially so for disabled and those from low income households. Education can be expensive. There are certain places and experiences that can be difficult, expensive or both for the differently abled and those from low income families. However, they can also get an immersive experience through augmented reality.

Promoting diversity and inclusivity

Travel is expensive. Not many people can afford to travel all over the world and get all the benefits that come with it. And Googling it does not cut it. But virtual reality can help gain experience of the world that can only be topped by an actual visit to that place. This is better than Googling, better than reading about places and being told about them.

There are also many benefits that come with it. Learning about new cultures as well as being tolerant and aware of other people’s way of living.

Promoting interactions

The space can be tweaked to allow for interactions which are good for learning. The great thing about it is that this does not have to be limited to those in the locality of the learner but rather it exposes them to others from all over the world. This will promote interactions with other people and enhance learning.

Spur creativity

The virtual reality space is filled with creativity and innovation. Just like the world of technology in general, it is ever changing and evolving. There are many things to learn and many things to contribute. As a result, there are fewer areas that can help to spur creativity and innovation and this can help students to unlock their own inner creativity.

Cost

From the foregoing, it is easy to see how the school system can benefit from this technology. However, there is the issue of cost which needs to be addressed. The acquisition of this technology and scaling it is expensive. However, this can be cheaper as these technologies get cheaper as their use grows. In addition, it is cheaper in the long run when considered against the hiring of more staff. The same technology can also be used by many students of different ages, different grades and different abilities which makes it far cheaper. In areas where certain schools cannot afford it, the school district can get one for students in their locality which can be shared by many different schools. They can also be donated or proposals written for well-wishers to help in their acquisition. There is also the possibility of getting open source VR technology.

Conclusion

Education is a great tool for both individuals and societies. Education affords people a chance at a better life and it also helps to make societies better. Education and learning take place both in and out of the classroom. Wherever it takes place, technology can make it easier and better for the instructors and students and all the while, make it cheaper for the providers of education. The government can adopt this and make it easier for students to access quality learning material and in so doing, close the gap between the haves and have nots when it comes to quality learning.

Making a positive impact in the lives of ex-cons using virtual reality

Virtual reality is changing the way work is done in the world today. The automotive industry is one of the fields which have embraced this technology. This technological embrace has been timely given that the automotive industry has a shortage of technicians. Every year, there are 76,000 job openings out of which 37,000 of them go unfilled. That is why it is important to leverage on technology to address this shortage. Considering that every year, the industry loses experienced technicians to retirement, the point cannot be overemphasized. This impacts businesses and individuals as shortages means that repairs and maintenance take longer and tend to be more expensive.

But in the entire automotive world, one particular VR program stands out because of the impact it has not just for the trainees or interns, but the work force and society in general. This is the Full Circle Auto Repair and Training which is offered by Vehicles for Change. This is an internship which has been designed as an industry driven program to help those who have lots of barriers to employment. A key segment of this population is the prison population.

Re-entering society after being incarcerated can be quite challenging because not many organizations are willing to hire those with a criminal background. According to Mark Schwarz, the President of Vehicles for Change, the automotive repair industry is one of the few which are a bit lenient on this and are willing to accommodate ex-convicts. That is why many of those released from prison are usually re-arrested. A 2018 study by the Bureau of Justice which surveyed 30 states put this figure at a whooping 83%. That is why internships and programs such as the Full Circle Auto Repair and Training are great for those released from prison and for society as a whole.

To illustrate this, 100% of those who complete the program are hired. And what is even better, their rate of recidivism is only 3%. This shows that there is an impact in what they do. This could be because of the fact that they do not just take anyone. They do an interview to make sure that someone is a good fit for the program and that the person’s career goals align with the internship. Thereafter, once accepted, they are paired with mentors to guide their journey. This process therefore starts while the interns are still prisoners. And they are paid while they attend the training.

If you are interested in the program or know someone who can benefit from it, there are minimum requirements to be met. These are having a High school diploma or GED, having the ability to obtain a driving license as well as having basic automotive mechanical knowledge. It is also important to be able to get on location by 7 am on weekdays.

This program is packed with benefits chief among them is that it makes the interns entry level ready. Secondly, with VR training, learning is individualized and trainees get to learn at their own pace. Besides helping to fight recidivism, this program can also assist companies fill crucial vacancies. In addition, companies get highly trained technicians given the quality of training they get. On the other hand, the technicians learn valuable skills and they learn them quickly due to the use of technology and having mentors. They also do not pay for the program and they are paid while undertaking the program meaning that they can concentrate on completing it. Trainees can also make mistakes safely without having to worry about expensive mistakes when dealing with the actual physical components they are learning about. For companies, training technicians using virtual reality is both quick and cheap. There are also benefits to the immediate families of the ex-cons as well as society in general. State and national governments get to save money on prison costs due to the reduction in recidivism.

For Vehicles for Change, the impact does not just stop at training ex-cons. They also donate vehicles to people of low income. Transportation is a huge problem for low income households and this can affect their work and employment prospects. These cars are donated to Vehicles for Change which in turn gives them out to deserving and vetted low income households. 7,500 cars have been given out to date.

How VR relationships can impact social interactions and human connection

By definition, a VR relationship is one that primarily or exclusively occurs within a virtual reality environment. Online dating, social media interactions, virtual reality gaming, and other digital communication methods might all fall under this category. In a virtual reality relationship, instead of meeting in person, people communicate with each other through avatars, which are digital images of themselves. Along with friendships and other types of social ties, these partnerships may contain romantic or sexual encounters.

A revolutionary and positive phenomenon

Virtual relationships have revolutionized dating no doubt. They have made it easier for people to get in touch despite physical distance and they have helped keep relationships alive. There is also the ability to construct avatars that mirror one’s ideal self rather than one’s physical reality, which is one of the distinctive features of relationships in virtual reality. This can provide one a feeling of anonymity and give them the freedom to express themselves in ways that they might not have been able to in real-world interactions. It is even common for people to have online personas which are different from their real world selves.

Virtual reality relationships can be an extension of real-world relationships, such as chatting with a partner across the country via video chat or instant messaging, or they can occur fully within a virtual setting, such as a multiplayer online game or virtual world. And they have many benefits for couples and their relationships which are contained in a different piece.

However, as with anything good, there are potential negative effects and for virtual relationships, there is a potential negative effect on social interactions and human connection.

VR and social isolation

Relationships in virtual reality have the potential to limit people from real-world social connections, which is one of the main worries especially in the long term. People may become estranged from the people and things they would typically interact with in the real world as they spend more and more time in virtual reality. Additionally, individuals who extensively rely on virtual reality connections may find it difficult to establish and sustain relationships in the real world, which can result in long-term social isolation. Those who depend on hiding behind an online avatar or digital persona may find it difficult to match the results they get from virtual dating in real life and as such, this may create a vicious cycle whereby they are dependent on the digital space for their relationship and intimacy thereby creating an addiction.

VR and non-verbal cues

Deceit thrives easily in virtual reality relationships. It is said that communication between people is more nonverbal than it is verbal. As a result, one is able to know more about a person just by watching them talk or watching their demeanor. This helps people establish trust. But the absence of nonverbal signs in interactions in virtual reality makes it more difficult for people to communicate and comprehend each other’s intentions because they can’t see each other’s facial expressions or body language. This may result in miscommunication, disagreements, and a lack of emotional connection. Because virtual reality interactions lack the nonverbal indicators necessary to establish trust in actual relationships, people can find it difficult to rely on them.

By their very nature, virtual relationships tend to strive for perfection. People post the finest photos of themselves, they only post visiting exotic places and interacting with great causes. This notwithstanding the fact that a fair amount of it is through altering reality with clever photo and video skills or apps. People may think that relationships in virtual reality are ideal and flawless, which can cause disappointment and unhappiness when real-world relationships fall short of these expectations. This is because  people fall in love with the online persona and not the real person behind it. Additionally, virtual reality relationships might not offer the same degree of emotional and physical closeness as partnerships in the real world, leaving users feeling let down and unsatisfied. This is especially so with those who have tasted real world relationships as they might be left unfulfilled by the virtual ones.

VR and the future of dating

Virtual reality relationships are not going anywhere. Indeed, they will keep changing as technology changes. Since they are overwhelmingly beneficial when used right, it is worth noting the pitfalls to avoid when engaging in them.

Connecting with others and spicing up intimacy with VR

If there is one thing that is certain in this world, it is change. And one of the areas where this change has been pronounced is in the area of relationships. As the different societies changed, so did their relationships and how they conducted them. In this digital age, complete with its virtual reality and artificial intelligence, relationships have continued to change at the pace that technology does. Virtual reality (VR) has created a new way of connecting with others and this new way of connecting can be viewed as an alternative to physical relationships. Virtual connections are becoming increasingly popular in this digital age and provide a unique way to interact with people from all over the world.

Connecting people

Virtual reality relationships enable us to connect with others without the need for physical proximity. Whereas one needed to travel from one part of the world or the country to the other to meet people, it is now almost instantaneous to meet someone from a different part of the world or country through certain mediums. Through technology, virtual reality allows us to feel as if we are with those people physically despite the actual distance between us. It allows us to learn about different cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives in a safe and secure setting. We can also use VR technology to have meaningful conversations and experiences that would be difficult in certain contexts, to have in real life.

It should not be lost on us that some people for one reason or another fear intimacy. Some people also fear rejection while others have body image issues which have been partly exacerbated by social media and its projection of perfection. But for all these people, virtual reality relationships are available for them and by giving them the control to choose how and who to connect with, can provide them with the safety and satisfaction that would otherwise be harder to get in the real world. This can be through meeting as avatars at first and then gradually being one’s self. This allows people to know each other on a deeper level before revealing their true self or exchanging photos etc.

Enhancing intimacy

Technology for virtual reality has advanced significantly in recent years, and beyond just connecting people who do not know each other, it is also being used by couples to add fun, adventure and in essence, spice up their sex life. For example, it is currently being used in a number of ways to improve people’s sexual experiences. Couples can explore new sexual fantasies and spice up their sex life in ways they never imagined by using VR technology to create realistic, interactive experiences.

Utilizing VR to explore novel sexual fantasies is one way couples can use the technology to improve their sexual life. A couple might, for instance, utilize VR technology to mimic a threesome or to create a virtual reality experience where they are having sex in a dream environment, like on a beach or in a plush bedroom. This can help add excitement in the sexual life of a couple and help them avoid temptations that come with stale or boring relationships. Many people cheat for the thrill of it and this is a way that couples can create new experiences and explore different things in their relationships.

Creating interactive sexual experiences with VR technology is another way that couples can use the technology to spice up their sex lives. For instance, a couple might employ VR technology to build a virtual environment in which they can regulate the tempo and intensity of their sex acts. This can enhance the closeness and pleasure of a couple’s sexual encounters and foster a closer bond between the partners.

Utilizing VR to experiment with various positions and methods can be another way to spice up a couple’s sexual relationship. This can assist couples in discovering new sex scenarios and the most enjoyable positions. Additionally, couples can learn new methods of enjoying each other’s company by using VR technology to replicate various practices, such as tantric sex.

Avoiding abuse of VR

While virtual reality (VR) can be utilized to improve a couple’s sexual encounters, real-world closeness and conversation should not be replaced by VR. In order to jointly explore new fantasies and experiences, it is important for it to be used as a complimentary tool. The usage of VR as a tool for BDSM and kink should be noted as well, but it should be done so responsibly and in consultation with your partner. This is because if the couple does not regulate their use of VR in their relationship, it can alienate them if the VR aspect is absent and can also create addiction which might not augur well for the relationship.

The same way people can game with others who are in a different part of the world and create bonds, friendships and even earn money doing it, virtual reality technology has the ability to completely change how people connect as well as how couples have sex. VR technology can assist people find each other easily, connect with those who are like them or like similar things, live out experiences which would have otherwise been hard or difficult to try or do. Couples can try kinks they never imagined possible by simulating new sexual dreams, creating interactive sexual encounters, and exploring new positions and techniques. However, it’s crucial to utilize technology sensibly and in connection with intimacy and communication that occur in real life.