Population Media Center’s Post

Blurred Realities: Growing Up in 2040 Meet Jojo, a 10-year-old navigating her day through a blend of virtual and physical experiences. Her mornings begin with a VR-enhanced breakfast, where nutritional information and engaging stories are projected onto her smart kitchen table. “It’s like living in a storybook,” Jojo giggles, as her favorite animated characters teach her about healthy eating. Jojo’s school day is a fusion of virtual classrooms and physical interactions. She learns history by virtually visiting ancient civilizations and explores biology by navigating the human body in microscopic detail. However, these immersive experiences come with hidden costs. “Sometimes, I don’t know if my memories are real or just part of the VR,” Jojo confesses, struggling to differentiate between actual experiences and the vivid virtual ones. This blurring of realities extends beyond education. Jojo’s social life is a digital tapestry woven with AI-managed friendships and virtual playdates. Her best friend, Emma, lives halfway across the globe, yet they spend hours together in their shared VR playground, creating adventures and exploring fantastical worlds. “It’s like we’re in the same room,” Emma says. But the convenience of virtual friendships masks a deeper issue—children are becoming more comfortable with their digital personas than their physical ones, leading to challenges in real-world social skills and empathy. The psychological impacts of growing up in such a reality are profound. Experts warn of increased anxiety and identity confusion. Dr. Elena Rodriguez, a child psychologist, explains, “Children like Jojo are constantly shifting between worlds, which can disrupt their sense of self and reality.” As children become more reliant on these technologies, their ability to cope with boredom, illness, and the unfiltered reality of human interaction diminishes. More parents advocate for “AI-free zones” and back to school instead of home Ai classes. These zones, part of the SANE (Sensible AI Non-Engagement) initiative, promote unplugged time where children engage in physical activities, face-to-face interactions, and nature exploration. “We need to ensure our children don’t lose touch with the real world,” says Rachel, Jojo’s mother, who supports the SANE initiative. On the flip side, the commercial world thrives on these blurred realities. Companies leverage AI and VR to create captivating experiences that keep children engaged and parents spending. From AI-driven educational toys to VR-based entertainment, the market for child-focused technologies is booming. The promise of technological advancements must be tempered with mindful consideration of their impacts on our most vulnerable—our children. The world of 2040 offers incredible opportunities for learning and connection, but it also demands a vigilant approach to preserving the essence of childhood. #BlurredRealities #ai #FutureKids #VRWorlds #SANE #DigitalChildhood #part10

🌍 Bringing Virtual Reality to Villages in Karnataka 🕶️📝 "Kids are thrilled with VR"🌟 🚀 Empowering Rural Communities: The initiative aims to empower rural communities by introducing them to virtual reality technology, fostering curiosity and innovation among the population. 👩💻 Igniting Technological Curiosity: By providing access to virtual reality experiences, the initiative sparks interest and curiosity among young minds, potentially leading to the discovery of hidden talents and fostering a culture of innovation. 🌍 Bridging Gaps with Technology: Virtual reality serves as a tool to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas, showcasing the transformative power of technology in connecting communities and expanding horizons. 💡 Educational Potential: The virtual reality experience not only entertains but also educates, demonstrating the potential of technology in enhancing learning experiences and promoting digital literacy among rural populations. 🌟 Encouraging Tech Sharing: The initiative calls for collaboration from companies and individuals to share technology with remote villages, paving the way for positive impacts on education and skill development in rural areas. 📈 Frugal Innovation: This initiative represents a significant step towards frugal innovation, showcasing how technology can be leveraged to bring about positive change and open new horizons for rural communities. 🌟 Track the Trend: Stay ahead of the curve and explore the possibilities, follow me on Linkedin.com/in/psmahesh ⛷❄🏂🌄 "Credits: 🌟 All write is done by me(P.S.Mahesh) after indepth research. All rights and credits for the video/visual presented are reserved for their respective owners.

🎓 Meta Pledges Safety In Schools: Mixed Reality Program Requires Teacher Oversight... Key Highlights: 🔹Teacher Monitoring: Meta will not deploy virtual reality solutions in schools without comprehensive teacher supervision. 🔹Privacy and Control: The headsets are equipped with robust controls for teachers to manage and monitor usage effectively in classrooms. 🔹Shared Mode Feature: This mode disables app store purchases, ensuring the headsets are used strictly for educational purposes. 🔹Global Rollout: Meta plans to release these educational packages later this year, marking a pivotal step in adopting mixed reality technology in schools worldwide. The introduction of such technologies promises to revolutionize traditional teaching methodologies and foster a more interactive learning environment. What are your thoughts on the potential impacts of mixed reality tools in educational settings? https://lnkd.in/ebiS6Wtv #EducationTechnology #MixedReality #Meta #DigitalLearning

Hey #LinkedInCommunity, 🎪 Discover our latest post exploring how Augmented Reality (AR) tech could transform child safety! Discover innovative ways child trackers integrate with AR for real-time info. 👨👩👧👦🧭 Share your thoughts below, and don't forget to like, share, and follow for more updates! 🌍👧 #Kidsy #KidsyTracker #TrackWithKidsy #KidsyMagic #DiscoverKidsy #ExploreKidsy #Tracker #IoT #GPS #SOS #ChildTracking #ARIntegration #AugmentedReality #Innovation #AR #ChildSafety

Transformational Shifts in How We Educate Our Communities About Kidney Disease Using Virtual Reality Virtual Reality technology stands out as a cutting-edge solution that can substantially improve the dissemination and understanding of information related to kidney disease, its risk factors, and the importance of screening and early detection. #VR technology can create detailed, interactive 3D models of the kidneys, allowing patients to explore and understand the organ's anatomy and function in an immersive environment. This immersive experience can elucidate the complex pathophysiology of kidney disease, making it easier for patients to grasp the implications of the disease on their health. Studies have shown that immersive learning environments can significantly enhance knowledge retention compared to traditional educational methods. Deploying VR kiosks in strategic locations such as community health centers, public health conferences, and medical offices can democratize access to this advanced educational tool. These kiosks can provide on-demand, tailored educational sessions, making it possible for individuals to engage with the content at their own pace. By simulating various scenarios, such as the progression of chronic kidney disease and the impact of lifestyle choices on kidney health, VR can effectively convey the importance of preventive measures and regular screenings. The interactive nature of VR also addresses the challenge of health literacy. Traditional educational materials, such as brochures and pamphlets, often fail to engage or adequately inform individuals with lower literacy levels. VR, by contrast, uses visual and experiential learning, which can transcend language and literacy barriers. This approach ensures that critical health information is accessible to a broader audience, including those who may struggle with conventional educational formats. Research supports the efficacy of VR in medical education, indicating that it enhances learning outcomes and improves patient engagement. By offering an engaging and interactive experience, VR can transform the way healthcare providers educate patients about kidney disease. For instance, healthcare professionals can use VR to simulate the symptoms and progression of kidney disease, fostering a more profound understanding and encouraging proactive health behaviors. VR can be particularly beneficial in settings where traditional educational resources are limited. In rural or underserved communities, where access to healthcare information and services may be constrained, VR kiosks can serve as critical educational resources. They can provide consistent and high-quality information, helping to bridge the gap in health education and ensuring that all individuals have access to essential knowledge about kidney disease. #virtualreality #kidneydisease #nephrology #inclusion #donatelife #dialysis #patientcentricity #moreresearch

From Hallway Videos to VR Worlds: Empowering Transitions for Special Needs Students I recently met a dedicated special education teacher whose story ignited a spark of hope and possibility. Imagine a mall, bustling with activity, yet nestled within it lies a haven – dedicated classrooms for special education up to age 22, many facing emotional and behavioral challenges. Transitions, however, remained a hurdle. Picture students struggling with the shift from home to school, overwhelmed by sights and sounds. Then, there's her, our passionate teacher, years ago, walking the hallways, filming a mesmerizing video of birds – a calming escape offered on screens before entering the building. That simple act, born from empathy and ingenuity, transformed those anxious moments. Fast forward to today, and VR technology emerges as a powerful tool to amplify her efforts. Imagine students transported to tranquil virtual worlds, personalized to their needs, easing those crucial transitions. This is the future we can create together, and investors have the opportunity to be part of this transformative journey. Here's why VR holds immense potential for special education: Personalized Experiences: VR environments can cater to individual needs, calming anxieties and fostering engagement for students with EBD, ASD, and other challenges. Seamless Transitions: Virtual spaces can provide familiar, calming scenes before entering the physical environment, reducing anxiety and promoting emotional regulation. Interactive Learning: Immersive environments offer engaging tools for practicing social skills, emotional control, and sensory processing, crucial for students with special needs. Scalability and Affordability: VR solutions can provide wider accessibility and potentially reduce reliance on human resources, optimizing budget allocation. This story is just one example of the impact VR can have. By investing in this technology, we can empower educators like ours to unlock the potential of every learner, creating a more inclusive and hopeful future. Join the conversation! Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions about VR in special education. Let's build a future where technology empowers every child to thrive. #SpecialEducation #VR #EdTech #DigitalTransformation #EducationInnovation #ImpactInvesting #FutureOfLearning Ian Manson Joshua Tyler Berglan William S. Hesse, Ph.D. Cheri Daniels Cheryl Bassitt Amanda Nolen Dr. Nicole Robinson Dr. Andrea Leta Dr. Rick Halley Dr The World Bank Nicolas Justin Schultz Northfield Public Schools Elnaz Farbod Ⓥ🌱 Norma Gastéllum Sorroza Eduard Vasilyev David Shapiro Catherine D Henry Eduardo Sindaco, Ed.D. Autism Innovation Community Foundation Zoë Ebdon Doc Huss Samuel Franklin Samuel Proctor Kauthar Wangi Nassazi Girl Power USA Gwen Legge 🌟 Greg Conley Ben Meeus Hon. (Prof) Robinah K. Nanyunja Steve Procter Shamen Landersz Leah Feldman Showtime VR Chelsea Lord Rachita Sharma Rohan Lock Valora Unowsky, Ed.D.

In the fast-paced world of emerging technologies, accessibility is crucial. As we innovate with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT), ensuring these technologies are inclusive from the start is essential for creating an equitable digital landscape. Considering accessibility from the beginning means all users, including those with disabilities, can benefit. Accessible VR and AR can enhance learning experiences, independence, and quality of life. For instance, VR offers immersive educational experiences, while AR provides real-time audio descriptions for visually impaired users. Microsoft's Seeing AI app is a standout example, using a smartphone camera to describe people, text, and objects for visually impaired users. Google's Project Euphonia improves speech recognition for those with speech impairments by training AI to understand diverse speech patterns. The VoiceVista navigation app is another notable innovation, offering detailed auditory navigation instructions to help visually impaired individuals navigate complex environments. According to the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people worldwide have some form of disability. As emerging technologies grow, so does the need for accessibility. Companies that prioritize accessibility not only comply with legal requirements but also tap into a broader market, enhancing their reputation and fostering innovation. Incorporating accessibility into development involves several best practices. Engaging with people with disabilities throughout the design process ensures their needs are considered. User testing with diverse groups can identify potential issues early. Adhering to guidelines like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provides a solid foundation for creating inclusive technologies. Education and training are vital. Developers and designers should be educated on accessibility principles and best practices through workshops, online courses, and collaboration with experts. Apple has demonstrated leadership by integrating accessibility features into products like VoiceOver for iOS, allowing users to navigate devices using spoken descriptions. Accessible emerging technologies promote social inclusion, allowing people with disabilities to fully participate in life. This fosters a culture of innovation and empathy within organizations, driving further advancements. As we look to the future, accessibility must be a priority in developing emerging technologies. By ensuring inclusion from the start, we can create a digital world that empowers everyone, regardless of abilities. Let's make accessibility a core component of our innovation efforts, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Unlocking New Dimensions of Learning: The Metaverse's Role in Supporting Children with Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities #MetaverseMonday post #2 The potential of the Metaverse in transforming learning for children is vast and exciting. By tailoring educational experiences to the individual needs of these children, we can create a more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning environment. In an era marked by rapid digital transformation, the Metaverse emerges not just as a realm of escape or entertainment, but as a powerful tool in redefining educational paradigms especially for children with learning disabilities or dyslexia. Children with dyslexia or other learning disabilities often encounter significant barriers in traditional educational settings, where one-size-fits-all teaching methods predominate. The Metaverse, with its immersive, interactive capabilities, offers an alternative that could revolutionize how these children learn, engage, and understand the world around them. Here's how the Metaverse can make a difference: 1. Virtual Reality (VR) and the Metaverse in Education: VR stands out in its ability to simulate real-world environments or create entirely new, fantastical scenarios. For children with dyslexia or autism, such environments can be controlled and adjusted to suit their comfort levels, helping them engage in social and educational activities without the overwhelm of real-world stimuli. 2. Improvement in Social Skills: Through simulated social interactions, VR can offer a safe and controlled setting for children to practice and develop social skills. These simulated interactions can be designed to teach specific social cues, facial expressions, and appropriate responses in a low-stress environment. 3. Enhancement of Communication Abilities: VR and Metaverse technologies can incorporate speech recognition, offering interactive dialogues and communication scenarios. This not only aids in language development but also helps children with communication challenges to practice their verbal skills in a supportive setting. As professionals in the realm of business, technology, and education, we have a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of the Metaverse as a tool for positive change. By collaborating with educators, technologists, and innovators, we can ensure that these digital spaces become inclusive, safe, and effective learning environments for all children. #Metaverse #EducationInnovation #DyslexiaAwareness #traviscloyd #InclusiveEducation https://lnkd.in/g8--WVPy https://lnkd.in/gfnAyRdd  

Meta is launching a new hub for Quest headsets later this year that should make it easier for educators to use them in schools. In a blog post on Monday, Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, writes that the hub will let teachers access “education-specific apps and features,” along with tools to manage all Quest headsets in the classroom. Meta still hasn’t released the name of the educational product, nor a list of specific features. However, Clegg notes that Meta wants the hub to make it “easier for students to learn, apply and practice new skills” while also seeing places or having experiences that might not be possible outside of virtual reality. In an interview with Axios, Clegg says Meta’s Quest headsets could let students walk the virtual streets of ancient Rome. “And people can giggle and say, ‘Oh, look, there’s Brutus plunging a knife into the back of Julius Caesar,’” Clegg tells Axios. That sure sounds… lovely. Even though some schools are experimenting with virtual reality, Meta’s program might not be something every institution can afford, depending on how much it costs. The educational hub will only become available to schools serving students 13 years and older and only in markets where Meta’s workplace-focused Quest for Business subscription is supported. Meta launched Quest for Business last fall, which comes with user, device, and custom app management and costs $14.99 per device per month. Over the past year, Meta has been exploring applications for its VR headsets in schools. Last September, Meta provided 15 universities in the US with Quest headsets and said it was experimenting with ways to highlight educational apps in the Quest store. Whether other schools and universities will want to hop on board the Quest train without donations from Meta remains another question. Source link By Nakisisa George

Between March and September of last year, I led the Vital Storytellers team in building an immersive story experience that comes with a side of education. We started this project at a time when our usual VR platform (AltspaceVR) was shutdown and ripped out from under us, and so we had to quickly find and learn a whole new platform and how to build for it. 😱 Because we were intrigued by the programming tools VRChat Inc. offers, that's where we went.... and put ourselves through a crash course of learning how to program using their U# system for Tony Lopez and their node system for myself. All while stretching our 3D environment building skills, writing a story, recording and editing a story, and creating educational tools that are simple, interactive and don't rely on text on a wall (though that's still there for the more visual learner 😏). Whew! Many days I thought we had bit off more than we could chew! But we did it, and were rewarded with winning a cash prize from the competition we had built the experience for! 🎉 Today we are giving a tour of "Color in the Gray" to Educators in VR and YOU! Come to intimately experience Perrin's world as he invents something that brings an unexpected burst of color into his gray, dreary existence. We've all dealt with apathy and mild, natural depression before, so maybe we can learn something from Perrin as he discovers just what it is he has invented and how he can use it for himself... and for others. Look up "Color in the Gray" by Finding Nimzy, or use the world link below to join us at 11am PDT/ 2pm EST/ 8pm CET. Educators in VR will have a group public instance open! https://lnkd.in/gHND7Qe6 See EDVR's announcement: https://wp.me/paRFfW-2dK #vrexperience #edutainment #3Dart #vrchat #apathy #depression #wellnesstools #virtualreality