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Virtual Perceptions Newsletter

Hello everyone! The summer is over, and there is a lull in activity over the last few weeks. That is sure to pick up again as Oculus Connect 6 hits us like a typhoon next week.In the meantime, here are a smattering of articles to take a peek at, if it interests you. One is on VR in education, an update piece on a fantastic area. Another is on drones, and the innovations in the area; a lot of work is happening behind the scenes there. Both are pretty hefty, so I recommend a cup of tea with the reads. Have a look, have fun, and have an excellent weekend! Tom FfiskeEditor, Virtual Perceptions-Virtual reality in education: What is the future?Imagine cresting mountains and exploring new ranges in the warmth of a blanket. Or learning maths in a virtual classroom, without travelling to a campus. In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has proven to be a dominant force in the school as well as gaming. Virtual reality in education helps students learn new things by immersing them in a world, complementing their learning with alternative ways of seeing their content.This article will investigate the diverse ways in which virtual reality can assist students if used correctly. One is virtual reality field trips, which lets students explore new places from the safety of their home countries. The last area is the classroom itself, which equips teachers with a tool to help with learning.The overall conclusion is that virtual reality in education helps the learning process. Via immersing students in a virtual and interactable world, there is a proven link that improves memory retention. And what’s more, augmented reality (AR) can help with education as well. However, it should not dominate the classroom, serving as a supplementary tool as part of a teachers’ repertoire alongside whiteboards and video.-How using VR helps to retain employeesAccording to this year’s Labour Market Outlook from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), one-third of employers have found it more difficult to retain staff in the past year.The reasons for this are far-reaching. According to Gallup, 53% of the workforce remains in engagement purgatory, and are neither “cognitively and emotionally connected to their work and workplace.” Businesses that do not keep their technology current, or allow room for growth also place highly as reasons for a lack of job satisfaction. Rigid workplace policies and employers failing to facilitate a healthy work-life balance take a toll on retention as well. Not to mention, technology has made it easier than ever to spot seemingly greener pastures. Workforces of today are well-equipped to research other companies and job opportunities making career moves a relatively straightforward process.In June 2019, HR News reported that “worldwide, retention rates across all industries have been declining steadily over recent years” and the impact of these dwindling staff retention figures are set to be costly for business. Not only are the costs associated with recruitment and on-boarding difficult for any businesses to stomach, but staff turnover threatens to be even more costly if the employee making their way to the exit is taking their knowledge with them.As it becomes ever more challenging to retain staff, business leaders have two problems. First, how can they engage their staff to encourage them to stay? But possibly more importantly, should an employee choose to leave, how can they ensure that the business retains one of its most valuable assets; intellectual capital?-Virtual reality drones: Everything you need to knowVirtual reality cameras are a great way to bring a person into an immersive experience. From something as small as a livestream of kittens, to investigative reports in international conflicts, virtual reality drones brings content to a whole new level.Yet while videos can be created on the ground, recording from high in the sky takes the next step forward. Because of this, the best virtual reality drones balance between usability and durability, able to take a hit while flying safely.