Tamil Nadu now has a virtual reality library for school students
Considering you are a tech enthusiast; the term VR or Virtual Reality is nothing new. It refers to a computer technology that simulates a real or imagined environment so that users can interact with it as if physically present. Research in the field of VR has already advanced significantly, but it was yet to contribute to the education ecosystem, until recently. Okay, so what exactly changed now? Turns out, Tamil Nadu has introduced a Virtual Reality library for school students. This brand-new initiative comes right after a group of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur unveiled a new and exclusive VR platform for educators, earlier in September.
Sources suggest that the School Education Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Anbil Mahesh Pyyamozhi launched this VR library as part of the District Branch Library in Lalgudi, a town situated in the district of Tiruchirapalli. The intention was simple: to bring a high-end technology to students, in order to help them find suitable resources for learning. Interestingly, this VR library will be equipped with two smart devices that will be compatible with a series of virtual and augmented reality content. Students will be able to use them by using their own virtual reality headsets while sitting in front of a computer installed with sensors.
It also turns out that this VR library will be implemented in various phases. For instance, in the very first phase, it will be implemented across 76 real-world libraries, two each in all 38 districts in the state. To make this venture a success, as many as 152 devices have been given to the libraries that costed around INR 66 lakh. Estimates suggest that more than a lakh student will benefit from this VR library annually. In fact, 155 trained librarians have been appointed to smooth things for the students.
Several sources also reveal that VR will be employed to further educational programmes in the libraries, by implementing latest UI graphics. In fact, this will offer a 360 degree and three-dimensional learning opportunities to students and help them better understand a concept by visualising it, in turn improving their attention span and interest. It will also help school students become more engaged in the process of learning and make information exchange a lot more effective. This initiative will also attract more students to libraries, that will no longer be just restricted to books.