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| CAPTION: “A student uses the hololens, a mixed reality device, to explore the human anatomy.” |
SUBANG JAYA, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Taylor’s University launched its VORTEX XR Lab, equipped with augmented, virtual, and extended reality software and hardware, in its effort to drive a university-wide adoption of XR and immersive technologies in teaching, learning, and research.
Taylor’s University Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, Professor Dr Pradeep Nair, said the university has invested more than RM1 million in the lab to enable the creation of XR content and facilitate XR research, allowing students to engage and experience their learning in a 360⁰ immersive manner, and providing them the exposure needed to meet the demands of the XR job market.
VORTEX XR Lab, which features facilities such as a Green Screen Studio, XR applications and LED stage powered by Zero Density’s Reality Ecosystem, Mixed Reality Immersive rooms, VR Head Mounted Displays powered by Meta Quest and HTC, and a HoloLens 2 station, will support all Faculties, from hospitality and architecture, to medicine and culinary arts.
“Students are no longer satisfied with just an information download from lecturers, and sitting in a class for hours. They want to see, feel, touch, and experience. We are witnessing a shift in learner expectations, where they expect learning to be flexible, on demand, personalised, engaging and immersive,” said Professor Dr Pradeep.
“With VORTEX, all students across the university and college will be exposed to some form of immersive technology. This is part of our journey in transforming the curriculum and pedagogy to embed tech skills and modules into our degrees, in order to prepare our graduates to work in jobs of the future.”
During the launch of the lab, the public was allowed to immerse in various experiences such as virtual welding and woodworking, kayaking in Antartica as a virtual tourist, attending a virtual moot court simulation, viewing augmented reality Barbie dolls donning fashion designed by Taylor’s Fashion Design Technology students, and exploring the human anatomy through a hololens.
Dr Charles Sharma Naidu, Director of VORTEX XR Lab and a Senior Lecturer at The Design School, Taylor’s University added that apart from creating immersive educational content, the lab will also function as an XR Incubation Centre, divided into three components – XR Services that provides technical support and training for academics; XR Action that facilitates XR projects and also seeks funding for XR products, as well as commercialisation; and XR Advocacy and Research that conducts research and awareness relating to XR technologies.
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