Why and How to Augment COVID Schooling at Home with Technology such as Desktop-AR

The pandemic has forced students, parents, and teachers to pivot and find ways to learn at home. For most, this either means remote learning through lessons over Zoom, having the parents run home-schooling, or a mixture of both. Even though more family time can be great, students are bound to become bored and distracted (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/school-at-home-students-coronavirus.html), not to mention missing friends and the routine of physically going to school. Even though schools are opening up, there have been discussions that maybe learning at home may still be necessary.

Enter augmented reality. You’re probably most familiar with it through games like Pokemon Go, but there’s so much more that this kind of technology can do for education. (FYI: If you’re thinking of those bulky headsets, gloves, and/or powerful computer setups, you’re thinking of virtual reality.)

Benefits of AR in Education
In terms of ease of use, most students will already be accustomed to the controls to navigate AR apps because this kind of educational technology (or edutech) requires devices that most students already know how to control like a computer desktop, smartphone, or tablet. This means there will be little to no time spent on teaching students how to use the controls. This also means that classrooms and households don’t need to spend more money on learning devices.

When considered in controlled settings, the technology can still offer a lot of benefits to students. Studies in the last few years have shown that AR can encourage motivation (https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7208494), help students with ADHD (https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2018.1476602), and even improve their critical thinking (https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1230077.pdf), cognitive abilities (http://doi.org/10.3390/app10082948), and social skills (http://doi.org/10.3390/s18072368). Not only will access to available learning materials grow for the general student population, but it also provides more opportunities for students to learn the way they like by customizing their AR experiences.

And when studied exclusively in a remote learning, COVID-era environment, the results are similar. In a May 2021 study (https://online-journals.org/index.php/i-jet/article/view/17895) in Saudi Arabia, results showed that the university students in the virtual classroom using AR showed higher academic achievement and higher acquisition of the design skills taught in the course. Similarly, in a May 2020 study (https://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/jpii/article/view/26123) of 111 university students in Indonesia, the results showed that the students had strong improvement in their scientific literacy levels because of the AR-based multimedia used.

Useful AR Apps to add to Your Remote Learning
Here are ideas, by subject, on how to implement some AR apps to become part of the lesson. To note, this will not be an exhaustive overview. There are tons of AR apps on the market now and in beta that can help students in almost any subject.

Science
The science subject is the perfect area to try out AR apps if you’re hesitant or just curious. For biology class, instead of a flat, paper diagram where students have to list the different bones in the body, what if they could see the real thing and get quizzed on its name? With the 4D Interactive Anatomy app (https://www.4danatomy.com), students can “dissect” the body to see the skeleton or the different internal systems, all based on real scans from cadavers.
For astronomy class, what if, along with the videos and pictures from NASA’s Mars rovers, students could “drive” them and see the individual parts in the machinery? Through the JigSpace (https://jig.space) and Desktop AR (https://www.holo-sdk.com) apps, students can do that and more. Both apps can be used for science lessons, but they allow for almost any model to be uploaded into their system for the student to play with and explore.

For the younger scientists, there’s the Quiver app (https://quivervision.com). Using specially designed coloring pages, students can color them in however they like and then the app will bring them to life, just as they’ve colored them, along with facts about the scene. So if you can’t take them to the zoo, why not let them color in a tiger and have it roar on the kitchen table?

English/Language Arts
For students that are reading novels for school and need to discuss the themes of the book, maybe instead of an essay they recreate a scene from the book or make a “better” ending? With the 3D Bear app (https://www.3dbear.io) or the Metaverse AR platform (https://studio.gometa.io/landing), students can create their own 3D scene and share it with the class in AR. Both apps also allow for collaboration so students can work in groups on chapters and then combine them all to create an entire AR movie for the book.
For younger students that can’t read yet or need encouragement reading, the Wonderscope app (https://wonderscope.com/index.html) brings to life the developer’s growing library of AR stories. The students read aloud lines to interact with characters, helping them solve problems.

History
Instead of a history lesson where students just read from a textbook or listen to a lecture, what if they could “travel” to the destinations and “touch” the documents and weapons being discussed? With Google Arts & Culture’s Expeditions (https://artsandculture.google.com/project/expeditions) and the Civilisations AR app (https://www.bbc.co.uk/taster/pilots/civilisations-ar), students can do just that. Teachers can take the class on a virtual field trip and let them touch the artifacts as the historic story unfolds. (Note: Development on the Civilisations app has ended, but it is still available to download and use.)

Math
It’s geometry class and it’s time to learn about shapes. One traditional way is to pull out the graph paper and draw out the axes. But instead of having students plot points and potentially get lost in the grid, why not use AR to build those solids on the dining table so they can rotate them around and see how it looks in reality? With the GeoGebra app (https://www.geogebra.org) you can do just that. You can also give challenges to the students to see if they can build a soup can or the table they’re sitting at in the app. The Shapes 3D (https://shapes.learnteachexplore.com) app is simpler, allowing students to fold and unfold shapes so they can understand how it all works together.
And for the math problems that need to be worked on the page, there’s the Photomath app (https://photomath.com/en/). Just scan any handwritten equation and the app will help you solve it. (Ok, so there isn’t a lesson plan idea for this one. The author just thought it was really cool.)

There are more AR apps for these core subjects and beyond as well. It’s up to the parent or teacher (maybe even the students themselves) to explore and experiment. If you’re home and you have time on your hands, why not? Everyone can learn something new.

More info https://www.holo-sdk.com

Perception teams up with the Science Museum Group and Imperial War Museum to present Holographic experiences

Perception, a deep-tech Augmented Reality company along with Imperial War Museum and the Science Museum Group, have launched online 3D Holographic experiences to students around the world. This is the first time that this technology has been used at scale to share museum objects and stories to global audiences. The experiences are a huge step for the company, established in 2019, and will be a case study for projects going forward, showcasing the educational and learning benefits of this innovative technology. 

The partnerships will bring highlights of the museums’ collections and stories into the homes and classrooms of audiences across the globe using cutting-edge 3D desktop AR hologram technology. Both Imperial War Museum and the Science Museum Group have given access to Perception to parts of their internationally significant collections and stories, with the aim of reaching new audiences and innovating in new educational platforms. The benefits for both Perception and the museums include the ability to showcase the museum's collection to a global audience in a new, engaging way displaying the multiple benefits of hologram technology.

These virtual exhibitions will allow you to get up close and personal with an historical artefact from or related to the museum collections. A holographic exhibition is the answer to a multitude of problems facing museums from engagement to accessibility which were highlighted during the Covid pandemic. This intersection of history and emerging technologies will be the key to sharing exhibits far beyond the walls of the museums. 

The experiences feature the iconic Stephenson's Rocket, which is a favourite of visitors to the National Railway Museum in York. Rocket was built to run on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the world's first inter-city passenger railway line. In 1829, Rocket won the Rainhill Trials, which was a competition to decide on the best mode of transport for the railway. The experience will enable people to explore this feat of engineering without leaving the comfort of their sofas or the classroom. 

The Imperial War Museums experience features the legendary Merlin engine which is built within a bespoke learning resource developed by IWM's Public Engagement and Learning Team.

Imperial War Museum experience features the legendary Merlin engine, the engine that powered Spitfire Aircraft. 13,000 3D glasses are being sent to schools close to IWM Duxford (formally RAF Duxford) which was home to the first RAF squadron that received the then new Spitfire. 

Immersive technologies are becoming increasingly acknowledged as educational and learning tools.  Technology such as desktop AR products are something that can revolutionise the way students are taught.  This software enables students to visualise aspects of their syllabus, showcasing tangible, visual examples. 

Dr. Sirisilp Kongsilp, CEO and Founder of Perception, says “At Perception, we are really excited about the opportunities these experiences have presented for our company as well as the two museums that we are honoured to be partnering with. Holographic Desktop Augmented Reality software is the way forward in many areas including arts and culture enabling museums and galleries to reach wider audiences in a more engaging, innovative way. These exhibitions will not only showcase the artefacts in an exciting manner but will also showcase this technology as the future of learning and education” 

John Stack, Digital Director from the Science Museum Group, says “We are delighted to be undertaking this project and enabling our audiences to view an object from our collection in an exciting new way. This technology makes us excited for the future possibilities for the museum and ways in which our audiences can enjoy this new technology.” 

Gill Webber, Executive Director Content & Programmes at Imperial War Museum, says “After the last year, we know adapting and exploring the virtual world is vital for the arts and culture sector. We are delighted to be working with such a cutting-edge company in order to reach new audiences and explore new ways of sharing our incredible stories. This technology is an exciting way to explore this and we are thrilled to be working with the Perception team on the project.”

Media Contact

Claud E. Fletcher / communication@perception.codes / +66 95 313 4044

Joseph Wade / joseph@mediazoo.tv / 07758 074 576

Gill Chapman/ gill.chapman@mediazoo.tv / 00353 86311 8955

About Perception

Perception Holo-SDK is a deep-tech company which is revolutionising the Augmented Reality sector by making it widely available across the globe, bringing objects to life through Desktop AR technology. Founded in Thailand in 2019, Perception is expanding into the UK with their immersive technology, to produce a creative desktop experience for individuals. Perception is set to reshape the arts and culture sector through partnerships with museums, galleries and artists which aim to preserve human history. Their marketplace The Morpheus Project, the first ever Holo-NFT art community, allows artists and galleries to display their holographic collectables to sell them to supporters. Their purpose-built Desktop AR platform allows any user to view 360 degree holographic images from the comfort of their own homes. Perception is increasingly making its way into the UK technology sector by partnering with app developers to get them on board with this state of the art AI tech. 

About Science Museum Group

The Science Museum Group is the world’s leading group of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon. We share the stories of innovations and people that shaped our world and are transforming the future, constantly reinterpreting our astonishingly diverse collection of 7.3 million items spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Standout objects include the record-breaking locomotive Flying Scotsman, Richard Arkwright’s textile machinery, Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE computer, Dorothy Hodgkin’s model of penicillin and the earliest surviving recording of British television. Our mission is to inspire futures - igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, our museums attract more than 600,000 visits by education groups, while our touring exhibition programme brings our creativity and scholarship to audiences across the globe. More information can be found at sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.   

About Imperial War Museum

IWM (Imperial War Museums) tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War.

Our unique collections, made up of the everyday and the exceptional, reveal stories of people, places, ideas and events. Using these, we tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences across our five museums that reflect the realities of war as both a destructive and creative force. We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people’s lives.

IWM’s five branches which attract over 2.5 million visitors each year are IWM London, IWM’s flagship branch that recently transformed with new, permanent and free First World War Galleries alongside new displays across the iconic Atrium to mark the Centenary of the First World War; IWM North, housed in an iconic award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, a world renowned aviation museum and Britain's best preserved wartime airfield; Churchill War Rooms, housed in Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall; and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.

9 AR Platforms Bring Augmented Reality Content in the Classroom

In today’s classrooms, augmented reality (AR) education tools are a great way to introduce and excite students about any subject. Not only can they go beyond textbooks and abstract concepts and make them “real” but many AR tools can work independently of the teacher and the physicality of the classroom too. And as opposed to the typically expensive technical requirements of a full virtual reality setup, like a headset and gloves, AR education tools usually only need equipment that most classrooms and students already have: the computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Here are some great platforms that can add the AR experience to almost any subject. (Note: These are platforms where the student, educator, or both can create their own learning content. So this list does not cover apps that are specifically made for a specific topic or companies that offer development of AR apps for education. All of these platforms have some kind of free tier as well — free trials did not count.)

1. Holo-SDK (https://www.holo-sdk.com/educational-program)
Holo-SDK lets teachers and students create their own AR models a little differently than the next program in the list. As hinted at in the name, Holo-SDK is a Unity plugin, allowing users to create their own holograms that will be projected from the computer screen with the help of anaglyph glasses (those red and blue glasses) while using its Desktop AR app. Modeling can be done in almost any 3D program and imported into Unity to be transformed as a holographic 3D model or game.

2. Grib (https://grib3d.com)
Although it’s still in beta, the Grib app looks to be a promising way for teachers and students to create their own AR models. By scanning a flat drawing and using gestures in the app, users can push and pull the digital clay to create an AR model that can be then exported or 3D printed.

AR Platforms for Educators and Students
3. Metaverse (/https://studio.gometa.io/landing)
Metaverse is an augmented reality program that allows teachers and students to create their own Metaverse experiences. A Metaverse experience covers a variety of AR activities, from games and quizzes to scavenger hunts and stories. Teachers can gamify their lessons while students can create their own games to show what they’ve learned (plus learn some basic coding along the way).

4. MERGE Cube (https://mergeedu.com/cube)
A little different from Metaverse and the other apps on this list, MERGE cubes are foam cubes that work with AR applications and 3D software so students can “hold” the 3D objects in their hands. It’s a way for students to have hands-on experience using the power of AR to change what they see and interact with, all depending on the lesson. Teachers can use a library of already-made models in combination with the Merge app to augment their lessons but both students and teachers can also hold models that they’ve made.

5. Waypoint EDU (https://www.waypointedu.com)
The Waypoint EDU app allows educators to create AR scavenger hunts, or as they call it “hunts.” Designed only for iPads and iPhones, the app lets students learn more about almost any subject through geo-caching. The teacher creates multiple choice questions that are activated when a student finds the Waypoint in the play area. The two pre-installed hunts have 3D models that the students can find. There is also an option for indoor play by using printed “Hunt Cards.”

6. 3D Bear (https://www.3dbear.io)
The 3D Bear app allows both teachers and students to create AR designs and stories that can be recorded and shared. Using the model libraries of Sketchfab and Thingiverse, as well as the teacher’s or students’ own models, students can recreate scenes from history, model an ecosystem, among many other uses. There are also ready-made lesson plans for educators.

7. CoSpaces Edu (https://cospaces.io/edu/)
Students can learn how to create their own virtual world, picking up programming basics along the way, with CoSpace Edu app. Students use a drag-and-drop interface to code animations and behaviors to pre-created or self-created 3D models. Through the app, the students can see their creations, tours, stories, and games come to life in AR, in VR if they have a headset, in the browser, or interact with them using the previously mentioned Merge cubes.

8. JigSpace (https://jig.space)
Think of JigSpace like an encyclopedia of AR 3D models. Students can view an exploded view of an engine or cross section of a heart through the free app’s model library. Teachers and more advanced students can also upload their own 3D objects to view as well. With these models, teachers can create AR learning presentations around a certain topic and students can share what they’ve learned with each other.

9. AssemblrEdu (https://edu.assemblrworld.com/assemblr-edu-app)
The AssemblrEdu app allows teachers and students to create AR-focused lesson plans and presentations using existing models, create their own models in the in-app editor, or import their own. Teachers can easily share the lessons with their students in a virtual classroom and also download the projects of other teachers and students.

As the technology and devices improve, there will be more ways for AR to create educational, exciting experiences in the classroom. All that matters is how teachers can use them.

More info https://www.holo-sdk.com

How Semi-Immersive Technology, such as Desktop-AR, Has the Potential for Implementation in Classrooms Globally

By Dr Sirisilp Kongsilp

It may not be obvious, but semi-immersive VR can become the next big education tool for classrooms anywhere in the world, including the home. It’s already been shown to have a positive effect in studies involving young students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as well as potentially improving their cognitive, problem-solving, and social abilities. Yes, immersive VR does have the same potential in similar areas, but the main difference—the reason why semi-immersive VR can become a bigger global tool than immersive VR—comes down to the basics of the technologies.

But first, let’s go over what semi-immersive VR is. You’ve probably seen it before, think of a flight simulator. This kind of technology acts as a window into a virtual world, usually using a computer monitor but sometimes a projector, and the user interaction is done via the keyboard and/or mouse. The users interface in a partial virtual environment, with the feeling of being in a different reality, but are still aware of their physical surroundings.

You can probably guess where the argument is heading. Most schools and homes already have the standard equipment for such technologies, like a computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse. And since the teachers, parents, and students are already familiar with how to use that equipment, they’ll already know how to use the mouse or keyboard to navigate and interact in this kind of virtual environment. Speaking of navigation, there is no need for large, open physical spaces to “walk” around the virtual space either. On the technical side of things, semi-immersive VR tends to have little to no chance of lag (also called latency) as compared to immersive VR since the tech doesn’t heavily depend on low latency requirements to provide a believable simulation.

Beyond the benefits of semi-immersive VR’s generally easy implementation, these tools can also account for students’ preferences and learning styles. Some students may be overwhelmed by the new controls they need to learn in order to navigate and interact with the fully immersive virtual environment. They can also spend too much time focusing on learning the controls and therefore lose time for the actual lesson. Not to mention that the novelty of a fully immersive VR experience can be a distraction from the entire lesson.

There have been studies of its use in various contexts. In one 2017 study of university engineering students, the semi-immersive system created for the experiment improved the students’ mental rotation skill. While a 2020 study of preschool children showed that the semi-immersive projection set up improved their ability to strategize and cooperate with other children.

As an example of a more “real world” use, Perception Code’s Desktop AR technology (which, despite the name, is a form of semi-immersive VR) uses and anaglyph glasses (those cheap red-blue glasses) to , you can view and interact with holograms of NASA’s Mars rover projected from your computer’s screen, for instance a hologram of NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover.

In the end, using such VR technologies, semi-immersive or otherwise, ultimately comes down to how well it’s made and how well it’s implemented. The studies mentioned earlier about semi-immersive VR tech helping children with learning disorders and improving their base abilities were only possible because the apps were specifically designed to help in those ways. Semi-immersive VR technology can become a global tool only if app developers can design engaging and thoughtful educational VR apps and teachers can implement them in ways that allow for focused problem-solving and discovery.

For more information on how to create your own Desktop AR apps, contact Perception Codes at Partners@Perception.Codes. You can also visit their website for more information.

***

References:
* Alqahtani, Asmaa Saeed, et al. “Semi-Immersive Virtual Reality for Improving the Mental Rotation Skill for Engineering Students: An Experimental Study.” Computer Engineering & Information Technology, vol. 06, no. 04, 2017. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.4172/2324-9307.1000180.
* Lorusso, Maria, et al. “Giok the Alien: An AR-Based Integrated System for the Empowerment of Problem-Solving, Pragmatic, and Social Skills in Pre-School Children.” Sensors, vol. 18, no. 7, July 2018, p. 2368. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072368.
* Lorusso, Maria Luisa, et al. “Semi-Immersive Virtual Reality as a Tool to Improve Cognitive and Social Abilities in Preschool Children.” Applied Sciences, vol. 10, no. 8, Apr. 2020, p. 2948. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.3390/app10082948.
* Mahmoud, Khadija, et al. “Does Immersive VR Increase Learning Gain When Compared to a Non-Immersive VR Learning Experience?” Learning and Collaboration Technologies. Human and Technology Ecosystems, edited by Panayiotis Zaphiris and Andri Ioannou, vol. 12206, Springer International Publishing, 2020, pp. 480–98. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50506-6_33.
* Shema-Shiratzky, Shirley, et al. “Virtual Reality Training to Enhance Behavior and Cognitive Function among Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Brief Report.” Developmental Neurorehabilitation, vol. 22, no. 6, Aug. 2019, pp. 431–36. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2018.1476602.
* Yuen, Steve Chi-Yin, et al. “Augmented Reality and Education: Applications and Potentials.” Reshaping Learning, edited by Ronghuai Huang et al., Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, pp. 385–414. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32301-0_17.

Desktop AR Educational Program Launched for 20,000 students in UK by Perception

Perception, a deep-tech company, is today releasing their Desktop Augmented Reality (AR) in the UK, using their HOLO-SDK technology, alongside a free educational programme to over 20,000 students.

The project includes Holo-SDK licenses for educators at zero cost - this will give students access to innovative technology that transports virtual items into the real world through AR.

Perception is offering free Holo-SDK licences to educators as part of their ‘Educational program’. As part of their efforts to make it easier for teachers to teach with VR/AR in an immersive and accessible way. The program will be distributed to 20,000 students across the UK.

Dr Sirisilp Kongsilp, Founder and CEO of Perception, says, “Desktop AR is an incredible technological achievement in making Augmented Reality accessible and simple to use, without the need for expensive hardware or high-tech AR glasses. Virtual and Augmented reality have started to dominate the tech sphere, but too often they are incredibly expensive, meaning the use of the products are limited to those in a particular financial category.”

Please find more details in the press release below.

PERCEPTION LAUNCHES A FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ALONGSIDE THE RELEASE OF HOLO-SDK TECHNOLOGY

Deep-tech company Perception are launching their Desktop Augmented Reality (AR) product onto the UK market. The HOLO-SDK technology is free to use, and makes augmented reality now accessible for most. Where real-life interactions have been stifled, this timely technological innovation can be used to make the arts more accessible in an educational environment. Perception is offering free Holo-SDK licences to educators as part of their ‘Educational program’. As part of their efforts to make it easier for teachers to teach with VR/AR in an immersive and accessible way.

Dr Sirisilp Kongsilp, Founder of Perception, says, “On account of Perception, I am extremely proud to introduce HOLO-SDK technology to the UK. This is an incredible technological achievement, in that we are making Augmented Reality accessible and simple to use, without the need for expensive hardware or high-tech AR glasses”.

Perception, a deep-tech company, has today announced the launch of their Holo-SDK software in the UK. Holo-SDK is a unity plugin which allows users to view holographic Augmented Reality images through their own desktop screen. This system is known as Desktop AR, which turns an ordinary 2D monitor into a volumetric display. It brings virtual objects into the real-world using a webcam and anaglyph glasses.

The release of HOLO-SDK arrives alongside an educational program in which Holo-SDK licenses for educators are being given for free as part of their efforts to ensure easy access to their software as well as the educational opportunities provided by the software itself. The package includes several workshop materials such as a free 1 year educational license, a workshop source code and workshop manual.

HOLO-SDK has a range of unique technological intricacies with features that enhance the Augmented Reality it caters to and without users having to spend a fortune. It has the ability to track users’ head positions by utilising the webcam, which then in turn adjusts the virtual cameras; this is all made possible via Holo-SDK software. The system itself also renders holographic images according to a user's viewing position, allowing them to perceive a 360 degree experience of the object.

Perception is making this form of Augmented Reality readily accessible to many users, by limiting the requirements for this software; having a desktop webcam and compatible glasses are the only criteria. At home Desktop AR is entirely free, and users can make DIY red & blue glasses or purchase them online at little cost. The accessibility of this product means it has the capability as an integrated system that can function as an alternative to reality for many.

This form of Augmented Reality in this context can help re-connect students with arts and history; bringinging augmented reality cultural experience to life. It also can enable a certain intimacy with the arts and history, by enabling users to view the pieces up close, with unlimited time to assess and appreciate the content before them. It is a fantastic educational tool as well as for voyeuristic purposes for all types of users.

Dr Sirisilp Kongsilp, Founder and CEO of Perception, says, “I am extremely excited to share this HOLO-SDK technology with the UK. Desktop AR is an incredible technological achievement in making Augmented Reality accessible and simple to use, without the need for expensive hardware or high-tech AR glasses. Virtual and Augmented reality have started to dominate the tech sphere, but too often they are incredibly expensive, meaning the use of the products are limited to those in a particular financial category. Perception is set to disrupt this.”

Link

• https://www.holo-sdk.com/

• https://www.holo-sdk.com/educational-program

Media Contact

Lucy Johnston / lucy.johnston@mediazoo.tv / 07522 287745

About Perception

Perception Holo-SDK is a deep-tech company which is revolutionising the Augmented Reality sector by making it widely available across the globe, bringing objects to life through Desktop AR technology. Founded in Thailand in 2019, Perception is expanding into the UK with their immersive technology, to produce a creative desktop experience for individuals. Perception is set to reshape the arts and culture sector through partnerships with museums, galleries and artists which aim to preserve human history. Their marketplace The Morpheus Project, the first ever Holo-NFT art community, allows artists and galleries to display their holographic collectables to sell them to supporters. Their purpose-built Desktop AR platform allows any user to view 360 degree holographic images from the comfort of their own homes. Perception is increasingly making its way into the UK technology sector by partnering with app developers to get them on board with this state of the art AI tech.

Holographic Exhibition: a partnership between Perception with Imperial War Museum and the Science Museum Group

PERCEPTION PARTNERS WITH IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMS AND SCIENCE MUSEUM GROUP TO BRING HOLOGRAPHIC AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCES TO 20,000 STUDENTS WORLDWIDE

Perception, a deep-tech Augmented Reality company, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with both Imperial War Museums and the Science Museum Group to bring holographic AR cultural experiences to life.

The partnerships will bring highlights of the museums’ collections into the homes and classrooms of audiences across the globe using cutting-edge 3D desktop AR hologram technology.

Dr. Sirisilp Kongsilp, CEO and Founder of Perception, says “These agreements not only display the rate at which Perception is expanding, but also mark an exciting opportunity to work with the culture sector to explore the power of Holographic Desktop Augmented Reality software in sharing collections in inspiring new ways. For the first time ever, this technology can bring Museum objects to audiences in holographic 3D anywhere in the world – reimagining the concept of a digital exhibition.”

Perception, a deep-tech company supported by the UK Government’s Department for International Trade’s Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP), has today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with Imperial War Museums and the Science Museum Group to explore new opportunities for Holographic AR across the museum, arts and culture sector.

These agreements outline plans to create holographic exhibitions which bring museum artefacts to more than 20,000 students in the UK and Thailand. The agreements are set to foster a strong relationship between the tech and culture spheres, with the partnerships combining Perception’s state-of-the-art Desktop AR facilities with prized artefacts from both museums. Desktop AR is an augmented reality system which allows any 2D monitor to emit holographic images. This is done through tracking user head positions and rendering 3D images accordingly.

These agreements come at a pivotal time for both the Augmented Reality and Arts and Culture sectors. Augmented Reality is taking over the technology sphere at pace, and has vast potential to mirror this growth in the museum, arts and culture sector. Following a tough year for museums due to Covid-19 halting footfall, this technology presents an opportunity to share some of the UK’s most valuable and historical artefacts with a much wider audience.

Both Imperial War Museums and the Science Museum Group are preparing to give Perception access to parts of their internationally-significant collections, with the aim of sharing an impactful selection of British history. This will provide both museums with the opportunity to reach an even larger global audience, which will have an impact long after the pandemic.

Dr. Sirisilp Kongsilp, CEO and Founder of Perception, says “These agreements not only display the rate at which Perception is expanding, but also mark an exciting opportunity to work with the culture sector to explore the power of Holographic Desktop Augmented Reality software in sharing collections in inspiring new ways. For the first time ever, this technology can bring Museum objects to audiences in holographic 3D anywhere in the world – opening up new possibilities to how knowledge can be shared digitally, globally.”

Gill Webber, Executive Director Content & Programmes at Imperial War Museums, says “There is a real desire within the museums sector to reach new audiences and explore innovative ways of sharing their collections. This technology is an exciting way to explore this and we are thrilled to be working with the Perception team on the project.”

Jonathan Newby, Acting Director, from the Science Museum Group, says “Digital exploration is part of our DNA so we’re really excited to be part of this project exploring the emerging holographic AR field which will really help grow our understanding of both the creative potential and how audiences respond. We look forward to developing this relationship and seeing how our audiences can benefit from this exciting new technology.”

Media Contacts:

Lucy Johnston / lucy.johnston@mediazoo.tv / 07522 287745

About Perception

Perception Holo-SDK is a deep-tech company which is revolutionising the Augmented Reality sector by making it widely available across the globe, bringing objects to life through Desktop AR technology. Founded in Thailand in 2019, Perception is expanding into the UK with their immersive technology, to produce a creative desktop experience for individuals. Perception is set to reshape the arts and culture sector through partnerships with museums, galleries and artists which aim to preserve human history. Their marketplace The Morpheus Project, the first ever Holo-NFT art community, allows artists and galleries to display their holographic collectables to sell them to supporters. Their purpose-built Desktop AR platform allows any user to view 360 degree holographic images from the comfort of their own homes. Perception is increasingly making its way into the UK technology sector by partnering with app developers to get them on board with this state of the art AI tech. More info https://www.holo-sdk.com/

About Science Museum Group

The Science Museum Group is the world’s leading group of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon. We share the stories of innovations and people that shaped our world and are transforming the future, constantly reinterpreting our astonishingly diverse collection of 7.3 million items spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Standout objects include the record-breaking locomotive Flying Scotsman, Richard Arkwright’s textile machinery, Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE computer, Dorothy Hodgkin’s model of penicillin and the earliest surviving recording of British television. Our mission is to inspire futures - igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, our museums attract more than 600,000 visits by education groups, while our touring exhibition programme brings our creativity and scholarship to audiences across the globe. More information can be found at sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.

About Imperial War Museums

IWM (Imperial War Museums) tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War. Our unique collections, made up of the everyday and the exceptional, reveal stories of people, places, ideas and events. Using these, we tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences across our five museums that reflect the realities of war as both a destructive and creative force. We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people’s lives.

IWM’s five branches which attract over 2.5 million visitors each year are IWM London, IWM’s flagship branch that recently transformed with new, permanent and free First World War Galleries alongside new displays across the iconic Atrium to mark the Centenary of the First World War; IWM North, housed in an iconic award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, a world renowned aviation museum and Britain's best preserved wartime airfield; Churchill War Rooms, housed in Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall; and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.

The Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP)

The UK Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) aims to attract some of the world’s most sustainable, early stage innovative companies and entrepreneurs to the UK to set up a British based global headquarters to sell and internationalise. Since 2004, hundreds of GEP companies from all over the world have raised more than £1 billion of venture capital through this programme. These companies seek to take advantage of the UK’s strong and open business environment, under the mentorship of successful serial entrepreneurs.

In February 2020, the UK introduced the Global Talent Visa, which enables the brightest and best tech talent from around the world, including those in ASEAN to come and join the UK’s digital technology sector. And earlier in June, the UK Government launched an £8m Digital Trade Network in Asia Pacific to support new international partnerships for the digital economy with the region. The three-year pilot will enhance the UK’s digital tech capability in Asia Pacific, bringing together digital trade policy, digital tech trade and investment promotion, and a new tech entrepreneur network with Tech Nation to support scaling tech businesses as they seek to internationalise.

About the Department for International Trade (DIT):

The UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our economy. We are a specialised government body with responsibility for negotiating international trade policy, supporting business, as well as delivering an outward-looking trade diplomacy strategy.

Bangkok Prep students undertake an immersive journey to Mars with Desktop AR

Come meet us at the VRARA Education Forum in April!

Bangkok Prep students joined a workshop focused on developing their own immersive experience on Mars using “Holo-SDK”, a Software Development Kit for developers. In a little game comprising of an astronaut exploring Mars with his own rovers and satellite, students learned the basic principles of Desktop AR technology and the basic tools for making applications.

- The workshop was organized by “Perception”, a now UK-based deep tech company specializing in Desktop Augmented Reality (Desktop AR). The company develops Software Development Kit (SDK) for developers to make computer applications, turning your everyday 2D computers to an immersive and interactive 3D content display.

- Founded in 2019 by “Rabbit” (Dr. Sirisilp Kongsilp), a Desktop AR pioneer, the company recently qualified for the UK’s Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP), which supports overseas deep tech entrepreneurs looking use the UK as a springboard to scale up internationally. Currently, Holo-SDK is partnering with museums and schools in both the UK and Thailand to bring many 3D digital artefacts and interactive learning to life using its holographic applications.

Thursday, 11 Feb 2020 - Perception, a computer software company hosted a workshop on developing Desktop AR for 26 Bangkok Prep International School students in Key Stage 3.

The workshop focused on educating students with basic coding skills and providing a hands on exercise for them to develop their own Desktop AR using the company’s Holographic Software Development Kit (Holo-SDK). Utilizing the company’s sample application, Holo-Mars, the three-hour workshop enables students to make holographic applications using Holo-SDK through a little game that involves an astronaut exploring Mars with his rovers and satellite.

The software aka “Holo-SDK” utilizes Augmented Reality (AR) Technology, enabling users to create their own version of a volumetric display. The software creates the illusion of 3D objects and scenes on any of your ordinary 2D monitor using just a computer, webcam, and 3D glasses (anaglyph glasses).

Students with basic coding skills can enhance their programming skill set and expand their portfolio using Holo-SDK. With such positive feedbacks, the company plans to do more of similar workshop with the school and expand to other schools in Thailand and worldwide with an aim to build future technological entrepreneurs and professionals, building upon necessary digital skills of the 21st century – coding.

‘We want to educate our young students to be technology entrepreneurs, be creators, not consumers. This is why we organized the workshop to teach students at very young age.” said, Perception codes’ Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Krisada Chaiyasarn said.

“It is good to see students being challenged with activities outside of classroom. I can see that Desktop AR applications can be integrated as teaching tools to increase the level of engagement and interactions with lessons.” said, Alison Cantrill, Head of Careers and Student Pathways, Bangkok Prep International School.

Founded by Dr Sirisilp or “Dr. Rabbit”, CEO, who has been working on the Desktop AR during his research 7-8 years ago. The company secured its first seed funding back in 2019. Receiving immense attention as a cost-effective alternative to expensive Augmented Reality, the company then secured the 2nd round of funding from investors and angels in late 2020.

Despite being less than 2 years old, the now, UK based start-up is looking to making technology accessible by putting the tools required for creating Desktop AR applications into the hands of developers.

Its recent business decision to expand to the UK with support from the UK government’s Department for International Trade’s Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) will see the company partnering with schools and museums, both in Thailand and the UK to enhance learning experience. With the covid-19 strikes, students and people are not able to go to museums, their Holo-SDK is the tool to allow people to access 3D contents at home with minimal costs, re-connecting history and learning with even more people than ever before.

‘Desktop AR is the technology of the future, all future computer applications will be holographic!’ said, Dr. Sirisilp Kongsilp, Founder and CEO, Perception Codes LTD

Perception Codes is one of the 3 Thai companies to qualify for the UK’s Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP). The programme supports overseas tech entrepreneurs to expand and use the UK as a springboard for scaling up and accessing the global market.

Since its conception in 2004, the programme has helped more than 100 overseas entrepreneurs raised more than £1 bn in total by helping them tap into the UK’s financial resource and advice from the programme’s dealmaker to expand internationally.

Learn more about GEP: https://bit.ly/ukgepthailand
Visit Perception website at: https://www.holo-sdk.com/

Contact

Name: Sirisilp Kongsilp

Email Address: rabbit@perception.codes

How Holograms are coming to Travel Tech with Desktop AR

Experiencing the world's heritage sites in your own living room with hologram computer

Tourism and hospitality have stalled since the COVID19 pandemic started. But it is not all doom and gloom as the continuous advancement of immersive technology such as virtual reality headsets and augmented reality glasses that makes digital tourism possible. In this article, we will discuss about how we can bring the world of tourism back into your living room using a home-made holographic system known as Desktop Virtual Reality system or DesktopAR.


Key discussion:
- Virtual Tourism by a home-made DesktopAR system
- The growth of 3D Digital models of the heritage sites and museum collections
- Opportunities for VR/AR developers

The DesktopAR is so simple that you can make it at home! You can create your own virtual tourism

Many different VR/AR headsets are now available in the market. The headset allows the users to be in the environment as if they are immersed in the real environment. Other types of VR systems are a hologram, which the users can view 3D models from any angle without any headwears. However, holographic devices are still expensive to be invested at home.

But the DesktopAR technology allows you to create a holographic illusion easily at home by turning your normal PC or laptop into 3D holographic displays. The DesktopAR technology works by rendering images on the display according to the user's viewing positions so the 3D models displayed on the screen are not distorted and appear to be more real. To convert your computer screen to holographic display, you need a webcam and Holo-SDK. Holo-SDK sends the user's positions, which are used to rectify displayed images on the screen to create the holographic effects for that user. The users are required to wear red and blue glasses to see the 3D holographic effects on the screens. This enables anyone to make a holographic computer in their own home without having to buy any additional hardware. To learn more about how DesktopAR works, visit Holo-SDK.

The fast-growing collections of 3D models of the world's heritage sites and ancient artefacts around the world.

Having a holographic system alone is not sexy without an eye-catching and meaningful model to visualize! Luckily, tourist attractions around the world, especially heritage sites, are now digitised and can be integrated and used as digital contents for the holographic systems. For an example, Open Heritage, the website that provides digitised models of iconic monuments and historical places around the world. Another example is a collection from British Museum, here you can find over 200+ model of rare artefacts. All of the models are digitized in fine detail and some even provide narration describing artefacts as if we are inside the museum! Combining the 3D models and the holographic system, you can get a unique tourist experience of iconic sites and museum at home!

GOLD RUSH for VR/AR developers! A new opportunity to make many cool applications in an untapped virtual reality ecosystem.

The VR/AR market is booming and will continue to grow in a post-covid world. The reason is the emerging holographic technology and the digitization of real-world objects using mobile devices. The latest iPhone 12 has a Lidar sensor, which allows the users to make 3D models of any objects from your phone. The 3D digital contents are, therefore, growing. And all of these 3D contents are already used widely in the VR/AR headsets and they can be just plugged into holographic systems with no conversion costs. So it is now a big opportunity for VR/AR developers to make applications with the new holographic system. Certainly, the applications related to traveling seems to be one of the best sectors to start when people cannot travel the world.

With the Holo-SDK, you can make your own holographic application today. With your holographic apps, you literally can bring the future into reality. Imagine a holographic application that gives you a 3D map of a city when you are bag-packing or a holographic visualization of heritage sites in your history class.

Contact

Name: Dr Sirisilp Kongsilp

Email Address: rabbit@perception.codes

Website URL: http://www.Holo-SDK.com

The live concert is coming to your home with Desktop AR

Disruptive Technology, like AR/VR, is bringing performance arts to your home.

At the height of the covid pandemic, many cities around the world are in lockdown. Going to the theatre, concerts, and big gathering in public events are banned and the show biz is taking a hit, especially in the big live cities, like London or New York, where residents and tourists love going to see these live performance arts. If the pandemic continues, the show biz might collapse, and the experience of going to live performance will be the thing of the past.

However, it is not all gloomy for theatre-goers as the covid pandemic also bring new opportunities in the entertainment industry. The emerging technology, like AR/VR, shows the potentials to bring the concert experience into your home. The AR/VR latest technology can show musicians or speakers from the other side of the world to be performing live on the stages. How this works is that performers are captured while performing on the stage by cameras and motion capture devices, commonly used in making animation, and then the 3D model of performers are then reconstructed. The constructed model can then be displayed AR/VR or immersive display technology, which allows the viewers to see more realistic models, as the viewers can see in 3D space, unlike TVs, which limits you to only see the models in 2D.

Making 3D models of live actors is simple, it can be done even from a mobile phone with motion sensors

The common input to these AR/VR and immersive display technology are 3D models. To obtain the 3D models of actors, the latest input capturing device is iPhone 12, which is equipped with Lidar sensors. The sensors allow the accurate depth information and the movement of the actors to be captured, and this information is then used to create a life-like model of an actor. This technology is becoming very popular and we will soon see people making the 3D models of themselves. The 3D models can then displayed in the VR headsets as is or even better the 3D models can be augmented and show in the AR headset. With augmented reality, the models can, for example, change hairstyle, or change clothes and the movements can be used by the real actors. The animated models can also be performing with live actors with the technology. The current VR/AR technology requires users to wear headsets, which are not so friendly.

The immersive display lets you see the performance in 3D, unlike normal TVs

With the immersive display technology, 3D models and scenes can be perceived without losing the depth details, unlike normal TVs. The immersive display can show models in 3D as if the models are floating or recede into the screen, creating the illusion of realism. In the past, a 3D animated model like Mr Smith, a fictional character with eye-catching dance moves (shown above), will just be contained in a normal 2D screen and the viewers are probably not able to get all of his expressions. Now, much more of his expressions can be understood and seen as the viewers can see him gliding along the dance floor in a 3D immersive display, which is the best way to display 3D information.

However, the current immersive display technologies are still expensive and not widely available. But with Holo-SDK, you can turn your normal screen into a 3D immersive display at a very low cost. All you need is red and blue glasses, which is very cheap, and Holo-SDK. To get an example of immersive experience created from your normal computer, you can download some sample applications, www.holo-sdk.com

Contact

Name: Krisada Chaiyasarn

Email Address: helloworld@perception.codes

Website URL: http://www.Holo-SDK.com

What is Desktop AR and why is it so cool! Check out Perception's solution!

Desktop AR is a technology that enables laptop or desktop computers to create an illusion of 3D objects floating in front of a screen. It works by rendering red-blue 3D images according to the user's viewing positions. The users can download and play with Desktop AR apps by using their computer, webcam, and anaglyph glasses.

Many AR enthusiasts' dream is to see virtual objects in the real world. We imagine playing games and applications where characters and icons are floating in front of us. AR glasses can offer such experience, but not many people can afford to purchase them because of its high price. AR developers cannot develop applications for AR glasses as many as they would want because only a small number of people can own these AR glasses. The end-users' willingness to purchase AR glasses is further reduced because there is only a small number of applications available to play. Unlike AR glasses, the Desktop AR setup cost is virtually free because a Desktop AR system only requires a computer and a web camera that most end-users already own. The red & blue glasses are widely available online for a few dollars. Users who want to have a full-colour experience can also use 3D monitors to improve the playing experience. Therefore, Desktop AR systems have much more potential to offer to the audience than AR glasses technology.

Similarly to Desktop AR, Mobile AR has a low cost to set up because it runs on mobile devices. Videos of mobile AR applications on the internet look impressive as they often show virtual objects integrated into the real world. However, all Mobile AR users know that the experience of using the Mobile AR technology is far less impressive than what is shown in the videos.

First, Mobile AR does not enhance the user's experience directly (if you are the person in the scenes). It indirectly enhances the videos that the user sees in a mobile device. The small display size and the lack of stereoscopic further reduce the quality of users’ experience.

Therefore, Mobile AR is commonly used as a gimmick to attract attention to videos on the internet. Unlike Mobile AR, Desktop AR directly augments the user's perception of the real world. It displays perspective-corrected images for each user's eye, creating a more immersive experience for the user. Moreover, Desktop AR is compatible with everyday computer input devices such as mouse, keyboard, 3D mouses and leap motion. The compatibility enables users to work and play with devices that they already own and use in everyday tasks.

Perception is a startup that leads the introduction of Desktop AR to the VR/AR communities. They have a collection of Desktop AR apps available on their website (https://www.holo-sdk.com/sample-apps). If you are a VR/AR enthusiast, you can download and play the apps on your computer without cost. If you are a VR/AR developer and want to explore or even start your own Desktop AR project, Perception also has an SDK called Holo-SDK for you, along with documents that will help you get started with your project (https://www.holo-sdk.com/get-started).

Contact:

Name: Sirisilp Kongsilp

Email Address: rabbit@perception.codes

Website URL: http://www.Holo-SDK.com