Classroom 2.0 revamped with artificial intelligence and virtual reality

Computer Science graduate Omkar Pimplersquos first exposure to a broken education system came in the form of an underequipped science lab during a visit to his hometown in Palghar district nearly two decades ago Truth be told this realisation couldrsquove come in most smaller schools in Mumbai or its suburbs where primitive science labs are inaugurated and forgotten every year The pitfall in most cases Pimple believes is the cost and labourintensive maintenance ldquoThis is the condition of the schools that have a science lab Think about the ones who donrsquotrdquo the 32yearold sighsThe VR headset and controllersPimplersquos AIassisted learning lab Myracleio addresses both concerns with one innovation mdash a virtual AIassisted science lab complete with a virtual microscope lifelike 3D models and now an AI teacher who evolves with the studentrsquos progress Available on the Meta Quest headset as well as smartphones the app transforms any fourwalled room into a science labThe learning experienceThe view from the headset shows a 3D model of an atom while a student looks at the same experience from her smartphoneOnce logged into the experience students get to choose from a list of lessons to learn virtually Choosing the chapter on introduction to microscopes for instance would turn the camera on allowing students to pan the device across the room to find a table and a microscope placed on it Following the instructions on the screen or inside the headset the student is guided to walk towards the setup and interact with various parts using handheld controllersA student jumps to reach a button inside the space stationCurrently the app offers experiences that align with CBSE and SSC curriculum Whatrsquos new however is the style of instruction ldquoItrsquos a welldocumented fact that no two people can learn the same way With that in mind wersquove incorporated an AI and machine learning model that constantly logs the studentrsquos style pace and level of comprehension The course then decides how to shape itself to suit the learner betterrdquo the founder who is currently working from Germany to keep in touch with new developments in AI and VR elaboratesA live relay of the virtual experience allows the educator to keep track of the movementsHas AI finally come knocking on the doors of the teaching community we wonder While Pimple laughs it off a new feature tells us otherwise With an upcoming feature students will be able to converse with a virtual teacher who will be standing alongside during an experience These arenrsquot real humans but AI bots that can listen and help the child with his queries and doubts Interestingly the founder informs us that teachers have taken to the concept well ldquoAn AI bot cannot realistically replace a teacher But it can come in handy as a supplementary tool for teachersrdquo he notesScience for allWith great power comes great responsibility they say The founder who spent his teenage years experimenting with programming languages and working on coding projects with his colleagues at Wadalarsquos Vidyalankar Institute of Technology seems to know it well ldquoFocusing on any screen for a long time can put you in a hypnosislike state where you tend to lose your sense of orientation We have an AIassisted environment detection system in place which uses the accelerometer and gyroscope in the smartphone or headset to detect when students are in dangerous environmentsrdquo the founder reveals If a student is approaching a flight of stairs an object in the room or any obstacle that may cause hurt the experience pauses and flashes an alertA team member guides a user through a virtual walkthrough of the International Space StationAt a recent workshop conducted at the Fellowship of the Physically Handicapped in Haji Ali these features underwent a comprehensive test drive ldquoIndividuals with physical disadvantages stand to benefit from the virtual experience greatly because they may find it difficult to physically walk up to machinery and operate it in realliferdquo Pimple explainsWhile the focus in Pimplersquos words remains on offering physics chemistry and biology lessons to rural and less privileged communities the team is currently expanding their content library to cater to a larger audience The future looks optimistic ldquoGen Z is adopting the digital way of life at ages as young as five The key is to make learning science a part of this experience not something they need to take time out for We are building storytelling mathematics and geography modules soonrdquoOmkar Pimple PicsAtul KambleLOG ON TO myracleioAVAILABLE on Play Store and App StoreWhat is itMyracleio is a virtual learning app that uses a mix of AI and VR to create a 3D interactive and evolving learning experienceHow it worksThe app uses an AIbased model to identify how a student learns and reshapes itself to fit their pace and style Using VR 3D models that students can interact with are projected in physical spaces in realtimeWho it affectsbenefitsStudents in schools that do not house functional science labs or struggle with maintenance stand to benefit from the app that brings the lab experience to any room including their homes