Virtual Reality is perfect for creating beautiful space simulations, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t educate as well as entertain us.

There is definitely a growing trend towards space-based VR experiences, From outlandish ideas involving sensory deprivation chambers housed inside a Burning Man art installation to the location-based VR experience launched as a partnership between NASA and Samsung in commemoration of the Apollo program’s 50th anniversary, to multiplayer moonwalks and actual astronaut training simulation tools. Part of the reason for this space-fever is that VR really is at its best when it allows you to experience something that would be impossible otherwise, and free-floating through the rings of Saturn certainly fits into that category.

There is definitely a growing trend towards space-based VR experiences
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I was doing that when trying out Overview this morning, an experience that takes you on a journey to the limits of our galaxy and beyond (in about 30 minutes) all narrated in a soothing and informative documentary style.

It was produced by Orbital Views, a Virtual Reality studio based in Paris, France, with a strong emphasis on research, science and education. In 2016, they became the first company to use Virtual Reality headsets in parabolic flights, for private passengers and professional astronauts.

Overview features several interactive activities, allowing viewers to scale all the way from planet Earth to the confines of the known Universe
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Overview features several interactive activities, allowing viewers to scale all the way from planet Earth to the confines of the known Universe. It includes a fully accurate model of our Solar System that viewers can fly through, with all planets, moons, asteroids and comets known today, made to scale with accurate orbits.

After demoing it myself, I also got my seven-year-old niece try it, and even though by now she’s a bit of a VR veteran (using your family members as guinea pigs is standard practice in my household), the experience still had her shouting out in excitement, and – most tellingly – incorporating space exploration themes into her play afterward. It is clear that such tools have an important role to play in sparking interest in STEM subjects, as it brings a sense of fun and a real connection to the science.

Written and directed by up-and-coming French VR Director Paul Mezier, Overview has been available since March on HTC Vive but now launched on Oculus Rift as well, Available on the Oculus Store, Viveport and Steam for $9,99. It has since been shown at festivals such as Cannes.

Such tools have an important role to play in sparking interest in STEM subjects, as it brings a sense of fun and a real connection to the science
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The content was created and produced by Amaury Solignac, who has a PhD in Submarine, Antarctic and Space Psychology. Solignac used to lecture at NASA and the European Space Agency and was on the selection board of the most recent group of European astronauts.

The content was created by Amaury Solignac, who has a PhD in Space Psychology and used to lecture at NASA
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“Featuring data and photorealistic images from NASA, ESA and other scientific agencies, Overview is the most accurate representation of space in Virtual Reality available today,” says Solignac.

“This unprecedented representation of cosmic scale is intended to create a sensation of awe in the mind and eye of each and every viewer,” adds Mezier.

It’s therefore not surprising that they were awarded “Best Education Experience” at this year’s GDC in San Francisco. Other VR applications developed by Orbital Views include lunar gravity simulators, professional training systems and VR-based physical rehabilitation tools.

Overview was awarded “Best Education Experience” at this year’s GDC
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Judging by my niece’s reaction, it’s also a way of getting kids inspired by connecting them with a sense of wonder for the universe we live in, which has to be a good thing.

This article was originally published on VRScout

Take A Virtual Tour Around The Solar System With ‘Overview’ via @alicebonasio https://t.co/mCqORy8T73 pic.twitter.com/TEefarIxWI

— VRScout (@VRScout) July 31, 2018

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Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Spinning Around The Solar System in VR appeared first on Tech Trends.

Alice Space wants to take you on a moonwalk using Mixed Reality. Best buckle up!  

Noitom has been making some interesting strides in immersive technologies since it was first founded in 2011. It leverages motion capture technology in a variety of interesting ways, which have included producing haptic gloves – the Hi5 Vr Glove – that allow users to “bring” their hands into the virtual and the Project Alice VR B2B VR platform.

Noitom specializes in motion capture technology and previously created VR Haptic Gloves
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Noitom tech is used in animation, film, robotics and gaming
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The company, headquartered in Beijing, developes world-class motion capture technology for consumer and industrial markets through the integration of MEMS sensors, pattern recognition, human kinetics and wireless transmission. Noitom’s technology has been used in animation, film, medical applications, robotics and gaming.

With their latest project, however, they’re looking to go a bit further – quite literally. Noitom partnered with Australian Virtual Reality development studio Opaque Space and NASA to create a space exploration experience designed for places such as museums and science centers.

The space experience is designed for museums and science centers
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Alice Space wants to put VR into the hands of educators
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Alice Space aims to take VR “out-of-the home” and into the hands of educators and entertainment venues. “We have developed an affordable, long-term, turn-key solution that can be monetized while delivering stunning “edutainment” experiences in an outer space setting.

“Our goal in creating this mixed reality, multi-user platform was to bring fantastic, unattainable experiences to a mass audience. And what is more fantastic and unattainable than being able to walk on the moon?” says Roch Nakajima, President of Noitom International. “With Alice Space – theme parks, museums and edutainment facilities get an affordable, long-term, turn-key solution that can be monetized while delivering a unique experience anyone from 9 to 99 will never forget.”

Their full-service package includes all the hardware and software needed to transport users into (virtual space) from Noitom’s proprietary high fidelity hybrid optical inertial tracking, VR backpacks and goggles for up to six players.

The package includes content made in partnership with NASA
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The unique selling point according to Noitom is that the package includes content, which is updated twice a year in collaboration with NASA, which allows them to deliver experiences that are not only entertaining, but also accurate and educational.

Their Earthlight: Lunar Mission Experience was demoed at Tokyo Game Show 2017 and attracted the attention of none other than Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey, who was spotted trying it out.

Earthlight: Lunar Mission Experience was demoed at the Tokyo Game Show 2017
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Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey tried the Lunar walk experience
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Billed as humanity’s first step on the mission to explore and settle other worlds, Earthlight is the first of a planned six interactive Mixed Reality experiences that will take players from Earth’s own familiar moon to the far reaches of our solar system, exploring Europa, the icy moon orbiting Jupiter.

Earthlight is the first of a planned six interactive Mixed Reality experiences
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The experience accommodates up to six simultaneous players, conceived around a theme park centric operational model that allows for uninterrupted, continuous play with up to three sessions per hour. So there’s plenty of opportunity for users to have a taste of space exploration while the likes of Elon Musk and Richard Branson don’t quite crack the problem of making space exploration accessible to common folk. And of course, I personally can’t resist their excellent choice of name, so do beam me up, Scotty!

The experience accommodates up to six simultaneous players
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For companies looking to get into VR/AR/MR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance on how these technologies can enhance and support your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Creating an Edutainment Experience That’s Out of This World appeared first on Tech Trends.