Microsoft wants your kids to learn a lot in WMR
Microsoft’s goal for Windows Mixed Reality has always been to make affordable headsets with great virtual and augmented reality experiences that could scale for regular, normal people. Education has been a pillar of that goal.
Today, the Redmond-based company is announcing a couple new initiatives to help make Windows Mixed Reality a strong contender in the education space. First, it’s partnering up with Pearson, the world’s largest education company, to roll out curriculum for both HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality.
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There are six applications in total and they will apparently deliver a “seamless” experience across devices and, of course, take an immersive approach toward educational content. It’s likely that users will be able to use both HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality together to collaborate.
It could work just like in Microsoft’s island demo, where the HoloLens user sees a holographic map of an island and helps the other user, who’s wearing the Mixed Reality headset, to navigate. These apps will begin rolling out in March.
Microsoft is also partnering up with public radio station WGBH’s Bringing the Universe to America’s Classrooms project, which will bring space science content in mixed reality to classrooms. The resulting apps, which will be aimed at getting students more engaged with space, will be distributed on PBS LearningMedia.
Finally, Microsoft knows that HoloLens can be kind of expensive, so it’s also offering some discounted academic pricing for schools starting on 22 January.
Education is a focus of many big tech companies. Microsoft is well on its way with these partnerships, and it’s certainly a leg up on Oculus’ effort to get the Rift in libraries.
