forecasting: the future

The Holographic Teacher App (near future)

The closest we have come is group video chat via apps like FaceTime, Zoom or Google Hangouts. But this doesn’t mean holograms aren’t part of our lives – they’re just marketed differently. VR technology requires users to wear a headset that blocks out the real world, removing learners from the classroom, and placing them in their own virtual space. This makes it hard for educators to work with the technology during a teaching session. Education through virtual reality remains largely standalone and supplementary to the content otherwise taught in class.

On the other hand, hologram projections could allow students to remain a physical part of the class, with the digital visualisations being included in addition to the normal instruction. In this way, the live educator remains part of the direct experience, with verbal instructions and teaching continuing as normal. The holographic renderings provide an additional layer to normal learning sessions. It also allows the students’ hands to be free, so they can write notes or interact with resources around the teaching space.

In some certain situations, a holographic projection could be useful for limited time/exclusive lectures which are only available in certain countries. For example, a student in Vancouver might be interested in listening to a professor from London, UK. With holograms, geographic boundaries will no longer be an issue and extends learning to a wider audience.

The proposed app could make use of future smartphone screens which support holographic displays and have the ability to project the person you're talking to in a three dimensional space. Archival footage of lectures could also be stored within the app to allow students to immediately playback for reference or self studying purposes. In essence, it's designed to be a tool which scaffolds the learning process with immersion and the added value of three dimensional space.

While it's unlikely that teachers will be entirely replaced by holograms in the near future, the most feasible outcome is a combination of holographic teaching materials paired with a physical teacher.

Interactive Holographic Models (present to near future)

Facilitates learning engagement

Learning through a hologram is a stimulating and innovative way to take in new information. The novelty factor of holographic technology can spark interest among students, driving them to engage with both the device and content. With this increased interaction comes a greater chance of content gain and retention, and the opportunity to enhance spatial thinking and reasoning skills. Teaching through holograms can be a collaborative space for students to engage their ideas with those of their peers.

Explains concepts that are difficult to understand in 2D

There’s some subject matter that is better taught through the aid of 3D visualisation. In the medical and health sciences areas, this rings particularly true – holograms allow students to improve their spatial awareness of the human body and learn about the intricacies of anatomy that can’t be accurately taught through a textbook or computer screen. This technology could also aid other study fields focused around design like art, architecture or engineering, where students would be able to view their structures and models in 3D form.

Virtual Schools and Classrooms (far future)

It's like a next-level Zoom video call, but instead of appearing on someone else's computer screen in a small box, your full-size likeness is projected onto a holographic screen for them to see. Imagine how the perspective would change if the people you connect to are displayed with 3D realness instead of just a talking head on a webcam.

However, the drawback is this can only happen through special devices to display the holographic version of the person you're interacting with which is often much more expensive and economically unviable compared to our current telecommunications solutions.

Thoughts: Would the social aspect of learning be decreased (eg: like in MOOCs or online classes) if holograms were used? Does the fidelity of the technology affect how people interact or is in person learning irreplaceable regardless of how detailed holograms will look in the future? At the end of the day, you're still technically interacting with people through a monitor or screen.