Virtual Reality: THE Learning Aid Of The 21st Century, by Sol Rogers

Throughout time, humans have used visual-based methods to help them remember information –  from early cave drawings to modern day video. VR is not only the next logical step but a step in the right direction: research suggests we retain more information and can better apply what we have learned after participating in virtual reality exercises.

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Researchers at the University of Maryland conducted one of the first in-depth analyses on whether people learn better through immersive virtual environments, as opposed to more traditional platforms like a computer or tablet. For the study, the UMD researchers recruited 40 volunteers—mostly UMD students unfamiliar with virtual reality. The researchers split the participants into two groups: one viewed information first via a VR head-mounted display and then on a desktop; the other did the opposite. The results showed an 8.8 percent improvement overall in recall accuracy using the VR headsets – a statistically significant number according to the research team.

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