Create Engaging Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Lectures
Online School at oVice Virtual Space
The Number of Schools Introducing “Virtual Campus” at oVice Virtual Space Has Doubled!
Due to the Coronavirus situation, educational institutions such as universities, vocational schools, and high schools are expanding the use of virtual spaces in lectures, laboratories, and academic societies.
The number of schools that hold classes and seminars is increasing rapidly using the virtual space “oVice” provided by oVice Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Sae Hyung Jung). With the announcement of the state of emergency in January, the number of applications from schools has more than doubled.
◆ Accelerating Online Education:
Emphasis is placed on Free interaction Between Students.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, many schools have been switching to online communication tools. Although most are using Famous meeting software tools like Zoom, the number of schools looking for alternative ways that allow students to freely interact and communicate online is on the rise. In addition to “one-sided lesson distribution”, using video conferencing tools, has increased dramatically. Now, everyone is experimenting with using avatar-based virtual spaces where group discussions are held while listening to the professor’s lecture, and they are mostly used in conversation-exchanges between teams in laboratories to expand various online meeting situations.
At oVice, the number of applications from educational institutions in January of this year 2021 has more than doubled, and virtual online learning is becoming more and more common.
◆ University Lecture Use Case:
At a private university in Hyogo Prefecture, oVice was used in one seminar class by an outside lecturer. In the lecture, under the theme of “AI and communication”, students held group discussions and asked questions while listening to the lecturer about whether they were already using AI in their current lives or whether they thought it was possible to coexist with AI.
The lecturer customized the space with some static images (A.B.C) for the students to select the proper answer.
Please refer to the example in the screenshot below to see how it worked:
- The lecturer would share their camera and their screen with the students.
- The lecturer would multiply the display range by x8 so everyone can see the displayed content even from a far distance.
*Note that this feature is only available for admins. - Students would link to the shared object by clicking on the screen share icon that the lecturer is sharing. This allows students to interact with the lecturer and with each other too through voice. It also gives them the ability to move without the risk of getting the voice lost.
- When the lecturer asks a question and gives the possible options, students will select their answer by placing their avatar on the chosen option (A, B, or C).
◆ A Virtual Space Where Both Social and Academic Communication is Bound to Happen:
oVice is used not only for lectures but also for discussions between professors and students in the laboratory. An increasing number of schools/universities are devising ways to allow students to exchange information more smoothly by sharing small research content via avatars. Besides, at academic conferences, researchers use a layout that is suitable for them to hold research presentations and exchange meetings at the same time. It is a chance for them to be gathered in one place to make their own presentations, as well as network, and socialize just like in real-life situations.
◆ University Lecturer’s Comment:
“The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology is requesting that the subject of the next year’s lectures be placed in face-to-face classes. Each school is considering how to separate real and online education in the future. When I used oVice in a lecture, I felt that it would be useful not only to provide a lecture environment commensurate with the tuition fee but also to create a space where students can freely engage, interact, and make friends. We also believe that building such a place will help students learn about the fun of school-learning.”
◆ What is oVice?
A 2-dimensional Virtual Space Where you Can Interact Using Avatars.
oVice is a 2-dimensional virtual space where you can meet people in one place, talk freely, and move easily by placing your avatar on the spot you want to be at and bringing it closer to the other party’s avatar. Voices close to your avatar are loud and voices far away are unheard, giving you the feeling of talking in real space. We have created an environment where you can easily participate in “water-cooler conversations” that you hear by chance and dynamically shape new ideas that were born during these conversations.
You can also share basic video-conferencing tools like screen sharing, text chatting, and making video calls on the spot if needed.
◆ Company Profile A
“oVice” is a virtual spatial platform that allows you to move, talk, and collaborate freely. With the mission of “maximizing effective online communication”, we develop and provide lifelike features that offer users a close-to-reality interactive online experience. In 2020, oVice was exhibited in TechCrunch Startup Battle Online and LAUNCH PAD SaaS.
oVice has been used more than 2000 times in half a year since its release! How amazing is that!
- Company name: oVice Co., Ltd.
- Location: 1–2–9 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Hibiya Central Building 14F
- Representative: Representative Director Sae Hyung Jung
- Established: February 2020
- Website URL: https://ovice.in/
- Business: Development and Provision of Virtual Spaces that can be used for Remote Offices, Online Events, and Academic Conferences.
◆ Contact for this matter
oVice Co., Ltd. Public Relations: media@ovice.co
