Metaverse｜HKUST Launches the World's First Physical Digital Twin Campus Wearing VR to Connect Hong Kong and Guangzhou Parks

The concept of the metaverse is rising day by day. What is it like to return to school in the metaverse?

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology announced today (28th) the establishment of the world's first physical-digital twin campus in the Metaverse, combining virtual campuses and classrooms with VR glasses, allowing students to put on glasses to enter the virtual campus and take classes with other students.

Wang Yang, vice president of HKUST, said that the technology is under preliminary research. In the future, it is hoped that the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the teachers and students of the new school of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Guangzhou, which will start in September, can take classes, learn and communicate together in the Metaverse World. He pointed out that the Metaverse can Let the students participate in the research together and play a greater role.

On July 28, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology announced the establishment of the world's first physical and digital twin campus in the Metaverse. Wear VR glasses to experience the virtual world.

(Photo by Zheng Jiahui)

The reporter went to the "Metaverse" to visit the Guangzhou campus of the University of Science and Technology of China

HKUST held the first "Metaverse Press Conference" in Hong Kong's higher education sector today to visit the HKUST (Guangzhou) campus and learn about the Metaverse Twin Campus Project.

The reporter wore VR glasses on the scene, held two hand switches, and visited the Guangzhou campus of the University of Science and Technology in the virtual world. However, due to poor operating skills, many reporters jumped into the pool from time to time and could not turn over, although the host once reminded "No If you run so fast, you will vomit.” However, because of running too fast for too long, you will feel a little “motion sickness” discomfort.

When the press conference introduced the plan, the scene was changed to a virtual lecture hall. Everyone stood in the auditorium, watching the professor explain the briefing, and felt the fun of having a class together.

However, watching the briefing in the virtual world is almost the same as watching the briefing in the real world, so in the explanation after that, everyone took off the VR glasses and silently ended the virtual experience.

The reporters put on VR glasses to experience and tour the Guangzhou campus of HKUST.

(Photo by Zheng Jiahui)

Temporary use of older technologies and equipment is expected to be popularized

HKUST Vice President (University Development) Wang Yang, who led the MetaHKUST project, said that the physical and virtual worlds are rapidly integrating, and in the era of web 3.0, which is about to subvert the future, Hong Kong has all the elements for development, and HKUST is believed to be the first established entity in the world. - Universities with digital twin campuses, ready to lead the creation of a sustainable XR ecosystem that drives R&D and learning.

He pointed out that the current technology investment and equipment are old and need to be improved, but the price is affordable, and he hopes to popularize it in the future.

Students in the Metaverse feel more involved: send everyone directly to the History Hall on the Nile

Xu Bin, professor of HKUST's Department of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas and director of HKUST's Metaverse and Computational Creativity Research Center, said that teaching in the virtual reality "Metaverse" can make students feel more engaged and have a better experience: "For example, in the History Hall, it is necessary to Go to the Nile River, and send everyone to the local Nile River directly, and you will not die." In addition, "Metaverse" can also change everyone's dullness about online classes during the epidemic.

He also expects to have other functions in the future, such as art, games, exhibitions, etc.

Wang Yang said that this virtual twin campus not only provides an immersive learning experience, but also a comprehensive platform that all students, staff and alumni can participate in, allowing the HKUST community to create, innovate and interact across campuses. It is a long-term development plan. In the first stage, the university will establish major infrastructure, including the construction of extended reality classrooms, the installation of sensors, video cameras and visualization equipment, etc., and invite all university members to crowdsource scanning for the two physical campuses. Create a virtual twin campus to provide the required imagery.

University Open Days and Graduation Days can also be held virtually and in person

In the future, the two campuses will also become more convenient in distributing messages and handling administration, such as issuing encrypted diplomas or transcripts in the form of non-fungible tokens, using blockchain technology, and university events such as open days or graduation ceremonies, etc. , also in virtual and physical form simultaneously or independently.

The Metaverse Research Center team is now working on building the first Mixed Reality classroom on the HKUST Guangzhou campus.

The classroom area is about 2,400 square feet. It is expected to be completed before the opening of Guangzhou University of Science and Technology on September 1 this year. Together with the same type of classrooms to be built on the Qingshuiwan campus, professors and students of the two campuses will be able to meet at the same time in the future. Interact and participate in the same classroom in two parallel spaces.

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