Researchers from iTEAM and students from the Universitat Politècnica de València have evaluated new immersive learning experiences using mixed reality, holograms and real-time telepresence technologies, in collaboration with Tesla Technologies, Volograms and MATSUKO, as part of the European 6G-PATH project.
The Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia Applications (iTEAM) at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has completed three experimental immersive education pilots at its Immersive Communications Laboratory, as part of the European 6G-PATH project.
The trials, conducted with students from UPV’s Master’s Degree in Multimedia Technologies (MUTAV), have explored new teaching approaches based on holographic telepresence, volumetric representations of teachers and immersive virtual environments, while assessing their potential to enhance the learning experience in higher education.
Three technologies to explore the future of education
The activities began on 21 September with an introductory webinar on volumetric capture and holography technologies, as well as the main research areas in immersive communications developed by iTEAM.
Subsequently, the Immersive Communications Laboratory hosted three experimental pilots in collaboration with European companies specialising in immersive technologies:
- 30 September – Tesla Technologies: Evaluation of the quality of experience of an immersive education application using augmented reality and holographic representations based on point clouds.
- 14 October – Volograms: Experimentation with advanced volumetric capture and representation techniques, including Gaussian Splatting and generative artificial intelligence for the creation of holographic content.
- 19 October – MATSUKO: Evaluation of holographic telepresence solutions that enable teachers to be represented in high quality and in real time.
During the sessions, students used Meta Quest 3 mixed reality headsets to participate in educational experiences in which teachers appeared as three-dimensional representations, using both pre-recorded content and real-time representations.
These solutions make it possible to explore new educational models in which teachers and students can share virtual spaces, interact with three-dimensional content and experience new forms of communication that go beyond traditional videoconferencing.
Assessing the impact of immersive technologies on learning
One of the main objectives of the pilots has been to analyse the impact of holographic technologies on the learning process and students’ experience, as well as to assess their potential compared with conventional teaching methods.
To this end, the iTEAM research team has applied an evaluation methodology combining knowledge tests administered before and after the sessions with Quality of Experience (QoE) questionnaires.
This methodology makes it possible to examine aspects such as the understanding and retention of concepts, the sense of the teacher’s presence, the level of immersion, the ease of use of the technologies and potential limitations, such as visual fatigue.
The data collected will make it possible to compare the different technological solutions and identify their advantages, limitations and opportunities for use in future educational environments.
The iTEAM Immersive Communications Laboratory: a key facility for experimenting with 5G-Advanced and 6G technologies
The pilots were conducted at the iTEAM Immersive Communications Laboratory, a UPV research facility dedicated to the development, integration and validation of immersive applications over advanced mobile communications networks.
The laboratory combines XR technologies, volumetric capture, holographic communications, edge computing and 5G connectivity, providing an experimental environment for investigating the requirements of future 6G networks.
Through its participation in European projects such as 6G-PATH, iTEAM contributes to assessing both the potential of these new applications and their connectivity requirements, particularly in terms of transmission capacity, latency, reliability and quality of experience.
These activities strengthen UPV’s role as an experimental environment for research into and the transfer of immersive technologies, while fostering collaboration with European technology companies and enabling students to participate in international research and innovation projects.
About the European 6G-PATH project
6G-PATH (6G Pilots and Trials Through Europe) is a European research and innovation project aimed at promoting the development and validation of advanced mobile communications technologies through pilots and experiments in real-world scenarios.
The project addresses innovative applications in sectors such as education, healthcare, smart cities and agriculture, using experimental Beyond 5G and 6G infrastructures to evaluate new technological solutions and their requirements.
6G-PATH is funded by the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, through grant agreement 101139172.
For more information: www.6gpath.eu