American University in Washington D.C. which is taking a technological route towards trying to attract new students by teaming up with technology giant Sony to offer prospective students an admissions app which lets students and their families explore the university through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
The new mobile app is said to be a product of Sony’s work with the University, which covers a wide range of projects on campus.
The ‘Tour AU’ app lets students explore the campus using 360-degree video, which also contains comments from current students at the university, who speak about life on campus. The app takes advantage of ‘beacon technology’ which pushes targeted push notifications and in-app messages to the user.
On the campus itself, students can use the app to activate AR posters scattered around the campus, which will activate the posters to present messages, information or the chance to take a ‘virtual selfie’.
“The experience a student has on their campus visit is a critical component to their college choice process,” said Sharon Alston, AU Vice Provost of Undergraduate Enrollment. “Whether it’s used remotely or on campus, Tour AU offers prospective students an exciting opportunity to experience various aspects of campus life.”
“Every aspect of the educational experience is changing, from the way faculty and students interact in the classroom to the way admissions cultivates relationships with prospective applicants and their families,” said Mike Fasulo, president and chief operating officer, Sony Electronics. “Now, Sony is focused on using our design and technology expertise and long-standing commitment to higher-ed to help leading education partners like AU create new and engaging experiences.”
The app also uses analytics and measurement data which the University can use to further refine and improve the admissions process.
The Tour AR app is available through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. For future coverage of new AR content and services, keep checking back with VRFocus.
via Mint VR