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ӰAV opens doors to virtual campus

ӰAV is taking its student recruitment into the metaverse with the release of ӰAV Virtual Campus – a fully immersive virtual reality experience that allows users to assume an avatar and drop in on the school’s campus at NW 23 and Blackwelder Avenue.

ӰAV collaborated with Oklahoma City robotics and technology company Human Mode on the project, which utilizes the company’s Massive Loop platform to allow users from anywhere in the world to virtually walk the sidewalks of the ӰAV campus, enter virtual lobbies in campus buildings and learn about the university through their desktop computer or VR headset.

The technology, which involved mapping out and digitally recreating every building and walkway on the ӰAV campus, is a process known as creating a “digital twin” of an existing environment.

“This tool places ӰAV on the leading edge of high-tech student recruitment,” ӰAV President Kenneth Evans said. “We know that traveling for college visits can be difficult for out-of-state or international students. ӰAV Virtual Campus gives our prospective students and their families a virtual first-person experience so they can really get a feel for our campus.”

The ӰAV Virtual Campus experience is similar to dropping into a video game with an avatar. Users can select from a variety of avatars, customize their apparel with ӰAV-branded gear, and then drop in at the corner of NW 23 and Blackwelder Avenue near ӰAV’s Centennial Arch.

From there, users can walk, ride a scooter or drive a golf cart around campus, with all buildings on campus represented in life-like fashion. Interactive maps allow users to jump to different areas of campus – in case the walk takes too long.

Inside campus buildings, users can find virtual lobbies with interactive web-browser screens. The screens aid in prospective-student discovery by presenting information relevant to the school or building the lobby is in.

Users can also interact with other avatars. For example, several people from different parts of the world could drop in and explore the ӰAV campus together. If they have questions, the world features an AI chat assistant that can answer queries about the university.

Human Mode founder and Chief Executive Officer William Kerber said that while his company has animated numerous virtual reality worlds, the ӰAV project is the first he is aware of where an entire university campus is animated in this fashion.

“We are thrilled to partner with ӰAV on this unique project,” Kerber said. “As a company, our mission is to advance technology and challenge the way things are done. Marrying the ӰAV campus with a virtual reality experience is a worthwhile evolution of the college recruitment process.”

ӰAV Virtual Campus is free to use. Access to the virtual-reality experience, as well as additional information about ӰAV, is available through the university’s website at www.okcu.edu/virtualcampus

More information about Human Mode is available at .

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