


While this is good news, we’d like to see other publishers jump into content creation. The partnership is set to go in motion in 2018 and Pearson will develop curriculum in health, commerce, history, and STEM, on all Windows Mixed Reality devices. Microsoft also announced a new strategic partnership with Pearson to integrate 3D and mixed reality into Pearson’s secondary and university level curriculum. While it remains to be seen how capable these devices will be, the price will undoubtedly attract the education market.

Users will be able to use the Microsoft Apps as well as enjoy 360-degree field trips and other VR experiences. Microsoft keeps using the term Mixed Reality however they feel more like VR headsets. Unlike HoloLens, these are tethered headsets, but they’ll run on your average computer. The headsets function much like other VR headsets but are less expensive – you can see our initial reaction to the units back in April. All we’re getting now is a development kit with consumer devices not expected until the holiday season. Several partners have been announced to work on manufacturing those including Lenovo, Dell, HP, and others.

Microsoft also demoed Acer’s Mixed Reality headsets on stage. It is an exciting idea to give Paint a new life in 3D, but for now, it comes short of delivering immersive learning. It may be an easy way for educators to create their own 3D objects. That’s not to say it shouldn’t have a place in VR and mixed reality applications. Paint had its origins as Microsoft Paintbrush way back with the first version of Windows in 1985. It is a little surprising to see Microsoft Paint resurface within the context of VR. It also shows that girls enroll at a much higher rate in math and science courses after taking a course in 3D. Research tells us that 3D improves attention span, engagement, motivation and overall academic performance. Teachers and students will be able to create objects in Paint 3D and then bring them into the real world by using any laptop or device running Windows 10 that has a webcam built in it. At the event, Microsoft introduced Paint 3D, a new free tool that is part of the Windows creators update in Microsoft 10.
