While virtual reality has been known to gamers for more than a decade, efforts have been made to apply the technology to a wider variety of sectors. This also includes a group of Thai inventors who created VR applications illustrating advantages that go beyond gaming.
The fourth-year media arts student team from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) developed Falling Down, a VR educational game for children ages six-to-12. The beautifully-designed 3D graphic game allows players to appreciate aspects of ecology and the Earth. Players learn what lies within the Earth's crust during each two-to-three-minute round.
"Users play by picking up from items like quartz, fossils, sea animals such as fishes, sharks and so forth," explained Sarun Rattanakulvaranon, the team head. The game content incorporates the academic course for first graders, so parents can use this VR game as a complement to their children's studies.
The media art team is one of five finalists who recently presented their VR creations at last week's VR Inventors Project sponsored by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa), as part of Bangkok Comic Con 2018.
Norasit Yorkhan, Depa vice-president of the Digital Investment and Industry Promotion Department, said besides gaming, VR technology can be applied to medicine, entertainment, marketing and more.
"VR technology has become more important and has had a positive impact on the digital economy. Depa continues to promote VR experts and has pushed Thai VR developers to be able to compete with other countries," said Norasit.
Depa began the push to promote VR technology last year. The VR Inventors Project, for example, welcomed those interested in VR development technology. Over 300 people applied for 80 spots, who then were trained by Depa for two months.
The 80 participants were divided into 16 groups. Representatives from the top 10 teams were rewarded with joining a one-month intensive workshop in Beijing and Shanghai, China.
One of the finalists, the VR Demy Team, developed the Music Band, a VR application that helps players develop an ear for music, enabling listeners to distinguish between musical instruments and notes through analysing the specific sounds each instrument produces.
The app works well on mobile devices, its creators said.
"One of our members is a graphic designer and was also a music teacher. We came up with the idea to create a VR application for music education," said Natthanon Thamsirarak, software developer, a member of the VR Demy Team.
The team used the pop and rock music in order to capture young students' attention.
"This app itself does not serve as starting point to learn music, but it enhances the experience of the music learning, allowing users to be immersed in a world of music, something they cannot do in the traditional 2D education," he said.
Jatuporn Rakthaicharoen, a graphic designer, and his team designed the VR M72LAW simulator for the Thai Army. The application simulates war games, allowing the military to save money in its training practices. The invention was guided by experts from the Defence Technology Institute.
Land Of Smiles VR is game that plays off of traditional Thai superstitions concerning the supernatural, explained Jirapat Tempium, team programmer.
The team created a story in which gamers traverse through temple grounds, encountering ghosts and other spooky images. This adventure game has intention to further develop for tourism, Jirapat said.
Among the five finalist teams, Land Of Smiles VR is the only one that is available for download on Google Play store.
