Virtual Reality can make your mind sharper
New York, June 15: Not just gaming or entertainment, virtual reality (VR) can also help people recall information better as opposed to desktop computers, say researchers including one of Indian-origin.
The team from University of Maryland conducted in-depth analyses on whether people learn better through virtual, immersive environments, as opposed to more traditional platforms like a computers or tablets.
They found that people remember information better if it is presented to them in a virtual environment.
"This data is exciting in that it suggests that immersive environments could offer new pathways for improved outcomes in education and high-proficiency training," said Amitabh Varshney, Professor of Computer Science, in a survey published in the journal Virtual Reality.
Varshney leads several major research efforts involving virtual and augmented reality (AR), including close collaboration with health care professionals interested in developing AR-based diagnostic tools for emergency medicine and VR training for surgical residents.
For the study, the team used the concept of a "memory palace," where people recall an object or item by placing it in an imaginary physical location like a building or town.
This method has been used since classical times, taking advantage of the human brain's ability to spatially organize thoughts and memories.
"Humans have always used visual-based methods to help them remember information, whether it's cave drawings, clay tablets, printed text and images, or video," said Eric Krokos, doctoral student in computer science and lead author on the paper.
"We wanted to see if virtual reality might be the next logical step in this progression," Krokos added.
For the study, the researchers recruited 40 volunteers unfamiliar with virtual reality and split the participants into two groups -- one viewed information first via a VR head-mounted display and then on a desktop and the other group did the opposite.
The results showed an 8.8 per cent improvement overall in recall accuracy using the VR headsets, a statistically significant number.
Many of the participants said the immersive "presence" while using VR allowed them to focus better.
"This leads to the possibility that an immersive virtual environment could enhance learning and recall by leveraging a person's overall sense of body position, movement and acceleration," said Catherine Plaisant, Senior Research Scientist in University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.
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RSS man's defamation case against Rahul: Key witness unavailable, hearing adjourned to Dec 20
Thane (PTI): A court in Bhiwandi in Thane district on Saturday adjourned the hearing in the criminal defamation case filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker to December 20 due to non-availability of a crucial prosecution witness.
Advocate Narayan Iyer, counsel for Rahul Gandhi, confirmed the adjournment, stating that the witness, Ashok Saykar, currently Deputy Superintendent of Police in Barshi in Solapur, could not remain present due to personal reasons.
Saykar's evidence is now likely to be recorded on December 29.
His testimony is considered key because he, as police sub inspector in 2014, conducted the preliminary inquiry into the private defamation matter under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
It was on the basis of Saykar's submitted report that the court subsequently issued process (summons) against Rahul Gandhi under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The criminal defamation case was filed by local RSS worker Rajesh Kunte following a speech given by Rahul Gandhi at an election rally near Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014.
The case stems from the Congress leader's alleged statement that "the RSS people killed (Mahatma) Gandhi."
The matter is being heard by Bhiwandi Joint Civil Judge, Junior Division, P M Kolse.
The hearing had previously been adjourned on November 15 after the complainant's counsel, Advocate Prabodh Jaywant, moved an application seeking permission to examine Saykar, who had submitted the probe report to the court.
The matter was originally scheduled for November 29 but was deferred to December 6 after Rahul Gandhi's legal team sought an adjournment citing their non-availability. The proceedings will now resume on December 20.
