1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:18,190 *35C3 preroll music* 2 00:00:18,190 --> 00:00:23,810 Herald Angel: Judith Okonkwo is a technology ex-evangelist, a business 3 00:00:23,810 --> 00:00:33,600 psychologist and a co-founder of "We will lead Africa". In 2016 Judith set Imisi 3D 4 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:39,870 creation lab, which is building the ecosystem of extended reality technologies 5 00:00:39,870 --> 00:00:49,950 in Lagos, Nigeria. So, please welcome Judith. And let's have her talk. 6 00:00:49,950 --> 00:00:53,340 Judith Okonkwo: Thank you. Thank you very much! 7 00:00:53,340 --> 00:00:55,600 *applause* 8 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,890 JO: Good afternoon everybody. Thank you all for coming today. I am going to talk 9 00:01:00,890 --> 00:01:06,650 to you a little bit about the work that we're doing in Lagos, Nigeria. Just 10 00:01:06,650 --> 00:01:12,560 generally about that and then about some specific projects that we've been involved in. 11 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:17,220 So usually, when I'm speaking, people say: Wow, you're doing virtual reality in 12 00:01:17,220 --> 00:01:22,671 Nigeria? How come? Why? How did you even think of starting that there? Let me tell 13 00:01:22,671 --> 00:01:29,730 you a little bit about that journey. Now, I don't know if many people here have been 14 00:01:29,730 --> 00:01:34,130 to Nigeria, but just to give you some context: it's a country in the western 15 00:01:34,130 --> 00:01:39,770 part of Africa. Right now and the population is estimated to be about 190 16 00:01:39,770 --> 00:01:46,070 million people. So, there are a lot of us. The projection is that by 2050 though, we 17 00:01:46,070 --> 00:01:50,850 will be the third most populous country in the world, right. Third after China first, 18 00:01:50,850 --> 00:01:55,100 and India second. It's also a country of lots of different cultures and lots of 19 00:01:55,100 --> 00:02:03,710 different languages. At last count there are well over 200 of these. Very diverse. 20 00:02:03,710 --> 00:02:11,940 So, in terms of VR, we started a creation lab there in Lagos called Imisi 3D. Imisi 21 00:02:11,940 --> 00:02:18,400 is a Yoruba word and Yoruba is the language of the Yoruba people who you find 22 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,483 in the southwestern part of Nigeria. The word means 'inspiration'. We started out 23 00:02:23,483 --> 00:02:31,940 really small. We, well basically I, got a computer, a VR ready computer, a few 24 00:02:31,940 --> 00:02:38,590 headsets, a few books on virtual reality and set up in one of the leading hubs in 25 00:02:38,590 --> 00:02:41,910 Lagos, called the Co-Creation hub. So basically, that's what it was. 26 00:02:41,910 --> 00:02:46,940 That was the start. A desk in a corner where we said: Hey, if you're even 27 00:02:46,940 --> 00:02:51,700 remotely curious about this technology, if you want to know what's possible with it, 28 00:02:51,700 --> 00:02:56,440 then come on down. Because as you probably remember, in 2016, a lot of people were 29 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:01,080 saying: This is the year of virtual reality. There was a lot of expectation 30 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,770 that it would come into its own in some way and there was a lot of excitement 31 00:03:04,770 --> 00:03:11,520 about it and we felt that that was a story that we needed to be a part of as well for 32 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:19,129 a number of reasons that I'll explore. So, in Nigeria if you think about the country 33 00:03:19,129 --> 00:03:27,520 say 5, 10 years ago, certainly we weren't on the, you know, on the global map for 34 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:34,290 being creators. We were in some fields. So, for example you would always be able 35 00:03:34,290 --> 00:03:40,010 to mention super talented Nigerian Authors for example. But when it came to 36 00:03:40,010 --> 00:03:46,060 technology I don't think we were being thought of as creators a lot. Even though 37 00:03:46,060 --> 00:03:49,520 a lot of creativity was happening, even though a lot of innovation was happening 38 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:54,640 in the country. And there's been a real drive, a real need, to shift that 39 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:59,480 narrative from one of consumption, where we're just a market where electronics 40 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:04,500 technology is being sold, to one where we are actually adopting these technologies 41 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:10,019 and using them for our own purposes. Making them work for us as well. So, being 42 00:04:10,019 --> 00:04:18,579 able to move that needle from consumption to creation. Back to the start. We began 43 00:04:18,579 --> 00:04:23,520 on the first week of July in 2016 and that first week we had a virtual reality 44 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,530 showcase. This is a picture from the event. We asked people to come, you know, 45 00:04:28,530 --> 00:04:32,110 if you're curious, if you've never tried it before. If you're wondering what this 46 00:04:32,110 --> 00:04:36,729 word that everybody's been talking about is. And that day, over the course of about 47 00:04:36,729 --> 00:04:45,250 five hours, we had about 100 people come down to try out VR, talk about VR, find 48 00:04:45,250 --> 00:04:49,900 out what the possibilities might be with this technology, figure out if it's for 49 00:04:49,900 --> 00:04:55,470 them. And what's really interesting for me personally is that, back then in 2016, 50 00:04:55,470 --> 00:05:04,810 that summer when we had people come into our space, probably 90 percent of them had 51 00:05:04,810 --> 00:05:11,150 never tried out virtual reality before. They maybe heard about it, might have seen 52 00:05:11,150 --> 00:05:15,060 a Google Cardboard, but you know, they didn't really know what it was. Today when 53 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:19,310 I have events like this, at least half of the people coming in, at the very least 54 00:05:19,310 --> 00:05:24,500 half, would have tried out VR. So, it's just great to see even with time and with 55 00:05:24,500 --> 00:05:30,449 activity, how things can change. But on this day in 2016 we had people come in 56 00:05:30,449 --> 00:05:34,729 and, you know, they were challenged to think about what is possible with this 57 00:05:34,729 --> 00:05:38,140 technology. But then it seemed like a lot of talk. You know, you come in, you put on 58 00:05:38,140 --> 00:05:43,210 a few headsets, you try the Samsung Gear VR, you maybe try a Google Cardboard, you 59 00:05:43,210 --> 00:05:47,100 start to talk. But then what next? And that's something that we really wanted to 60 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:53,389 make different. You know, let it not just be talk. We wanted people to know that 61 00:05:53,389 --> 00:05:57,550 these were technology that they should use to create as well. So we decided to have a 62 00:05:57,550 --> 00:06:03,479 hackathon. Then, when it held in November 2016, it was the first virtual reality 63 00:06:03,479 --> 00:06:08,520 hackathon in Nigeria. And promoting the belief that we have, that these 64 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:13,400 technologies are actually tools, that we can use to create solutions, we challenged 65 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:19,665 the participants to think about creating solutions for either education, healthcare 66 00:06:19,665 --> 00:06:25,110 or tourism. Now we chose these particular sectors because, we'd recognize that these 67 00:06:25,110 --> 00:06:29,090 are areas in which there was quite a bit of scope for immediate significant impact 68 00:06:29,090 --> 00:06:36,800 from a place like Nigeria. And here's what came out of it. In the picture there you 69 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:42,380 can see what was the leading hack by the winning team. It was a product that they 70 00:06:42,380 --> 00:06:49,090 called "learn" but actually spelt L E V R N and it's an experience square, as you 71 00:06:49,090 --> 00:06:54,300 can see there's a leap motion attached to a Samsung Gear VR. And it allows you to 72 00:06:54,300 --> 00:06:58,380 learn how to code using hand based gestures. So it's really exciting to see 73 00:06:58,380 --> 00:07:02,360 people thinking about how they could push the boundary beyond what was even just 74 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,610 traditionally possible with the gear VR as it was then. And to start thinking 75 00:07:06,610 --> 00:07:10,410 creatively about how you might use these technologies and tools to learn. 76 00:07:10,410 --> 00:07:16,150 Especially, you know, in disciplines that were always challenged about how best we 77 00:07:16,150 --> 00:07:26,530 can get people to learn and move with the times. OK. So, I've got a few numbers up 78 00:07:26,530 --> 00:07:30,199 on the screen. I wonder if anybody knows what they might refer to? 79 00:07:30,199 --> 00:07:35,300 *silence* 80 00:07:35,300 --> 00:07:45,850 JO: Anybody? No? Okay. So the first one, 263 Million, is a number from UNICEF from 81 00:07:45,850 --> 00:07:51,470 2014. And then, that was the estimate about the number of children who were out 82 00:07:51,470 --> 00:07:58,800 of school in the world. The second number, 13.2 Million, is a number out of school 83 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:04,789 children in just Nigeria. And that final number, 1 Billion., that's a number of 84 00:08:04,789 --> 00:08:09,970 children in the world who don't really have access to good quality education. You 85 00:08:09,970 --> 00:08:14,039 might wonder why have these numbers up right now. And that's because I believe 86 00:08:14,039 --> 00:08:19,130 that virtual reality is something that we can use to tackle these kind of 87 00:08:19,130 --> 00:08:26,733 statistics. One of the things that we're exploring in Lagos, is looking at VR for 88 00:08:26,733 --> 00:08:33,639 schools. Now certainly back in 2016 when we were starting out, quite a lot of the 89 00:08:33,639 --> 00:08:39,750 attention with VR was being put into sectors like gaming and entertainment. But 90 00:08:39,750 --> 00:08:44,179 as I mentioned, we we've been wanting to shift the needle to to other sectors to 91 00:08:44,179 --> 00:08:52,569 see ways in which we can adapt and use it. And I think that actually VR, despite the, 92 00:08:52,569 --> 00:08:58,360 you know, the common perception that it's perhaps elitist, perhaps expensive, in its 93 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:04,600 low cost form could actually be a solution for education. And this is how it might 94 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:10,200 work. Imagine if we took low cost VR, something as simple say as a Google 95 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:16,110 Cardboard, mobile phones, and we all know the story of mobile phone penetration 96 00:09:16,110 --> 00:09:22,019 increasing daily in Africa across the continent, solar portables because in some 97 00:09:22,019 --> 00:09:28,649 places electricity from the grid is not reliable. And with that you have a device, 98 00:09:28,649 --> 00:09:32,300 that once you have the right content available for it, is an all in one 99 00:09:32,300 --> 00:09:36,809 learning solution that's fairly portable and can be deployed really just about 100 00:09:36,809 --> 00:09:42,759 anywhere. Now for me, this is one of the super exciting possibilities with a 101 00:09:42,759 --> 00:09:51,880 technology like virtual reality, that we can go into schools, or even the 13.2 102 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:56,139 million out of school children, go to them and give them a device with the right 103 00:09:56,139 --> 00:09:59,639 content that will allow them to start learning. And learning in ways that were 104 00:09:59,639 --> 00:10:04,649 not possible because, if you were to go to a traditional public school, I mentioned 105 00:10:04,649 --> 00:10:09,450 we are 190+ Million people, the infrastructure is challenged in terms of 106 00:10:09,450 --> 00:10:13,790 trying to deal with that number, and you'll easily have classrooms with over 107 00:10:13,790 --> 00:10:18,660 100 children in them. Which means, that you're very limited in terms of the 108 00:10:18,660 --> 00:10:23,299 interaction that's possible between student and teacher, and also with the 109 00:10:23,299 --> 00:10:29,429 amount of infrastructure that you can provide. But as you know with VR, whether 110 00:10:29,429 --> 00:10:33,990 it's a virtual lab where they can do experiments, whether it's the opportunity 111 00:10:33,990 --> 00:10:39,989 to visit the pyramids in Egypt or even to explore the solar system, all of a sudden 112 00:10:39,989 --> 00:10:45,230 opportunities and experiences that would not be available even if, you know, we 113 00:10:45,230 --> 00:10:49,259 suddenly kind of like diverted our whole budget to education, are now possible and 114 00:10:49,259 --> 00:10:57,579 I think that's really exciting. And that's just a picture from one of the schools 115 00:10:57,579 --> 00:11:02,449 where we have been going in to explore using virtual reality to supplement the 116 00:11:02,449 --> 00:11:09,149 curriculum for education. Education is one possibility, but something else that also 117 00:11:09,149 --> 00:11:15,680 excites me about these technologies and what is possible, is when it comes to art 118 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:24,290 and culture. This past week one of the leading African philosophers, a Nigerian 119 00:11:24,290 --> 00:11:31,129 woman called Sophia Oluwole, died and she was a very, very big supporter, promoter 120 00:11:31,129 --> 00:11:38,819 of African culture, of Nigerian culture and of dipping into your heritage to take 121 00:11:38,819 --> 00:11:43,449 that what was useful there and bring it and use it to help to define the life that 122 00:11:43,449 --> 00:11:46,400 you're living today and the one you want to create for the future. And I 123 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:51,360 particularly like this, that you know, from one of her papers where she says it's 124 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,540 up to us and she was really calling out to everyone to discover and promote a 125 00:11:54,540 --> 00:12:00,290 reliable African intellectual atmosphere based on narratives presented in the truth 126 00:12:00,290 --> 00:12:05,569 of their language and authenticity. And I bring this up now because I think that 127 00:12:05,569 --> 00:12:13,249 that is something else that this technology enables us to, in a sense, 128 00:12:13,249 --> 00:12:19,970 convey our reality and tell stories and the truth of our language and authenticity. 129 00:12:19,970 --> 00:12:25,559 And I want to tell you about two projects that relate to that. The first is one that 130 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:30,100 brings Nigeria and Switzerland together. So, earlier this year I was approached by 131 00:12:30,100 --> 00:12:36,230 a team around the IAF festival in Switzerland. It's a festival that is 132 00:12:36,230 --> 00:12:41,369 focused on contemporary African art predominantly photography and it's held in 133 00:12:41,369 --> 00:12:49,929 Basel each year. Now each year, along with photographies that are exhibited, they add 134 00:12:49,929 --> 00:12:56,629 an element of contemporary art. This year it happend to be virtual reality. And for 135 00:12:56,629 --> 00:13:05,736 that, they said: Well, what would it be like if we were to juxtapose living in 136 00:13:05,736 --> 00:13:11,531 Switzerland - take a city, Basel - and in an African country Nigeria. Let's take a 137 00:13:11,531 --> 00:13:19,859 city, Lagos. What would that look like. So, what we created was something called 138 00:13:19,859 --> 00:13:27,600 Reality Check. It was a very simple VR experience actually. But one with a lot of 139 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:36,365 potential and possibility. What we did was map out a number of locations. So, we took 140 00:13:36,365 --> 00:13:38,930 traditional places that you would visit. If you've been to Brasel you know it's 141 00:13:38,930 --> 00:13:44,800 quite compact, and it's really easy to walk around the center of the town. And we 142 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:54,480 took places like a church, a shopping mall, a school and map these, and then wanted 143 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:59,459 to do the same in Lagos. Now Lagos is quite widespread. So we chose a particular 144 00:13:59,459 --> 00:14:06,249 neighborhood, Yaba, and then did the same. We went to a church for example and 145 00:14:06,249 --> 00:14:12,860 captured the space with 360 video. And what was then possible was that, when you 146 00:14:12,860 --> 00:14:20,550 came to this festival in Switzerland, you could go on a walking tour of the city. 147 00:14:20,550 --> 00:14:29,480 But alongside that tour of Basel you could also have one of Lagos. So, you could walk 148 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:36,139 to the church in Basel, seen in the picture there. And while there, you would 149 00:14:36,139 --> 00:14:44,339 then have an experience of a church in Lagos. We have, you know, over the course 150 00:14:44,339 --> 00:14:50,009 of the week that I spent there with them a whole series of people come round to come 151 00:14:50,009 --> 00:14:56,639 and figure out what it might be like, to step into a space in Lagos, Nigeria if 152 00:14:56,639 --> 00:15:01,209 only for a few minutes. Now each of the videos was really short and just about two 153 00:15:01,209 --> 00:15:07,629 minutes and I'm actually going to play one for you to see. But what was exciting for 154 00:15:07,629 --> 00:15:12,889 the people who tried it out, from what they said back to us, was just being able 155 00:15:12,889 --> 00:15:19,749 to shift your reality in a way that, as we know, is not possible with traditional 156 00:15:19,749 --> 00:15:26,319 media, not with the books you read, not with the videos you watch in 2D. Well, let 157 00:15:26,319 --> 00:15:36,769 me show you one. So here we are. This is the church in Lagos. 158 00:15:36,769 --> 00:15:48,019 *JO mumbling* Let's just get that... *voices in the background of the video* 159 00:15:48,019 --> 00:15:55,993 JO: And what we did is, during a weekday we were able to go in. Where the camera is 160 00:15:55,993 --> 00:16:02,939 positioned, is up where the choir traditionally sits on Sunday. And it 161 00:16:02,939 --> 00:16:06,470 happened to be a day when - it's a Catholic church by the way - they were 162 00:16:06,470 --> 00:16:14,160 getting ready, I believe it was a benediction service, so you can hear he 163 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:19,529 has some of that going on down there. Here we are now in the (???) ave. 164 00:16:19,529 --> 00:17:10,646 *voices in the background of the video* 165 00:17:10,646 --> 00:17:12,998 JO: And so this video is much like the 166 00:17:12,998 --> 00:17:18,949 others. They were all roughly two minutes. The camera was stationary. And what we 167 00:17:18,949 --> 00:17:22,350 wanted to create was just the impression that, much like you were doing if you were 168 00:17:22,350 --> 00:17:26,880 doing the walking tour, where you'd get to a location and stand and look around. That 169 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:32,539 you have that same experience in Lagos that you walked into, you know, the 170 00:17:32,539 --> 00:17:36,159 location in question. You stood at a spot and you were able to look around and 171 00:17:36,159 --> 00:17:42,080 observe what was going on for a minute or two. 172 00:17:42,080 --> 00:18:12,416 *Video is still playing, no sound other than the voices in the background* 173 00:18:12,416 --> 00:18:41,800 JO: Just give me a second. OK. 174 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:47,800 And that experience that I just showed in the church was also done in locations like a 175 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:57,880 university, a school, a library in Lagos, a bank, a Medical Center. So, just little 176 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:03,230 vignettes if you will, of life, everyday life in the city that you're able to 177 00:19:03,230 --> 00:19:08,380 share. And we're hoping to do the flip later on, where in Lagos you will then be 178 00:19:08,380 --> 00:19:14,860 able to have the 360 experiences of these locations in Basel for people who are in 179 00:19:14,860 --> 00:19:22,220 Lagos. So, moving on and exploring art and culture. I have this other quote that I'm 180 00:19:22,220 --> 00:19:28,789 sure a lot of people have seen around quite a bit. And I first encountered it in 181 00:19:28,789 --> 00:19:34,269 one of Chinua Achebe's novels. It says: There is that great proverb - that until 182 00:19:34,269 --> 00:19:38,890 the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify 183 00:19:38,890 --> 00:19:44,170 the hunter. And of course you know, we know how this applies in lots of ways. We 184 00:19:44,170 --> 00:19:49,010 talk about the way, you know, history might have been told. History as we know 185 00:19:49,010 --> 00:19:56,220 it traditionally, might be repurposed if it's taught from another perspective for 186 00:19:56,220 --> 00:20:01,759 people around the world. But storytelling I think, is particularly important with 187 00:20:01,759 --> 00:20:08,299 360. And what was exciting for me as well earlier this year is, when we had a member 188 00:20:08,299 --> 00:20:15,110 of our community, the Imisi 3Dcommunity in Lagos, actually go and shoot what was the 189 00:20:15,110 --> 00:20:21,640 first 360 documentary. And this is just a short, about four or five minutes long. 190 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:26,370 But it's the first Nigerian made 360 documentary in one of the internally 191 00:20:26,370 --> 00:20:30,560 displaced people camps that we have in the north eastern part of the country in 192 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:39,659 Maiduguri. And this short documentary in Bakassi actually tells a story of a boy 193 00:20:39,659 --> 00:20:44,570 called Modu, who is an insurgency orphan. He's about eleven years old, but he has 194 00:20:44,570 --> 00:20:50,690 lost his father to the issues with Boko Haram in the north eastern part of the 195 00:20:50,690 --> 00:20:57,230 country. And his mother as well. So, he lived with his grandmother in an IDP camp 196 00:20:57,230 --> 00:21:04,410 and you know, was someone who, through whose eyes we could start to understand 197 00:21:04,410 --> 00:21:09,620 what it really means to be in that space, to understand that tragedy a little bit 198 00:21:09,620 --> 00:21:18,320 more. We had a screening for this documentary in Lagos in November, but even 199 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:22,889 before that, I think what's really compelling is that we have had people who 200 00:21:22,889 --> 00:21:28,210 had even been to IDP camps in the Northeast and other parts of Nigeria. And 201 00:21:28,210 --> 00:21:33,179 when they came and they experienced "In Bakassi" what they would say is: This is 202 00:21:33,179 --> 00:21:39,130 even more real than being there. Now, at face value you might think: Well, what are 203 00:21:39,130 --> 00:21:42,871 they talking about? And when they broke it down, what they were telling us was, that 204 00:21:42,871 --> 00:21:47,190 when you are actually there in the camps, you're overwhelmed by all that's going on. 205 00:21:47,190 --> 00:21:53,769 There's so much activity, so much noise, so much jostling, that you are not really 206 00:21:53,769 --> 00:21:59,879 able to process what's happening around you. But when you have the experience in 207 00:21:59,879 --> 00:22:07,440 VR like this, through a 360 video, you're then really sensitive and focused on the 208 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:13,639 experience as it is, on the story that you're hearing, in this case Modu's. So I 209 00:22:13,639 --> 00:22:18,580 am going to just play a little bit from the screening, not the documentary itself, 210 00:22:18,580 --> 00:22:27,049 for you to see what it was like sharing that work with people in Lagos. 211 00:22:27,049 --> 00:22:49,809 *music* 212 00:22:49,809 --> 00:22:56,983 Toks Bakare: My experience watching the documentary was intensely moving. I think 213 00:22:56,983 --> 00:23:03,294 because I had a phenomenally different experience watching it in VR. There's the 214 00:23:03,294 --> 00:23:09,380 ability to look all around you and really feel like you are immersed in the scene. I 215 00:23:09,380 --> 00:23:16,663 felt like I was in the camp and almost going through what the little boy is going 216 00:23:16,663 --> 00:23:20,269 through. So that, that was an interesting feeling that was different from watching a 217 00:23:20,269 --> 00:23:23,964 regular film. 218 00:23:23,964 --> 00:23:33,080 *music* 219 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:41,389 JO: OK. So, I've talked a little bit about some of the projects that we've done or 220 00:23:41,389 --> 00:23:47,470 been involved in in this phase with art and culture, looking at things, like telling 221 00:23:47,470 --> 00:23:54,200 360 stories or being able to share reality across different geographies. I want to 222 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:58,029 talk a little bit more now about kind of like the future and where we see ourselves 223 00:23:58,029 --> 00:24:03,840 going. I have the words "bright future" there because I think we all agree that 224 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:09,710 these technologies hold a lot of promise. But there are particular challenges for us 225 00:24:09,710 --> 00:24:13,220 in a place like Nigeria, and one of them is, you know, even just access to the 226 00:24:13,220 --> 00:24:20,059 hardware. So one of the things that we are exploring is, what would it be like if we 227 00:24:20,059 --> 00:24:26,879 were able to, you know, actually deal with that obstacle. What if we created a VR 228 00:24:26,879 --> 00:24:32,498 headset that was purpose built for our locale. An all in one solar powered VR 229 00:24:32,498 --> 00:24:38,732 headset. One that's me with locally sourced materials. How would that change 230 00:24:38,732 --> 00:24:44,077 things? Is that something that we are trying to do a design challenge around. We 231 00:24:44,077 --> 00:24:49,659 started one last year but tried to do it virtually. We'll be looking at in the new 232 00:24:49,659 --> 00:24:55,172 year having a team come into work on this and attempt to build one. Now if we can do 233 00:24:55,172 --> 00:25:00,220 that, it becomes really exciting for us because yes, we have platforms like 234 00:25:00,220 --> 00:25:05,350 YouTube where you can share 360 content, and Vimeo, and others. But not a lot of 235 00:25:05,350 --> 00:25:09,919 people have access to headsets and other elements of the technology and we can 236 00:25:09,919 --> 00:25:17,289 start to do something about that actively. So looking at ways in which we can build 237 00:25:17,289 --> 00:25:21,789 and, you know, do R&D to suit our purposes it's something that's very big 238 00:25:21,789 --> 00:25:28,279 for us. We are also working really hard to build a community of content creators. 239 00:25:28,279 --> 00:25:33,309 People who will work with these technologies, the people who will create 240 00:25:33,309 --> 00:25:37,805 the educational content that will make VR for schools a reality in a country like 241 00:25:37,805 --> 00:25:43,710 Nigeria. For that we have started to hold community meet ups. They've been running 242 00:25:43,710 --> 00:25:49,779 for over a year now. We have the very first one at the Google office in Lagos 243 00:25:49,779 --> 00:25:55,770 and have since, you know, had the community grow with people coming from all 244 00:25:55,770 --> 00:26:02,559 sorts of different sectors. From the arts, you know, from technology, people from 245 00:26:02,559 --> 00:26:08,049 business as well who are even looking at the opportunities to commercialize the 246 00:26:08,049 --> 00:26:11,730 technology locally. And we're excited about what's possible when all of these 247 00:26:11,730 --> 00:26:19,029 people come together. We're also trying to connect communities across Africa because 248 00:26:19,029 --> 00:26:23,779 we know that it's one thing to try and build communities locally and grow 249 00:26:23,779 --> 00:26:28,179 expertise there. But if we're joined up together across the continent a lot more 250 00:26:28,179 --> 00:26:33,659 will be possible a lot quicker. Earlier this year we held what was at that time 251 00:26:33,659 --> 00:26:38,510 the largest VR event on the continent, where we had a Hackathon happen 252 00:26:38,510 --> 00:26:44,980 simultaneously across seven countries. We had over 35 teams take part and the 253 00:26:44,980 --> 00:26:51,919 overall winning team was a team of three females from Egypt. And much like that 254 00:26:51,919 --> 00:26:57,990 first one that I mentioned in 2016 where we said create for education, or health 255 00:26:57,990 --> 00:27:01,700 care or tourism, we asked the teams to do the same. So, create for education, health 256 00:27:01,700 --> 00:27:07,429 care, tourism. However this time we added the environment, it happened around Earth 257 00:27:07,429 --> 00:27:14,360 Day, and also social justice. The winning team created an experience that allows you 258 00:27:14,360 --> 00:27:18,620 to learn about how to take care of the environment. And it was built for the HTC 259 00:27:18,620 --> 00:27:26,740 Vive. We also have a growing community that is online on Facebook. They come from 260 00:27:26,740 --> 00:27:31,940 over 20 different African countries. It's over 900 strong and growing every day. 261 00:27:31,940 --> 00:27:35,549 We're really excited about the possibilities as we all come together and 262 00:27:35,549 --> 00:27:41,889 start to figure out how we can work and create. We believe collaboration is our 263 00:27:41,889 --> 00:27:48,149 future, whether it's across these African countries or further across the world, the 264 00:27:48,149 --> 00:27:53,110 work that we did with Switzerland, whether it's being here and connecting with you 265 00:27:53,110 --> 00:28:01,190 all. But we know that together we can do so much more. I usually end my talks with 266 00:28:01,190 --> 00:28:06,519 this challenge to people particularly when I'm talking about using the technologies 267 00:28:06,519 --> 00:28:13,369 for the first time. Very, very excited to know that the future is ours to create and 268 00:28:13,369 --> 00:28:20,010 with things like VR and AR, solutions created in a way that maybe we're not yet 269 00:28:20,010 --> 00:28:26,899 imagining but perhaps we should. So what will you do? I want to leave you with one 270 00:28:26,899 --> 00:28:39,710 last video that shows what it's like in the lab. 271 00:28:39,710 --> 00:29:39,940 *music* 272 00:29:39,940 --> 00:29:51,265 JO: Thank you. *applause* 273 00:29:51,265 --> 00:29:55,389 Herald: Thank you very much. We have time for Q&A. There are two microphones 274 00:29:55,389 --> 00:29:58,830 here in the room. One in the middle, microphone number 2, and one out to the 275 00:29:58,830 --> 00:30:02,491 side, microphone number 1. And there might also be questions from the Internet. So 276 00:30:02,491 --> 00:30:07,029 please come up and we have already question from microphone number 2. 277 00:30:07,029 --> 00:30:13,275 Microphone 2: Hello. So, thanks for the presentation. There is a concept that, I 278 00:30:13,275 --> 00:30:17,906 don't know how valid it is, but the Innovator's Dilemma. Basically, if you are 279 00:30:17,906 --> 00:30:22,625 already in a comfortable spot, you're not going to push yourself too much, either in 280 00:30:22,625 --> 00:30:28,440 your community or your company. You have either a new player, that is going to make 281 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:32,220 something radical and is going to challenge you to make yourself better. And 282 00:30:32,220 --> 00:30:39,110 there was some discussion on this based on the how for example maybe you not need the 283 00:30:39,110 --> 00:30:46,139 big DSL or fiber infrastructure to just just use 3G or 4G and in some community 284 00:30:46,139 --> 00:30:50,265 with other infrastructure maybe for example you do mobile payments, like in 285 00:30:50,265 --> 00:30:59,059 China. Could this kind of useage of your free education be an equivalent of this, 286 00:30:59,059 --> 00:31:03,549 that maybe the classroom as we have now is pretty good? But if you were so 287 00:31:03,549 --> 00:31:09,009 challenged, that you need to go much further. Would it be like new oppurtunity 288 00:31:09,009 --> 00:31:14,759 to use much better way to do it. JO: So thank you for the question. Yes, 289 00:31:14,759 --> 00:31:22,470 actually I think it might be. And you know you gave some examples about how leapfrogs 290 00:31:22,470 --> 00:31:27,200 have happened in other parts of the world apart from the West, just because they 291 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:31,669 have accessed technology at a time that's later than the West, and so they've been 292 00:31:31,669 --> 00:31:39,960 able to kind of like evolve in a way that doesn't have to be anchored in the legacy. 293 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:44,000 You know, the history of the technology and how it actually grew. I think the same 294 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:50,889 is true for for technology like VR being used for education. And I think that 295 00:31:50,889 --> 00:31:54,620 because, you know the public schools I mentioned, where you might easily have 296 00:31:54,620 --> 00:32:00,960 over 100 kids in a classroom, you'll be in a space that is not like the modern 297 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:05,740 classroom in a private school in Lagos or you know or one in the West. It's not 298 00:32:05,740 --> 00:32:09,480 like, you know ,where you have maybe a one to 20 or one to 10 you know teacher 299 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:15,300 student ratio. It won't have all of the infrastructure that aids learning as we 300 00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:20,440 know it today. So, you are then challenged to think really creatively about what you 301 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:26,460 might do with with VR, what you might do with whatever tool is brought to you. And 302 00:32:26,460 --> 00:32:32,330 that's why you know worth thinking about the low cost, you know, VR that might be 303 00:32:32,330 --> 00:32:36,759 mobile device driven or something powered in a similar way, because we know one of 304 00:32:36,759 --> 00:32:41,080 the challenges will be power, you know, as we know it. Because from the grid there, 305 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:45,320 it's a challenge. And I think as you start to innovate around those realities and 306 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:51,059 create them, yes, we will be able to leapfrog and potentially redefine what 307 00:32:51,059 --> 00:32:54,029 education looks like, certainly in that space. 308 00:32:54,029 --> 00:32:57,200 Herald: We have question for microphone number one. 309 00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:01,989 Microphone 1: Thank you very much for your presentation. I have read a number of 310 00:33:01,989 --> 00:33:07,669 studies where people have found that, if young children spend too much time in VR, 311 00:33:07,669 --> 00:33:11,830 if they're very young, it has a problem with their cognitive development. And I'm 312 00:33:11,830 --> 00:33:17,860 wondering if you're thinking about a sort of scaled approach at what age people are 313 00:33:17,860 --> 00:33:21,279 working with regular computer graphics and then how they engage with VR. 314 00:33:21,279 --> 00:33:24,480 JO: Absolutely Microphone 1: Get a good education. 315 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:30,200 JO: Thank you very much. Yes. So for the work that we're doing at the moment with 316 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:36,100 VR for schools, where working with children who are in secondary school. So 317 00:33:36,100 --> 00:33:42,019 those are children who are typically from 12 years up and we're very conscious, that 318 00:33:42,019 --> 00:33:47,710 there has been some information about the you know side effects of VR. But there's 319 00:33:47,710 --> 00:33:51,140 not enough data yet. And so we're consciously studying, as we're going 320 00:33:51,140 --> 00:33:55,999 along. We're about to start a formal pilot in one of these schools, where we will 321 00:33:55,999 --> 00:34:00,419 actually have a researcher who's working on the ground and documenting as we go on. 322 00:34:00,419 --> 00:34:06,869 We by default are limiting, you know, time in VR, because we know, just from what we 323 00:34:06,869 --> 00:34:10,649 know generally about screens and eyes, that it won't be great to have extended 324 00:34:10,649 --> 00:34:13,819 periods. But we're actively learning as well. 325 00:34:13,819 --> 00:34:17,429 Herald: We have another question from Microphone number 1. 326 00:34:17,429 --> 00:34:21,480 Microphone number 1: I see that you are working with unity alert. 327 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:28,810 But I was wondering if you're also working with the more open standard of web VR? 328 00:34:28,810 --> 00:34:35,191 JO: We haven't yet worked with web VR. But that is something that we are about to 329 00:34:35,191 --> 00:34:40,970 start exploring in the New Year. Herald: We have a question from microphone 330 00:34:40,970 --> 00:34:44,099 number two. Microphone number 2: Hi Judith, thank you for 331 00:34:44,099 --> 00:34:50,049 your talk again. I found it very interesting and inspiring that you've 332 00:34:50,049 --> 00:34:57,129 presented the second talk where VR was considered like an interesting or an 333 00:34:57,129 --> 00:35:05,869 important tool to create new narratives maybe in a rather or historically rather 334 00:35:05,869 --> 00:35:12,790 oral based history culture or narration culture and to use it for alternative 335 00:35:12,790 --> 00:35:19,000 narrations and create the new historian as you say it like the maybe the non colonial 336 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:25,099 historian if you want. And so I also wondered as I saw also in your 337 00:35:25,099 --> 00:35:29,180 presentation and this is also my perspective as I have been working a lot 338 00:35:29,180 --> 00:35:33,359 with Goethe Institute and have once worked in Kenya with Goethe Institute and I 339 00:35:33,359 --> 00:35:38,930 notice that like the sort of still the Western platforms and of course the 340 00:35:38,930 --> 00:35:45,900 institutions with money are kind of the only places and spaces where these things 341 00:35:45,900 --> 00:35:52,390 especially the technological things can happen due to money reasons, are the only 342 00:35:52,390 --> 00:35:57,150 spaces that exist basically. For example in Nairobi it was like this space that 343 00:35:57,150 --> 00:36:01,869 could be used by artists. There's some other spaces in Nairobi but still it felt 344 00:36:01,869 --> 00:36:08,109 like this strong like power maybe even more infrastructural power that's there 345 00:36:08,109 --> 00:36:14,560 and you've used the Google space and I saw the Facebook logo and certificate. So I 346 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:18,410 wonder is this anything you feel doubts about? Or do you just think, ok we'll take 347 00:36:18,410 --> 00:36:25,380 their money and that's cool? JO: Great question, thank you. It's 348 00:36:25,380 --> 00:36:29,390 interesting that you ask because for me personally one of a kind of like the 349 00:36:29,390 --> 00:36:36,420 buggers for me is that a lot of the major tech companies, in my opinion they don't 350 00:36:36,420 --> 00:36:42,490 see, they don't see African countries as a real VR market. And you know you can see 351 00:36:42,490 --> 00:36:45,990 that just by the fact that their products aren't even accessible there. You know, 352 00:36:45,990 --> 00:36:55,700 they are not available. That said you know I think that I talked about collaboration 353 00:36:55,700 --> 00:37:01,490 a lot. I think that the way forward is for us all to work together. They already have 354 00:37:01,490 --> 00:37:06,859 done you know a ton of work in terms of what is possible with the technology and 355 00:37:06,859 --> 00:37:12,119 even what will be possible in the future. Just by virtue of their R&D budgets 356 00:37:12,119 --> 00:37:18,730 and what's possible. So I very much want as we grow that we are working with them 357 00:37:18,730 --> 00:37:26,650 and not apart from them in any way. But alongside that, I am very very concerned 358 00:37:26,650 --> 00:37:31,480 about as you know developing as ourselves and creating as ourselves you know if it 359 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:35,900 goes like truth and authenticity that Sofia was talking about that we have our 360 00:37:35,900 --> 00:37:43,480 own voice and we can do it without being obliged to any one party. In that vein for 361 00:37:43,480 --> 00:37:47,970 example the lab that we set up one of the reasons was because we knew that access 362 00:37:47,970 --> 00:37:51,960 was difficult. We know that the equipment is relatively expensive. Things like that, 363 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:56,040 particularly given the purchasing power of the naira. So we wanted to create a space 364 00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:59,309 where, if you wanted to do VR, or you wanted to create you could actually come 365 00:37:59,309 --> 00:38:02,530 in and use the equipment and we provide that and city and we'll be doing that in 366 00:38:02,530 --> 00:38:07,030 more states across Nigeria. But I think its initiatives like that locally that 367 00:38:07,030 --> 00:38:11,800 will make sure that even as we partner we can be true to ourselves. 368 00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:16,040 Herald: We have a question from microphone number one. 369 00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:21,070 Microphone number 1: Thank you for your talk. I'm sorry if you already covered 370 00:38:21,070 --> 00:38:28,160 this aspect. I came a bit late, but I want to ask about if you are working towards 371 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:33,740 minimizing the digital divide. How? What are your effords about closing this. I 372 00:38:33,740 --> 00:38:37,901 understand that the project this is new, but your long term vision, how does that 373 00:38:37,901 --> 00:38:44,950 help to empower the rural population also? JO: Yeah. Thank you. That's a great 374 00:38:44,950 --> 00:38:49,530 question. Actually one of the things that drove the creation of the lab in 2016 was 375 00:38:49,530 --> 00:38:57,560 even recognition of that digital divide. By that time I just spent about two years 376 00:38:57,560 --> 00:39:03,230 in Lagos working within the tech sector and just being able to kind of like tap 377 00:39:03,230 --> 00:39:09,130 into the talent that was there and see what was possible. And I'd seen what you 378 00:39:09,130 --> 00:39:13,970 know young people were able to do there with traditional technology, you know, 379 00:39:13,970 --> 00:39:18,490 with software development and all of that. So I knew that in terms of you know a 380 00:39:18,490 --> 00:39:23,450 potential it was there in kind of like limitless way but the challenge is always 381 00:39:23,450 --> 00:39:27,460 of course access to to the resources to opportunity and things like that and 382 00:39:27,460 --> 00:39:31,329 that's what we try to do which is why that element of community is so important for 383 00:39:31,329 --> 00:39:39,099 us. We we provide access to equipment and resources in the lab. We also hold those 384 00:39:39,099 --> 00:39:43,270 community gathering so that people can start to network with each other and 385 00:39:43,270 --> 00:39:50,350 collaborate together. We also look for ways to support learning and growth and we 386 00:39:50,350 --> 00:39:56,430 do that by either holding activities or sometimes doing things like offering 387 00:39:56,430 --> 00:40:00,220 scholarships for audacities virtual reality nano degree, but we're very very 388 00:40:00,220 --> 00:40:04,780 particular about you know talent and expertise being available kind of like 389 00:40:04,780 --> 00:40:08,760 locally and in country because that's critical. That's why I don't know if you 390 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:13,470 were here when we were talking about Amber Cassady 360 documentary. But for me what's 391 00:40:13,470 --> 00:40:18,910 really exciting is that you know a Nigerian filmmaker will go acquire those 392 00:40:18,910 --> 00:40:22,830 skills and be able to be the one to make that in Nigeria because of course there 393 00:40:22,830 --> 00:40:27,710 have been other 360 documentaries made by say Al Jazeera for example you know and 394 00:40:27,710 --> 00:40:32,680 other media houses but of course they'll be bringing their teams in to do that. So 395 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:36,320 yes very very conscious of trying to to narrow that. 396 00:40:36,320 --> 00:40:41,170 Herald: We have two questions at microphone Number one. Let's see. First one. 397 00:40:41,170 --> 00:40:43,400 Microphone number 1: First of all thank 398 00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:49,406 you Judith for this great presentation. Very short question and specific question. 399 00:40:49,406 --> 00:40:56,029 When it comes to VR in education there is one major problem in my eyes. I don't know 400 00:40:56,029 --> 00:41:03,160 if you can answer this questions, but there is no real business lobby for that 401 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:10,150 right now. And when it comes to integrate VR content into educational program there 402 00:41:10,150 --> 00:41:15,960 is one major hurdle which is how to integrate that into the official program. 403 00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:21,690 Which content can be transformed into VR content? Are you working closely with 404 00:41:21,690 --> 00:41:32,117 regular let's say official education authorities? Is any board like trying to 405 00:41:32,117 --> 00:41:37,347 identify which content and how to integrate it progressively into your 406 00:41:37,347 --> 00:41:44,490 curriculums? Are you thinking about that? Because there is some nice attempt like in 407 00:41:44,490 --> 00:41:52,120 Egypt, in China to do that, but one of the major hurdle is, it is really hard to 408 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:57,584 integrate it one time into the official curriculums. So how do you identify the 409 00:41:57,584 --> 00:42:02,159 content and how it is working with the officials? 410 00:42:02,159 --> 00:42:07,210 JO: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Really great question. Yes. I mean all of the 411 00:42:07,210 --> 00:42:13,270 things that you've just mentioned very very real issues for us. When we wanted to 412 00:42:13,270 --> 00:42:17,230 start doing the VR for schools project the first thing that we actually had to do was 413 00:42:17,230 --> 00:42:21,670 approach the education authorities in the local area where we are the district 414 00:42:21,670 --> 00:42:25,450 office for education. So we had to bring them on board really quickly because we 415 00:42:25,450 --> 00:42:31,141 even need their permission to be able to go into a school and work. Beyond that we 416 00:42:31,141 --> 00:42:36,230 also decided to hold things like VR for education roundtables where we would bring 417 00:42:36,230 --> 00:42:40,960 together different stakeholders. So, these would be people from both the local 418 00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:46,700 governments from both secondary and tertiary education. And looking at both 419 00:42:46,700 --> 00:42:51,230 students faculty and sometimes even parents because we very much wanted people 420 00:42:51,230 --> 00:42:55,200 to come together to help us cocreate what a viable solution would be. And a lot of 421 00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:59,299 what you mentioned I mean that's what the teachers were saying. How exactly does 422 00:42:59,299 --> 00:43:03,369 this actually work? You know with the lesson you know, do you in the middle of a 423 00:43:03,369 --> 00:43:10,280 lecture put on the headset. You know what makes sense. So, so far we've been doing 424 00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:14,160 the VR sessions and special sessions that are carved out from the school time where 425 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:18,480 we go and see we're coming to do a session with you. Going into the New Year though 426 00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:22,700 where we're going to actually start a formal pilot in a school. We're setting up 427 00:43:22,700 --> 00:43:27,570 a lab in the school and we're going to have somebody who's, you know there with 428 00:43:27,570 --> 00:43:32,069 them, so that we can start to work with the teachers to see how we can make VR 429 00:43:32,069 --> 00:43:38,730 learning an element of the traditional kind of like classroom plan. So, I say to 430 00:43:38,730 --> 00:43:43,860 people imagine what it used to be like when you would schedule a video as part of 431 00:43:43,860 --> 00:43:48,589 a lesson. What if instead of the whole class is going to watch a video. 432 00:43:48,589 --> 00:43:52,930 Instead they were going to go and have a VR experience as the content and the 433 00:43:52,930 --> 00:43:57,180 challenge around that and what's appropriate to create. And that's really 434 00:43:57,180 --> 00:44:02,339 interesting, something that we've been trying to tackle. When we first started to 435 00:44:02,339 --> 00:44:07,140 explore this. We were quite constrained in terms of resources so we were just 436 00:44:07,140 --> 00:44:11,400 curating what was actually already available and matching it to the national 437 00:44:11,400 --> 00:44:16,960 curriculum for the junior secondary school. So, we have some content that we 438 00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:20,339 have seen can match to some of the learning outcomes that are there at the 439 00:44:20,339 --> 00:44:24,400 moment. But we know that we do have to create custom content. We particularly 440 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:29,000 have to create content that is much more accessible for people locally both in 441 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:35,210 terms of language and in terms of kind of the visuals that they are accessing there. 442 00:44:35,210 --> 00:44:39,089 We are working with a major education publisher as well in Nigeria. And of course 443 00:44:39,089 --> 00:44:43,059 they have the expertise having created quite a few of the textbooks that are in schools 444 00:44:43,059 --> 00:44:48,070 currently to help us figure that out as well as collaborating with teachers in the 445 00:44:48,070 --> 00:44:51,819 pilot school. Herald: And please don't be shy if you 446 00:44:51,819 --> 00:44:54,990 have any questions please come up to the microphones and share them with all of us. 447 00:44:54,990 --> 00:45:00,420 We have time enough for quite a few more questions. A question from mic number two! 448 00:45:00,420 --> 00:45:04,640 Microphone number 2: Yes. Thank you Judith for taking on the journey. I have a 449 00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:09,599 different question but also missed the first minutes of your talk. As I see your 450 00:45:09,599 --> 00:45:14,599 talk here also a contribution from the Global South enriching us hopefully with 451 00:45:14,599 --> 00:45:21,020 your cultural perspective and my question is: Do you think that this technology 452 00:45:21,020 --> 00:45:27,870 could help us to bridge cultural understanding. Does it support empathy to 453 00:45:27,870 --> 00:45:32,990 get more of a picture. Well the trouble from a Western perspective is that you 454 00:45:32,990 --> 00:45:37,240 know the African countries exporting poverty that's not a major good selling 455 00:45:37,240 --> 00:45:42,079 good. But there is other elements that might enrich or you might have to hack 456 00:45:42,079 --> 00:45:46,190 into our minds. My question is: Do you think this technology can actually help to 457 00:45:46,190 --> 00:45:51,900 support people understanding other cultures better? Or is this for the moment 458 00:45:51,900 --> 00:46:01,420 more an experimental thing within your control as cultural context to do your own 459 00:46:01,420 --> 00:46:06,950 educational or other purposes? JO: Thank you for that question. Yes 460 00:46:06,950 --> 00:46:12,750 actually I do think that it will help us start to understand and experience other 461 00:46:12,750 --> 00:46:22,010 cultures better and even experience empathy. And I say this because even just 462 00:46:22,010 --> 00:46:26,530 you know when we first started the lab in 2016. So, a challenge for Nigerians you 463 00:46:26,530 --> 00:46:29,559 might not know but one major challenge that people have when they want to travel 464 00:46:29,559 --> 00:46:35,250 is getting visas. Yeah the stories you hear about visa refusals can be quite 465 00:46:35,250 --> 00:46:40,910 heartbreaking. But people were put on their VR headset and sit in a chair and if 466 00:46:40,910 --> 00:46:46,309 you know with Oculus you have this option under Oculus 360 photos of explore the 467 00:46:46,309 --> 00:46:51,349 world. So, you can go to basically any country and people would do that. They 468 00:46:51,349 --> 00:46:55,339 choose a country and go. And one thing everybody would say is you mean I can 469 00:46:55,339 --> 00:47:00,000 travel and I don't even need to get a visa. That's the first thing that really 470 00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:05,559 kind of like got people so curious and so engaged and I think that cuts across 471 00:47:05,559 --> 00:47:11,760 regardless of who you are or where you're from. Nigeria is not a known tourist 472 00:47:11,760 --> 00:47:16,339 destination right now but there is actually quite a lot to see in the 473 00:47:16,339 --> 00:47:24,320 country. And most people don't realize [name of region] the south of the country has possibly the 474 00:47:24,320 --> 00:47:28,570 greatest diversity when it comes to butterflies in the world. So, some things 475 00:47:28,570 --> 00:47:35,450 like that are not known and are not explored per se because it's not on the global map 476 00:47:35,450 --> 00:47:40,329 for tourism. But these are things that we can then start to experience via virtual 477 00:47:40,329 --> 00:47:43,960 reality and that's looking at an angle like tourism. I mean we can take it right 478 00:47:43,960 --> 00:47:50,829 down to the everyday to people's lives and stories. Much like, I think we've seen in 479 00:47:50,829 --> 00:47:56,080 a sense with YouTube and what bloggers have been able to create. But in a much 480 00:47:56,080 --> 00:48:02,079 more personal way now with with VR 360 that you can actually, say, step into my 481 00:48:02,079 --> 00:48:05,280 home, step into my life and I think we'll start to see more of those stories as we 482 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:09,789 go on. Herald: We have about 15 minutes left and 483 00:48:09,789 --> 00:48:13,583 we have a question from mic number two. Microphone number 2: All right. Thanks for 484 00:48:13,583 --> 00:48:19,330 the talk. Maybe learning is not a privilege only to young people or did you 485 00:48:19,330 --> 00:48:25,170 consider teaching also older people or people from other areas? And also are you 486 00:48:25,170 --> 00:48:30,441 reachable outside Facebook? Do you have some webpage or something else? 487 00:48:30,441 --> 00:48:37,849 JO: Yes. So to address the last part first: Yes absolutely outside Facebook. 488 00:48:37,849 --> 00:48:43,320 So, if you do social media we are on Twitter as a Imisi 3D and Instagram as 489 00:48:43,320 --> 00:48:50,510 Imisi 3D as well. We have a website imisi3d.com and you can also e-mail us at 490 00:48:50,510 --> 00:48:57,039 hello@imisi3d.com. In terms of reaching people beyond young people: Yes, that is 491 00:48:57,039 --> 00:49:01,930 that's very very important to us even as we reach things like say VR for schools 492 00:49:01,930 --> 00:49:05,940 targeting students. We know that that is not possible if adoption doesn't happen 493 00:49:05,940 --> 00:49:09,829 across the board. We need the older people, we need teachers, we need 494 00:49:09,829 --> 00:49:15,501 principals to take it on board as well and want to work with the technology. So, we 495 00:49:15,501 --> 00:49:20,770 embrace all. I mean the targeted project might look like it is very student and 496 00:49:20,770 --> 00:49:24,690 young people focused but we work across the board because we recognize 497 00:49:24,690 --> 00:49:29,510 stakeholders in all demographics. Herald: Two questions at mic number one 498 00:49:29,510 --> 00:49:32,900 let's start with the first one. Microphone number 1: Thank you Judith for 499 00:49:32,900 --> 00:49:38,920 the fantastic presentation. I was wondering about, I've never heard I think 500 00:49:38,920 --> 00:49:46,289 VR and communal efforts and collective working together in such a beautiful way 501 00:49:46,289 --> 00:49:52,180 because in the global north I think VR is in a lot of cases in the framework of 502 00:49:52,180 --> 00:49:57,780 hyper individualized even isolated non- social as in such an activity. So, I think 503 00:49:57,780 --> 00:50:03,839 this was a brilliant new way of seeing that potential. I would be very interested 504 00:50:03,839 --> 00:50:10,309 in how you see that's kind of maybe a difference. Yeah and if you think a lot 505 00:50:10,309 --> 00:50:18,309 about this isolation part as well. JO: Yeah. So thank you. I mean I really 506 00:50:18,309 --> 00:50:23,410 believe that collaboration is the way forward. I think particularly in a place 507 00:50:23,410 --> 00:50:29,550 like Nigeria, a place where you're already resource challenged. I think if you saw 508 00:50:29,550 --> 00:50:33,849 the divisions early then there are too many problems. And I think given the scope 509 00:50:33,849 --> 00:50:38,329 of these technologies we haven't even begun to approach the boundaries of where 510 00:50:38,329 --> 00:50:43,279 they will be, where there's so much left to discover and explore that we must come 511 00:50:43,279 --> 00:50:48,980 together to challenge ourselves and work together and push boundaries. And that is 512 00:50:48,980 --> 00:50:56,400 enough scope for everybody to get involved. Yeah, I see the individualism 513 00:50:56,400 --> 00:51:02,710 that you talk about in other parts. I mean when I was first starting out one of the 514 00:51:02,710 --> 00:51:07,220 challenges for me was just even the multiple platforms that exist and the fact 515 00:51:07,220 --> 00:51:12,369 that things are gonna be unified in one way that we could all tap into. I hope it 516 00:51:12,369 --> 00:51:18,329 will change. But you know don't hold out too much but I think where we can work and 517 00:51:18,329 --> 00:51:22,200 where we can actually impact stuff and effect change the way that we believe it 518 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:26,700 should be then we must. Herald: One more question from microphone 519 00:51:26,700 --> 00:51:28,890 number one. Microphone number 1: Thank you also from 520 00:51:28,890 --> 00:51:36,131 my side for you talk. I do have a question more like personally. What was for you, 521 00:51:36,131 --> 00:51:42,500 since you started two years ago with this journey on VR in Nigeria. What was 522 00:51:42,500 --> 00:51:47,660 for you the most surprising thing in this journey. 523 00:51:47,660 --> 00:51:55,349 JO: The most surprising thing I have never been asked that question so I'm pausing for a 524 00:51:55,349 --> 00:52:05,880 moment to think. Actually, so maybe not surprising in the traditional sense but 525 00:52:05,880 --> 00:52:14,730 like a couple of months after I started I was at an event where Y-Combinator had 526 00:52:14,730 --> 00:52:18,589 come to Nigeria. This was in September of 2016. So it was a year where quite a few 527 00:52:18,589 --> 00:52:23,630 people were interested in what was going on in Lagos. So Y-Combinator had come to 528 00:52:23,630 --> 00:52:28,279 Nigeria for the first time. And in one of the business schools they were having a 529 00:52:28,279 --> 00:52:32,150 talk, a session and I was in the audience and I just happened to look down on the 530 00:52:32,150 --> 00:52:39,549 road below me. There were two young men and they had a phone and they were 531 00:52:39,549 --> 00:52:50,059 actually watching like a 360 video on it. And stereoscopic the screen was split and I was amazed. I 532 00:52:50,059 --> 00:52:54,770 talked to them and I said "What are you doing?" And they're like "Oh, we're 533 00:52:54,770 --> 00:52:58,721 watching this." I'm like: "Do you have a headset?" "No" "Have you ever put it in a 534 00:52:58,721 --> 00:53:04,150 headset?" No, they hadn't. So luckily at that event I had a stand and the 535 00:53:04,150 --> 00:53:07,839 exhibition space and I said well during the break come down and we'll put it in a 536 00:53:07,839 --> 00:53:12,690 headset for you so you can actually see it the way it was intended. And so during the 537 00:53:12,690 --> 00:53:16,869 break they came. They did that, they were completely "wow". They after that went on 538 00:53:16,869 --> 00:53:22,660 and bought a VR headset. But for me why that stands out is because we started the 539 00:53:22,660 --> 00:53:27,750 lab because we felt like we must do this. This is time with these technologies if we 540 00:53:27,750 --> 00:53:31,700 want to be part of the story we get involved now. And I think that was a 541 00:53:31,700 --> 00:53:37,340 beautiful example of the reality of that. Herald: And please don't hesitate. If 542 00:53:37,340 --> 00:53:40,539 you're sitting in your chair thinking I have something to ask but I'm not quite 543 00:53:40,539 --> 00:53:44,109 sure if there'll be time, there is time for another few questions. So, please get 544 00:53:44,109 --> 00:53:47,420 up behind the microphones if there is something you want to know. We have 545 00:53:47,420 --> 00:53:49,630 another question from microphone number two. 546 00:53:49,630 --> 00:53:56,260 Microphone number 2: Thanks for the day. You mentioned during one of the answers 547 00:53:56,260 --> 00:54:03,630 that one of the key indicator you crossed were the schools basically is the ratio of 548 00:54:03,630 --> 00:54:10,380 the student pretty true or better. And then I'm wondering if let's say imagine 549 00:54:10,380 --> 00:54:15,330 managing a school and I'm considering your as a solution, I have to consider my cost 550 00:54:15,330 --> 00:54:21,690 to go through what I get out of those solution. So, which indicator is 551 00:54:21,690 --> 00:54:31,500 traditionally used in education system. Which would VR in the classroom improve the 552 00:54:31,500 --> 00:54:38,600 most? JO: Thank you. So for the VR for schools 553 00:54:38,600 --> 00:54:42,440 part that I've talked about where we're actually targeting public schools. The 554 00:54:42,440 --> 00:54:48,210 real target that we want to address with that is learning outcomes. We want to 555 00:54:48,210 --> 00:54:52,760 significantly improve learning outcomes with virtual reality. And do this in a way 556 00:54:52,760 --> 00:55:00,200 where what children are not learning about computers from a book of just from hearing 557 00:55:00,200 --> 00:55:04,190 the teacher talk about it but they can actually see one in that sort of thing. If 558 00:55:04,190 --> 00:55:08,299 you want operate it where they are learning about different experiments not 559 00:55:08,299 --> 00:55:13,680 just by hearing it spoken about but by actually being able to do it in a sense in 560 00:55:13,680 --> 00:55:17,590 that virtual space. So, it's really learning outcomes that is the key 561 00:55:17,590 --> 00:55:24,639 indicator for us when it comes to the returns that we hope to see. But I think 562 00:55:24,639 --> 00:55:32,750 that we will see depending on kind of like what school sector we're looking at that 563 00:55:32,750 --> 00:55:38,980 change a little bit. So in the public schools I think that it'll be easy to go 564 00:55:38,980 --> 00:55:44,720 in there and work targeting just learning outcomes. When we go to the private 565 00:55:44,720 --> 00:55:49,230 schools with a lot more resources than it'll be more new ones there because 566 00:55:49,230 --> 00:55:55,030 there'll be scope to do more things. For example we will have schools where they 567 00:55:55,030 --> 00:56:00,750 can afford to set up labs to actually create virtual reality. And for them some 568 00:56:00,750 --> 00:56:04,670 of the indicators that they might be looking at are technical expertise in 569 00:56:04,670 --> 00:56:10,859 these students that sort of thing. Herald: And if we don't have any more questions I 570 00:56:10,859 --> 00:56:13,600 think we should all thank Judith for an excellent talk! 571 00:56:13,600 --> 00:56:17,585 JO: Thank you! *applause* 572 00:56:17,585 --> 00:56:23,430 *35C3 postroll music* 573 00:56:23,430 --> 00:56:41,000 Subtitles created by c3subtitles.de in the year 2020. Join, and help us!