The University of California, Irvine (UCI) and Tony discussed the potential benefits and challenges of using virtual reality (VR) technology in higher education. Tony, a long-standing member of the UCI community, shared his enthusiasm for VR and his proposal to incorporate VR headsets into the work setting. He highlighted the potential of VR to improve connectivity, and its convergence with emerging technologies such as AI and spatial computing. The discussion also covered the use of VR in improving the admissions experience for out-of-state students, with collaborations between various departments and teams. Maria, the director of the Virtual Reality Lab at UCI, shared her positive experiences from the first undergraduate course taught in VR, acknowledging the challenges faced but expressing gratitude for the smooth process established with Tony's support.

Tony introduced the team to the concept of Virtual Reality (VR) and its potential to bridge physical distance. UCI requested Tony to share a link, which Tony agreed to do once it's ready. Maria and Rosen shared their experiences with VR, highlighting initial disorientation and difficulty but eventually appreciating its potential. Jung-Hsien, the director of the VR lab, mentioned his ongoing work with Tony and expressed his readiness to demonstrate their VR website.

Jung-Hsien discussed the benefits and unique aspects of virtual reality (VR) experiences, emphasizing their immersive and inclusive nature. He highlighted how VR allows users to interact with different environments and perspectives, offering a unique way to see and understand things. Jung-Hsien also spoke positively about the use of avatars in VR, describing how they can provide a sense of inclusion and friendliness, even for shy individuals. UCI expressed interest in these ideas and asked Jung-Hsien for further clarification.

Discussions were held about the potential of virtual reality (VR) to enhance educational experiences, particularly for students who could not attend in-person classes due to physical or time constraints. Jung-Hsien highlighted the inclusivity and accessibility of VR, and the possibility of utilizing it to bridge geographical barriers for students, suggesting it could be a game-changer for international education. Questions were raised about the potential for live language translation and audio language adjustments within VR, with Jung-Hsien confirming that these features are currently available but may require manual correction for accuracy. The potential issues with delay in translation were also noted.

Tony discussed the current and future state of spatial computing and augmented reality, highlighting their potential as a supplemental tool rather than a replacement. He emphasized the need to build the necessary internal infrastructure to support these technologies and raised awareness about the ongoing efforts to explore and acclimate to these technologies. Tony also clarified the relationship between AI and spatial computing, describing them as two sides of the same coin that can support each other. UCI introduced an AI companion tool that can provide information and answer questions, demonstrating its practical application.

Tony discussed the advantages of using AI in education, particularly in addressing accessibility and scheduling issues for students. He mentioned that AI-powered services can be available 24/7, enabling students to participate in interviews or classes outside traditional windows. Furthermore, he introduced a new development from Stanford that uses AI to revolutionize the lens capability of VR devices, making them smaller, lighter, and more comfortable to use. UCI affirmed the potential of such technologies to reach students across different time zones and to enhance their involvement in educational activities. Finally, Jung-Hsien emphasized that while VR is a tool to make education more accessible, it's not a solution in itself, and connectivity remains an important issue.

Jung-Hsien and Patrick discussed the need for improved digital infrastructure and accessibility at universities. They highlighted the challenges of upgrading campus infrastructure to support virtual reality and remote learning, and the potential accessibility issues for students who cannot afford the necessary upgrades. They agreed on the potential of leveraging citywide Wi-Fi to break down barriers and include different corporations and infrastructures to support inclusivity. UCI suggested partnerships to provide hotspot boxes for students and the possibility of technology, specifically headsets, to improve efficiency and reduce costs as usage increases. They emphasized the importance of higher education institutions in promoting and utilizing these technologies, and encouraged student involvement to overcome potential obstacles.

UCI discussed the potential for change despite obstacles and emphasized the campus's optimistic outlook. The School of Business's plans to establish an XR lab and buy a significant number of headsets for faculty and students were discussed, with potential uses in graduate recruitment and virtual tutoring. The idea of recording monthly walks for alumni who can't visit the campus and streaming live athletics events in VR to the alumni community was also proposed. The discussion also touched on the potential of new technologies to promote inclusivity and the use of an AI tool for recording and summarizing meetings.