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Schools
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) launched the first education specific LED immersive spaces in the UK, providing students and partners with world leading learning facilities.
Part funded by the Higher Education Council Funding Wales (HEFCW), these state-of-the-art learning spaces are situated in the University’s Carmarthen and Swansea campuses. The immersive spaces utilise the latest Samsung LED screens across three walls, creating a fully immersive virtual and augmented reality user experience.
UWTSD Immersive Space – Swansea Campus
Immersive learning is a hugely effective way for many learners to develop their knowledge and skills. It provides artificial, digitally created content and environments that accurately replicates real life scenarios so that new skills and techniques can be learned and perfected. Learners aren’t simply passive spectators; they get to be active participants who directly influence outcomes. It also offers a risk-free and safe space where learning can be repeated, and success can be accurately measured.
Chris Rees, Executive Head of Digital Creativity and Learning at UWTSD said: “Immersive learning can be hugely beneficial to a learner’s development, enriching their knowledge base and practical skills.
“These state-of-the-art facilities provide a fully immersive experience for students. This investment in technology demonstrates our commitment to providing students with the best learning experience possible. Whether it be virtual field trips, simulations or interactive lessons, the rooms will allow students to engage with the material in a new and exciting way.”
The Swansea launch at the University’s Y Fforwm building was attended by Swansea Lord Mayor Councillor Mike Day, Mike Hedges, MS, M Helen Morgan-Rees, Director of Education, Swansea Council, industry representatives and the university’s staff.
Officially opening the space in Swansea, Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, Vice Chancellor of UWTSD said: “This technology is the first of its kind in Wales and attests to the university’s willingness to push boundaries and to invest in the future. I am grateful to colleagues, to IDNS, Samsung and Igloo Vision for their work in developing this technology to support the academic, research and commercial work of the university. Higher education is changing, and we must ensure that we have the right infrastructure in place to support our students, employers and the communities we serve.”
The three LED walls that make up the immersive spaces are just over 16 metres wide and nearly 3 metres high. They comprise of 85 Samsung IE015R 1.5mm pixel pitch LED cabinets giving a total pixel resolution of 10880 x 1800, and nearly 20,000,000 individual pixels.
The Carmarthen launch at the University’s Teaching and Learning building was attended by representatives from Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion Councils, industry representatives as well as University’s staff.
Both immersive spaces also have video conferencing capabilities through two Yealink UVC30 120° wide angle USB cameras mounted at the back of the room and one ceiling mounted camera at the front of the room.
Steve Robertson, Head of Business Development at Samsung Displays said: “It has been privilege to work in collaboration with the progressive, visionary and driven teams at the UWTSD and IDNS. The end result is truly stunning. A pioneering learning and experiential space where the refined visuals of our IEA series of LED displays have helped provide incredible picture quality, detail, contrast and colour reproduction.”
Darren Clayman, Managing Director at IDNS said: “We are very proud to deliver the first LED immersive space in education at the UWTSD. This ground-breaking development sparks a new era in engagement at the university and demonstrates their forward-thinking approach to using digital technologies that enhance the learning experience.”
“UWTSD have a strong vision for their digital transformation. Delivering the immersive spaces was a collaborative process thanks to our strong partnership with the university. It’s our consultative approach that allows for ideas to be turned into a reality, it’s not just a kit list of requirements, it’s a creative concept that requires all our expertise to bring it to life.”
