According to Mashable, the VR systems will roll out during the next three months and will come loaded with educational titles, to include Google Earth VR, The Body VR, Apollo 11, Mars Odyssey, and Through the Ages as well as other nature and gaming apps. The program will cover almost half of California's 184 library sites, with a possibility for future expansion to help "support equitable access to new and emerging technology." "We already know that VR has superpowers to accelerate learning," writes Oculus Education's Cindy Ball in a blog post. "Both VR and AR will have a profound effect on education, from making difficult academic subjects more accessible and increasing the efficiency of surgical training to providing a rich backdrop for storytelling and the development of empathy and understanding." California residents interested in checking out an Oculus headset at their local library can find participating branches here.
Facebook-owned virtual reality (VR) company Apollo will supply 90 VR head-mounted displays to 100 California libraries as part of a self-funded educational initiative. The VR systems will make difficult academic subjects more accessible and provide a platform for storytelling that develops users' empathy and understanding, said Cindy Ball , programme manager at Oculus . Oculus's VR systems will offer educational games including Google Earth VR , The Body VR and Apollo 11.