Microsoft demos new iOS specific Minecraft Earth features at WWDC.
Microsoft demoed its latest creation in Minecraft; Minecraft Earth at Apple’s 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference(WWDC). The augmented reality (AR) game was announced last month and will be released on iOS and Android. Saxs Persson and Lydia Winters, Minecraft Creative Director and Mojang Brand Director were on stage for the hologram demonstrations.
The directors showed off the game on a tabletop before moving it out to cover the whole stage. Then showed off some cool things like immersing themselves in the game. A fully interactive world they called it.
What is Minecraft
Minecraft is a randomly generated
world filled with secrets, wonders and peril where players place blocks and go
on adventures. Players can build whatever they can imagine with limitless
resources in the creative mode. Or explore the world and mine its resources to
feed, house and defend themselves in the survival mode.
Minecraft Earth and AR
Minecraft Earth brings augmented reality to Minecraft letting users experience the mobile game in our world. It gives you the same immersive feel as Pokémon Go. Allowing players to interact with builds in real life. Taking advantage of new iOS-only features, it was demoed that players can even step into builds.
Microsoft says you can build in tabletop mode with 3D holograms
and then bring those creations to life with full-size augmented reality. Thanks
to some new iOS-only features, you can even step into your builds
yourself.
Two new technologies introduced to make the AR game immersive is People Occlusion and Motion capture. People Occlusion will let players show up in their build. Players will be able to walk through their builds as if they existed in real life. More so other players will be able to see players mess around inside their own build. Motion Capture, on the other hand allows players to trigger pre-set animations for their in-game character. Mirroring the actions of the player.
Over 50 educators from across the African sub region participated in this years Microsoft Educator Exchange Africa event in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Microsoft Educator Exchange E², is an educational event that recognises and celebrates the achievements of educators. Who combine content, pedagogy, and technology in ways to prepare students for success.
This event brings together innovative educators to collaborate, create and share their experiences on how to integrate technology and pedagogy to advance learning. They also discover new ways to implement effective program-based learning to achieve student outcomes, and transform education. The event also provides insight into the latest trends in education.
Microsoft says they are always committed to helping educators and students create and share in new ways.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) is the foundation of our kid’s education. – Sonja Delafosse
Sonja Delafosse of Microsoft World Wide Education, spoke during the keynote on STEAM and its use in education. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) is the foundation of our kid’s education. We are able to connect and stay connected, making the world a smaller place. Teachers should let their students do problem solving exercises everyday.
Minecraft education edition gives students an immersive way to learn while tackling problems. – Stephen Reid
Stephen Reid, Immersive Minds shared on game based learning in the classroom, of Games in Education.
From a statistics he shared 56% of parents say video games positively affect their children. Some very interesting games that can be used in teaching children include LittleBigPlanet, Ico, From Dust, and Valiant Hearts. They are some of the best games used to teach kids about all sorts of things.
Don’t forget about Microsoft’s strides with Minecraft in education and how that is rapidly being adopted and used in the class room. There was a demo of the Minecraft Education edition. On how by using Minecraft as a platform for learning, educators can motivate and inspire every student to achieve more and ignite a passion for learning.
