Eirik Wahlstrom, Harald Manheim, and Ingrid Skrede, co-founders of Ludenso, a leading augmented reality platform designed specifically for educational publishers and teachers, initiated the company in Oslo in 2018. Ludenso pioneered one of the world's first augmented reality authoring tools tailored for educational publishers. This tool enables seamless integration of AR models into textbooks, enhancing student engagement and creating immersive learning experiences.
Having established partnerships with prestigious publishers such as Cambridge University Press and SAGE, Ludenso now powers over 100,000 monthly learning experiences globally, solidifying its position as an industry leader in AR education.
Eirik delves into Ludenso's journey, future plans for 2024, and the role of AR in expanding accessibility in education.
The inspiration for Ludenso arose from their earlier venture, Immerse Optics, where they transformed ordinary phone screens into portals for extraordinary experiences with the augmented reality headset MagiMask. The realization of AR's potential in classrooms occurred during a school visit, sparking the desire to incorporate XR technology into global education. Recognizing the challenges of scaling AR hardware in schools, Ludenso pivoted to utilize familiar devices like mobiles and tablets, forming partnerships with major publishers.
AR in textbooks, according to Eirik, offers significant benefits by enhancing student understanding and engagement. Ludenso's platform has witnessed substantial growth, powering over 200,000 learning experiences within two months, with projections for continued expansion in 2024.
Ludenso addresses accessibility challenges in education by customizing AR experiences for students with diverse learning needs, such as dyslexia or ADHD. Collaborative research projects with academic institutions further explore the potential benefits of AR for students with learning disabilities, aiming to create an inclusive learning environment.
Looking ahead to 2024, Eirik predicts a shift from the hype around AI to practical discussions on the effective deployment of AR and AI technologies in classrooms. He anticipates AR becoming more commonplace in education, driven by the popularity of smartphones and tablets as educational tools. Ludenso's plans for 2024 include building on historic partnerships and making groundbreaking announcements to continue revolutionizing the classroom experience.
Commentaires