Duke Learning Innovation recently launched a new pilot of a tool called ThingLink. ThingLink offers the ability to annotate images and videos using other images, videos, and text to create visually compelling, interactive experiences. One core use case for ThingLink is to start with a graphic (such as a map) or a photograph as a base and place buttons in strategic places that users can click to expose more information. ThingLinks can also link to other ThingLinks to create structured learning experiences.
The screenshot above is from an example project on ThingLink’s “Featured” page by Encounter Edu. In this example, viewers can click on the “+” signs to reveal more information about each portion of the carbon cycle.
While creation of learning objects like these could have wide value for education, one aspect of ThinkLink we think DDMC-ers might find intriguing is its AR/ VR authoring capabilities. A challenge for 360 video, even with professionally produced material, can be that viewers sometimes feel lost clicking around trying to figure out what to look at next. With a tool like ThingLink’s VR editor, you can curate the experience by creating guideposts, and in doing so provide your users with a potentially more rewarding experience as they engage with 360 videos and images.
OIT Media Technologies production team is going to be reviewing ThingLink’s VR/ AR capabilities and posting their findings to the blog.
If you or others on your team would like to test ThingLink out, you apply to be a part of the pilot here: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6R07iAqB2jeXYGh
Links
- LI’s blog post about Duke’s ThingLink pilot: https://learninginnovation.duke.edu/blog/2019/09/thinglinks-augmented-images-and-videos/
- ThingLink’s VR editor: https://demo.thinglink.com/vr-editor
- Apply for Duke’s ThingLink Pilot: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6R07iAqB2jeXYGh
- LI website: https://learninginnovation.duke.edu/
