- Meta enters education with VR headsets for classrooms.
- New product focuses on educational apps and content management.
- Rollout planned for later this year in select markets.
Meta has announced its foray into the education sector, revealing plans to launch a new product for Quest VR headsets later this year.
The unnamed product aims to position the company’s VR technology as a go-to device for teaching in classrooms, despite ongoing criticism surrounding Meta’s handling of younger consumers on its platforms.
A hub of educational possibilities
Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, outlined the product’s features in a blog post. The education-focused offering will include a hub for education-specific apps and features, enabling the management of multiple headsets simultaneously without the need to update each device individually.
However, the business models for hardware and services have yet to be determined, framing the initiative as a long-term investment.
Diving into the virtual learning realm
Meta’s push into education could lead to more diversified content for Quest users and a wider ecosystem of developers building for the platform.
The initiative will roll out later this year, initially available to institutions with students 13 years old and up in the 20 markets where Quest for Business, Meta’s workplace-focused subscription, is already supported.
Questions remain regarding the effectiveness of VR in live educational environments, considering concerns about excessive screen time for young people and the costs associated with purchasing and supporting the necessary infrastructure.
