Lying on the ground and connected to its charging point, the robot dog receives the visitor as if immersed in a deep lethargy. However, several flashing lights attest that spot ⎯which is the name of the robotic quadruped⎯ is alert. Suddenly, following the orders of Sofia, A virtual assistant based on artificial intelligence, the automaton stands on its powerful hydraulic legs. With a firm and determined step spot guides the visitor through LaCabina to the indicated destination: the educational innovation area.
LaCabina ⎯located in Distrito Telefónica, the Madrid headquarters of the teleco⎯ is a space that serves as a showcase of the latest technological advances. Promoted or created by Telefónica itself, it is part of the hub of innovation and talent of the company, which brings to light new advances resulting from digitalization. Along with areas such as industry, the digitalization of the workplace, infrastructure and health, education occupies a prominent place in this showroom avant-garde, reflection of a future that is already here.
Thanks to the use of ‘Mathew’, an educational assistant for centers, teachers and students, we can free the teacher from about 16 hours of work each month, repetitive work that contributes nothing. And time that you can now dedicate to being a better teacher.
Guillermo Bataller, head of LaCabina at Telefónica
Communications, main ingredient
“Almost all sectors are influenced by the use of new technologies, and education is no exception,” explains Guillermo Bataller, head of LaCabina. “Teaching requires many things, including the creation of spaces that have no physical limits or that can be accessed remotely. For this, communications are essential. Making education accessible to everyone is essential for us, and connectivity is the common thread that facilitates it.”
For Bataller, another essential element in pursuit of educational excellence is providing teachers with the instruments that allow them to offer the best possible training. And in this field, time is money, also that of the teacher: “There are many technologies that have come to free up time, so that the teacher has more hours to do what he or she really knows how to do: teach.” An example of this is Matthew,an educational assistant for centers, teachers and students. Developed by one of the partners from Telefónica and supported by artificial intelligence (AI), Matthew It represents a support of great value throughout the educational chain. From content creation to personalized student support, including learning evaluation.
Free yourself from repetitive work
In the creation stage, Matthew allows you to develop content adapted to different educational levels. For evaluation, it instantly designs different types of exercises adjusted to the required level of complexity and according to the teacher’s criteria, such as, for example, a true/false or open-response test. But, all this, without requiring extra dedication from the teacher. “Thanks to the use of this technology we can free you from approximately 16 hours of work each month, repetitive work that contributes nothing. And time that he can now dedicate to being a better teacher,” emphasizes Bataller. Matthew It can serve as support at all educational stages, both formal and informal, from preschool to high school and vocational training, and in several languages.
Promoting the training of people with disabilities is another of the missions of technology. The solution Bemyvega, also promoted by Telefónica, is an example of this. “It takes its name from Vega, a girl who was born with vision problems, which meant that her possibilities of accessing formal education, like the rest of the children, were limited,” explains Almudena de la Fuente, Education Business developer. in Telefónica. Behind the idea of the project are Vega’s parents, who is now nine years old and, despite having 5 percent visual acuity, has technological development that contributes to reducing barriers that, for her, were previously insurmountable. .
An inclusive and accessible experience
Bemyvega It is indicated for students with visual and hearing problems, dyslexia, color blindness and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It allows you to turn any class, exhibition or event into an integrative and accessible experience for everyone: using cameras in the classroom, the system captures the action and transfers it to the monitor of the PC, tablet or mobile phone, in real or delayed time.
To do this, it uses video systems, based on AI, that improve the learning experience. “It allows us to choose what to see at any given moment: whether it is the teacher, the presentation we have loaded or the existing blackboard in the center,” summarizes De la Fuente. “We can also enlarge this image and receive the transcript of everything that is happening in the classroom.” Bemyvega It is already being used in several Spanish universities.
The ‘Bemyvega’ project uses video systems, based on AI, that improve the learning experience. It is indicated for students with visual and auditory problems, dyslexia, color blindness and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. “It allows us to choose what to see at any given moment: whether it is the teacher, the presentation we have loaded or the existing blackboard in the center”
Almudena de la Fuente, Education Business Developer at Telefónica
Holography: hyper-realistic avatars
The transmission of information – data, texts, still and moving images – is a critical aspect for education in the digital society. In this regard, holographic telepresence is a cutting-edge solution that allows the three-dimensional image to be transferred from one place to another, whether it is a classroom, a meeting room or a live event. Through 21 cameras, arranged in a circle, holographic telepresence relies on three of Telefónica’s capabilities – fiber communications, 5G and Edge Computing – to create these hyper-realistic avatars.
Talking about a video call was, until not so long ago, a chimera, reflects Bataller. The plane and high-speed train were the fastest (and only) way to close remote meetings. Today, it is part of everyday life in almost all work and teaching settings. “Holographic video calling is going to be around us in the coming years. It is a totally disruptive way to reach any stage, anywhere in the world, and be able to be in ‘many’ places at the same time,” he says. The realistic feeling of presence, interacting in real time – which allows students to ask questions and solve them on the spot – makes this technology especially suitable for the educational environment.
Have the best partners and startups
As can be seen in LaCabina, Telefónica continues to invest in new solutions that promote teaching, both its own and those of third parties: “In eleven years we have known a thousand-odd startups”, remembers Bataller. “We always explain that we cannot advance in innovation alone: we need to have the best partners and the best startups; “get to know them, investigate them and support them so that they help us generate the latest solutions for our clients and users.” The training of the future will be (is) as comfortable as it is addictive.
