Implementation of Prototype Environment of Virtual Reality Platform for Virtual Lab (Use case of ESL)

Virtual learning platforms have extended the learning experience beyond the constraints of space and time. Learning new language skills in virtual environments is becoming more and more convenient and efficient. In this work, learning English as a second language (ESL) is tested. Initial results showed that it is not only efficient to learn ESL with this tool, but it also helped users to develop good interaction skills with the computer-generated 3D world without any fear or shyness. Current virtual learning platforms suffers from distraction inherited by designing learning activities that requires user interaction, such as pressing the keyboard and clicking the mouse to control the avatar and background. In our research work, we employed a new software implementation stack that include a unity virtual environment, an applied Speech Recognition (SR) capability, and a Natural Language Processing (NLP) component to overcome these distractions and improve the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) capability without the need for a keyboard and mouse for the dynamic avatar’s movement and backgrounds.