Designing Elata for Education:
Building the Future of XR Learning Tools
As we continue to refine Elata, our AI-powered 3D imaging platform, we’re increasingly focused on the role it could play in education, outreach, and digital heritage. The goal isn’t just to build cutting-edge technology, it’s to create tools that empower students, teachers, and cultural professionals without requiring technical expertise.
So what would it take for a 3D platform like Elata to genuinely support learning?
Here’s a look at the design priorities shaping our roadmap, informed by discussions with educators, informal learning providers, and digital heritage professionals.
Keep Curiosity at the Core
Great learning tools don’t get in the way, they get out of the way. We’re designing Elata with simplicity in mind: no logins, no complex installations, and no steep learning curves.
Instead, we’re building in:
Turntable scanning for small objects
Browser-based viewing with no downloads or VR headsets required
Immediate feedback from scan to screen
The aim is to support spontaneous curiosity, whether it’s a student exploring an object’s geometry, or a visitor interacting with a digital artefact at a museum.
🟢Design focus: Fast, responsive, and intuitive scanning and viewing
2. Supporting Teachers as Much as Students
Teachers are often the bottleneck in EdTech adoption, not because of reluctance, but because of time. That’s why Elata will offer:
Clear setup guides and project templates
Curriculum-aligned activities (e.g. object-based interpretation in history or texture mapping in art)
Lightweight classroom integration without additional hardware
We want teachers to feel confident using Elata within minutes, not hours.
🟢 Design focus: Zero-install workflows and education-ready materials
3. Making 3D Interpretation a Learning Objective
3D imaging doesn’t just visualise, it challenges learners to observe, compare, and question. We're designing Elata’s experience to:
Encourage observation and description
Include prompts that link physical and digital understanding
Embed scaffolding tools for structured exploration
The goal is not just to "wow" with tech, but to build visual literacy and spatial awareness, skills relevant across art, science, and STEM subjects.
🟢 Design focus: Interactive prompts and comparative tasks
4. A Dual Role for Heritage and Education
Elata has clear potential for small museums and cultural institutions, not just as an engagement tool but as a digitisation solution:
Capture objects quickly for use in outreach or archiving
Share 3D models via browser links or QR codes
Create re-usable assets for school programmes, public interpretation, or marketing
We’re working with cultural partners to understand how 3D imaging can reduce effort and increase access.
🟢 Design focus: Outputs that serve both education and collections
5. Co-Designing with the Sector
We're not building Elata in a vacuum. In the coming months, we’re seeking educators, outreach teams, and museum professionals interested in shaping its future:
What makes a tool classroom-ready?
How can 3D content support informal learning goals?
Where does XR genuinely add value, and where does it distract?
If you’re interested in partnering with us on pilots, case studies, or early access, we’d love to hear from you.
Final Thoughts:
Tools That Invite Participation
The promise of Elata isn’t just technical, it’s participatory. We believe 3D imaging and XR can spark discovery, interpretation, and hands-on learning. But only if the tools are accessible, adaptable, and aligned with real-world learning environments.
As we continue development, we’re committed to making Elata not just a product, but a platform for exploration.
