Verizon has launched a 5G lab, which the company calls a 5G Innovation Hub, at Arizona State University’s Learning Futures Collaboratory, Studios and Emporium.
At the hub, students, faculty, entrepreneurs, and corporate partners can collaborate to test and create 5G-based educational experiences designed to be more accessible, equitable and inclusive.
“The Digital Equity Jam” sponsored by Verizon, AWS and Inseego, will be the first program to launch from the hub, kicking off in February. Participating teams will develop use cases showcasing how Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband and mobile edge compute can help bridge the digital divide. Teams will focus on health, climate, poverty, human rights and education.
The top team will receive project seed funding as well as access to intensive summer entrepreneurship training in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and VentureWell.
The university also plans to continue testing and deploying a variety of immersive educational experiences, allowing students to enter a Dreamscape pod where they can experience a virtual reality biology class. Remote students will access the class via a VR and web browser. Other 5G use cases students will explore include athlete performance analytics, virtual fighter pilot training and a day in the life of various careers.
“Working with ASU, we have an extraordinary opportunity to research and develop new 5G-enabled experiences that can improve remote learning and help bridge the digital divide,” said Tami Erwin, Verizon Business CEO, in a prepared statement. “By collaborating with ASU’s researchers, we hope to accelerate the innovation process and develop technology that will harness the full potential of 5G and edge compute.”
Verizon has at least two other 5G labs, including one with the Department of Energy and one with Emory Healthcare.
