(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Oct. 14, 2015) SUNY Empire State College has added the latest in technological advancements to its growing list of learning solutions: Immersive Cloud Learning. ICL was conceived as part of an ongoing effort to bridge the gap between the learning environment and technology, a critical consideration in the design, development and delivery of SUNY Empire’s academic programs.

Known industrywide as Immersive Telepresence, this new platform provides synchronous, real-time lectures with one starting point, but varying endpoints. For example, faculty in New York can lecture to various destination points at SUNY Empire locations around the globe.

SUNY Empire’s immersive technology platform will provide high-definition video and audio in learning spaces specifically designed to create a real-life experience and encourage collaboration and dialogue between faculty and students. New learning spaces will be equipped with two 90-inch screens and state-of-the-art equipment that is enhanced with facial recognition and audio positioning, fostering a truly synergistic learning environment.

Vice President of Information Technology Sam Conn says the efforts to bring immersive technology to SUNY Empire is to “support college objectives that advance conceptual models of education, such as online, hybrid and competency-based instruction, with a strong focus on learning space planning, requirements, design, development, testing, implementation and support.”

Currently, SUNY Empire's New York City center is an exploratory site for the immersive technology learning space. The next learning space will be built at SUNY Empire’s new Rochester-area location, set to open in spring 2016, with the goal of ultimately bringing ICL spaces to SUNY Empire centers around the globe.