The rise of MOOCs has made it commonplace to receive lectures via video, but Imperial College Business School in London have gone a step further by streaming lectures live via hologram.

The technology, developed by Canadian company AHRT Media, will allow faculty to present to students in real time, regardless of where they happen to be physically located.  The images of the lecturer will be beamed in life-size into one of Imperial’s lecture theatres, with students able to interact with the lecturer as if they were physically in the room.

What’s more, Imperial suggest that the technology will allow them to host lectures from multiple locations at the same time, as well as panel discussions and roundtable events with people present both virtually and in-person.

“Introducing hologram technology to the classroom will break down the limitations of traditional teaching, by creating an interactive experience that benefits both students and academics,” they say.  “Rather than replacing or reducing real-life lectures, the hologram technology will provide greater flexibility for academics by enabling them to continue teaching whilst travelling, ensuring consistency and quality for students. The technology will also widen the scope for Imperial to invite global leaders and influencers from industry to give talks to students, therefore enriching the learning experience.”

The technology, which debuted recently, is certainly interesting, but it does beg the question of how much more effective it will be than a standard two-way camera setup, which would ostensibly do the same thing, albeit perhaps less sexily.