Google Tilt Brush: how to use virtual reality to improve the students' creativity?

Google Tilt Brush is a virtual reality application developed by Google in 2016. This Article was co-written by Audrey Bade, our intern at XR PEDAGOGY. Audrey had the chance to discover and experiment Google Tilt Brush during her internship at XR PEDAGOGY.  She was not familiar with Google Tilt Brush and  she never had the opportunity to test it before. Before testing it, , she thought she will be immersed in a already made virtual environment filled with a lot of 3D objects. Audrey said: ” I couldn’t have imagined that I would have so much freedom to create on the application. The level of creativity is really amazing!”

– This article is absolutely not sponsored..  –

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GOOGLE TILT BRUSH, a virtual reality application

What is virtual reality?

Virtual reality  is a technology allowing to experiment a virtual environment, generated by a computer. When someone uses virtual reality, he has the feeling “to be there”, to be present in the virtual environment, to really live what is happening in virtuality, while he/she is actually in a reality. Indeed, sometimes, the goal of virtual reality is to create a simulation of the real world.

How to use an application of virtual reality?

Virtual reality application must be used with an head mounted device, a VR Headset. However, depending on the application you are using you may use different headset.

Before buying a Virtual Reality headset, make sure your VR headset is suitable for the VR application you would like to use. You may also double check which VR stores will be available for you with this particular headset.

The specificity of Google Tilt Brush

Google Tilt Brush is a 3-dimensional virtual reality application developed by Google in 2016. This application was originally developed specifically for the HTC Vive headset. Today, the application can also be used on the Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest and the Valve Index headset. The application also works with a keyboard and mouse on Windows virtual reality platforms. It is even possible now to use Google Tilt Brush on consoles, including Playstation VR, with the PlayStation virtual reality headset and PlayStation Move controllers.  

Google Tilt Brush : a creative and immersive experience:

  • Google Tilt Brush is a pure creative tool since it allows us to draw, write and design shapes in various color and effects etc. The possibilities of creation on the platform are diverse and varied. It is possible to use different color and shape effects such as neon, smoke, snow, sparkling stars and many more. In addition, a very wide range of colors is offered.  The Google Tilt Brush user becomes an artist supported by the Google Tilt Brush platform. The idea is really to shape a world the way we wants it to be and bring it to life. For example, it is possible if we wish, to choose our background (which will be used as a creative medium) which can be the galaxy or the mountains. Then, once we have chosen the atmosphere in which we want to immerse ourselves, we can then create.  It is then possible to appreciate our designs in 3 dimensions and 360°.  
  • When we use the application with the headset, we also use joysticks. The right handle acts as a brush while the left one serves as a palette of colors and shapes. The brush is a dynamic brush that allows us to create shapes in movement, in relief or with special effects in real time.  Immersion in the creative work allows the person who uses Google Tilt Brush in virtual reality, to really be an actor of the experience he creates.  

How can you get the Google Tilt Brush Application and how can you recover your creative works?

  • Price:

The application  is 19,99 $US and can be purchased on the Oculus store, the Humble store, the Steam store, or the Vive Port. store. On the  PlayStation  store, the application can be purchased at the same price. When you have an headset you can go to your store and search for “Google Tilt Brush” and then simply purchase it.  Another alternative  is to go to virtual reality rooms and ask them if it is possible to test the Google Tilt Brush application.

  • Download the artworks:

To recover our artworks, we need to upload our creations on the Google Poly website. Google Poly (free website if you have a Gmail account) is a website made to share 3D creations with a community. It is then possible to download for free the backups of the different users on the website and reuse them on Google Tilt Brush. Thus, Google Poly gives access to many reusable and customizable 3D models. The creations can then be converted into different formats such as  images, videos or GIFs. Therefore, artworks can be share on other webpages.  

The potential of Google Tilt Brush for education

The Google Tilt Brush' potential for teachers:

  • Immersion in different moment,  different situations and even visualize dangerous places:

Google Tilt Brush offers many possibilities, especially for teaching. By offering creative possibilities, this VR application can, for example, allow us to recreate forms, monuments or events from the past that we can only visualize in books or on the Internet. Universities have been able to develop immersive experiences using Google Tilt Brush, allowing students to immerse themselves in different eras or visualize dangerous real-world phenomena without any risk.  

  • The example of Adam Blumenthal:

Adam Blumenthal is an evangelist for the benefits of using virtual reality in higher education. For one pilot project, he and his team of students used Google’s Jump camera and Tilt Brush to re-create a neglected piece of colonial history. Google Tilt Brush allowed them to create small 3D stories easily and allowed them to immerse themselves in the historical past of the United States. 

The Google Tilt Brush' potential for homeschooling:

Beyond its benefits for classroom instruction, Google Tilt Brush can become a great asset for homeschooling. Indeed, as illustrated in the Google presentation video, google Tilt Brush could be used as a support for a course on volcanoes. It is also possible to take advantage of a children’s creativity to let them illustrate a concept with an  artwork made with Google Tilt Brush. Google Tilt Brush can be used to teach art to teenagers, especially the explain  the concept of scale. Indeed, it is possible to reduce the work or enlarge it at will while we create.

The Google Tilt Brush' potential for artistic careers:

  • Artist in Residence: 

Google Tilt Brush is a very efficient asset for career and courses related to the artistic field, such as design, graphic design or fashion. Google Tilt Brush offers among its many funds a model support.  Professional art, is becoming  more and more emphasized by the application. On the occasion of its “Artist in Residence” program, Google has approached professional artists such as graffiti artists, painters and designers to invite them to submit artworks to the application. The goal was to highlight the professional artistic potential offered by Google Tilt Brush.

  • The amazing Google Tilt Brush artists: 

Today, there are artists specialized in 3D painting and virtual reality. Some of them uses the Tilt Brush application not only to create but also to share their work and techniques. For example, there are some artists who use Tilt Brush to organize live performances. Others prefer to film themselves while creating and then share their work on social networks. Google Tilt Brush makes all of this possible.  

Conclusion:

Google Tilt Brush is a great seducing tool for curious pupils who needs to express their emotions. It will also charm those who are creative and wishes to express their artistic fiber. Beyond that, Google Tilt Brush is becoming also an art support which can be used very easily for professional artists or artist-to-be.

Audrey BAde

Par Audrey Bade

Géraldine Perriguey CEO XR PEDAGOGY

et Géraldine Perriguey

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