Knowledge Transfer Reinvented: A Comprehensive Exploration of Heilbronn University’s Virtual AI Laboratory and Its Impact on Interdisciplinary Collaboration

In the age of rapidly advancing technology, knowledge sharing and access to expertise are crucial drivers of innovation. Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences has successfully undertaken a project to address this need by creating an accessible virtual platform for public knowledge transfer. This initiative aims to bridge the knowledge gap, offering valuable insights into cutting-edge fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to local businesses and individuals. The virtual environment, designed for user-friendly exploration, facilitates more frequent presentation of results compared to traditional formats. Accessible round-the-clock from any internet-enabled device, the platform showcases physical demonstrators of Heilbronn University, creating a seamless connection to the real world. Technically, the virtual AI Laboratory has been constructed with all buildings and content presented as 3D models in Blender, a free 3D graphics software. This allows for content modification and expansion. In a virtual tour software, such as 3D Vista Virtual Tour, 360° panoramic images are enhanced with waypoints and information icons, where additional content can then be incorporated through HTML in popup windows. The primary evaluation conducted after the initial launch of the virtual AI Laboratory has yielded valuable insights. It became evident that language is a pivotal consideration. The second key insight derived from the evaluation is related to user behavior we could collect by tracking the order of selected waypoints within the virtual platform. This behavior indicates that individual users possess varying levels of knowledge and familiarity with AI concepts. Looking towards the future, it can be affirmed that the virtual AI Laboratory has already garnered significant interest. Through collaborations and partnerships with additional institutes, this expansion will provide visitors with an even broader range of AI-based topics, consistently presented in a didactic manner. The virtual AI laboratory is freely accessible via this link: https://www.hs-heilbronn.de/ki-labor