An immersive educational experience that hopefully helps ‘never again’ stay ‘never’
Never again
Testimony 360 is one of our most ambitious and important projects to date. On behalf of the Holocaust Educational Trust (the HET), we dedicated months to the creation of a VR educational experience that traces the lives of two Holocaust survivors, Manfred and Susan – telling their stories as we learn not only how their lives were upended and irrevocably marked by the catastrophic persecution of Jews of Europe by the Nazi regime, but also how they survived.
Launched officially in June 2024, the educational programme combines the VR experience with innovative AI-powered digital testimonies, made possible by the USC Shoah Foundation, that will be used in schools across the UK to help 14 -18 year olds learn more about the Holocaust – at a time when understanding both its historical and enduring impact has never felt so relevant.
The brief
The HET had a clear vision: a VR educational tool that not only enables users to experience authentic Holocaust sites as they appear today, but also conveys a broader context that immerses learners in the stories of those who survived – capturing vital first-hand testimony for future generations. These personal stories – told in context of key locations – would be the driving, emotive force of the experience.
Our task was to create the VR experience from scratch to be delivered on 35 headsets, which would run simultaneously in a classroom setting under the guidance of a teacher, who could start and stop the app at different points to discuss what they’ve seen.
To achieve this, we travelled across Europe to a range of locations, some of which are open to the public, some of which are restricted, and some of which have long since changed. We filmed these places as they are today in 360, as well as capturing Manfred relating his story in his own home. Plus, we used photogrammetry to capture artefacts as authentically as possible to be included within the testimony.
The experience
In post-production we selected the best shots and audio so we could weave together the individual narratives into two moving testimonies. To enhance the immersion for our young target audience, we added a series of interactive elements via hotspots. This included adding 6DOF 3D models to the 3DOF 360 footage so users could explore them more closely in the VR space, such as memorial statues, stumbling stones and the train tracks which transported so many to the camps. We were given access to historical records, documents and even Manfred’s private photos of his little brother who died, all of which added depth and emotion to the experience.
The stories were arranged in chapters, enabling a structured educational experience. Alongside the VR app, we developed a tablet app that not only gave control of the experience to the teacher so they could pause at key moments to discuss key points, but contained an accessible version so anyone unable to use a VR headset could still see the experience and take part in the lesson.
The outcome
The full Testimony 360 experience is a groundbreaking educational programme that combines AI and VR to preserve the stories of Holocaust survivors for future generations.
Built for Pico 3 headsets, with synchronised playback controlled by a central tablet app, the VR experience enables young people to discover, explore, learn and understand about the Holocaust and its enduring consequences in an unforgettable and emotionally resonant way. Plus, it serves as a digital archive, keeping places and artefacts of historical significance in perpetuity in the virtual world as the inevitable impact of time affects their real-world counterparts.
Since launch in mid June, the response from schools has already been incredible – with glowing feedback from pilot classes, and the number of schools looking to book sessions already more than double the HET’s target. As the programme gets underway in earnest in September 2024, we hope Testimony 360 helps people remember the Holocaust, honour the survivors and learn for the future.
"Never during those dark days of the Holocaust did I ever imagine that one day I would see myself, and my story, immortalised in this way. I have spoken to thousands of pupils over the years - perhaps now I will make it millions. If this is my legacy, it will be a truly remarkable one."
Manfred Goldberg, Holocaust survivor – Sky News
“This immersive approach provides a visceral connection to history, supplementing textbook knowledge with a deeper emotional and spatial understanding.” Tech Times
Testimony 360 sponsored by The Eyal & Marilyn Ofer Family Foundation in partnership with the Holocaust Educational Trust and the USC Shoah Foundation.
Do you have a message you want to convey? A situation that needs simulating, or an audience that needs reaching? Whatever your challenge – we have the ideas, the experience, and the equipment to help.