Bipin Dama is the Founder & CEO, Saras-3D, Inc. (Saras-3D) India’s first stereoscopic 3D learning solution for science and mathematics that brings international learnings and best practices to India. The company operates in India through its wholly owned subsidiary 3D EdTech Pvt Ltd. An industry veteran with over 33 years of experience in the technology industry, Bipin has a proven track record of successful product delivery from concept to deployment with substantial revenue generation and shareholder returns. He holds 37 granted US patents. In a conversation with CXO Outlook, Bipin Dama talks about the growth and sustainability of digital learning in India, the role of technology in education, the way forward for Saras-3D and much more.
Indians have seen a surge in digital learning platforms in the recent past. Do you see this trend continuing?
As students cannot go to school, parents have realized how difficult it is to study from home. They need tools to help their children learn effectively with a distinct, long-term advantage. We see this trend throughout homes across the country, where the primary purpose of students is to learn in a manner that works for them, and digital learning has given them the needed edge. But a new trend is also emerging, where parents and students need more personalized and interactive solutions that will empower them to learn with a hands-on approach.
Can the EdTech companies sustain their growth after the schools are opened in India?
Schools are already adopting digital platforms to support teachers throughout the country, and we see the demand for digital education platforms expanding. Even after schools reopen, people will be searching for long-term solutions (digital or offline). This revelation has carried over to the classroom, sparking changes in how teachers plan to engage their students rather than relying solely on lectures. Also, parents are seeking digital solutions to help their children succeed in their school curriculum and competitive exams like JEE and NEET. It’s this split demand from both parents and teachers that will fuel continued growth.
What kind of impact will EdTech platforms have on the existing structure of higher education in future?
While traditional reading and lectures will remain, EdTech platforms will create more depth in how students learn. By making the material more accessible and engaging, EdTech platforms can actively hold students’ attention instead of requiring them to listen passively. This evolution to interactive, hands-on learning will help unlock students’ potential and build the path for more students to succeed. The impact and results will be multifold as these technology-driven platforms will pave the way for expertise and mastery in an individual aiming for higher education.
Technology has been an enabler to various sectors, can you elaborate on the role of technology in education and how it can benefit the student?
Technology’s role in education is to support both the teacher and the student by providing dynamic ways to make the material more engaging. With technology, the student is no longer forced to passively listen to lectures or silently read material that might not be on their level. Instead, students are met with material that is specifically for their exact level of understanding. Students have immediate feedback on how well they are learning and which sections they need to spend more time on. Taking this to the next level, with a lab-like hands-on learning environment using stereoscopic 3D technology, students can learn significantly faster than traditional methods, helping them learn and retain more material in a shorter amount of time.
Saras-3D has created a learning solution based on 3D stereoscopic technology, can you elaborate on the difference between stereoscopic and monoscopic 3D learning?
Stereoscopic 3D closely resembles the way we see the world around us. With special 3D glasses and a booster box, we have created a three-dimensional, interactive experience that mimics a real-life laboratory. Students can learn in a virtual lab environment with their laptop or desktop, interacting with realistic, scaled models. As they learn through doing rather than simply learning about concepts, it leads to deeper understanding and better recall.
While monoscopic 3D technology doesn’t provide the same interactive experience as stereoscopic 3D technology, it can help students understand concepts better than watching videos passively. In plain words, stereoscopic 3D is like a 3D movie, and monoscopic 3D is like an ordinary movie.
There are already large established players in the education space and a host of new entrants recently. What makes your solution so different from the rest?
Not only does Saras-3D offer a unique interactive learning experience through stereoscopic 3D technology, but it also stands out as an offline experience. Students often lack access to devices, a reliable internet connection, or a dedicated quiet place to study. While this situation privileges children who have reliable internet service, even families with adequate resources find it difficult to keep children engaged online.
Saras-3D has a broader reach than many players because Genius 3D Learning does not require an internet connection to access the learning content. It is interactive, so while students are actually learning, they feel like they are playing in a lab-like setup. Everything a student needs to succeed is included with Genius 3D Learning bundles.
Tell us about the way forward for Saras-3D?
Saras-3D will continue reaching out to a broader range of parents and students across the country. We are dedicated to equipping them with the best technology available, which also helps them prepare for JEE, NEET, and other entrance exams. This is how we will help more students succeed across India. Simultaneously, we are also partnering with schools throughout India to support teachers in the classroom. Using this technology, teachers will better retain their students’ engagement and instill the meaning behind complex concepts.