REIINN and VISSER: Education technologies that support underserved communities

The lack of internet access and difficulties in learning science and technology are just some of the challenges confronting Philippine education.  However, two education-related innovations were developed to specifically address these concerns - the Resilient Education Information Infrastructure for the New Normal (REIINN) and the Versatile Instrumentation System for Science Education and Research (VISSER). 

While REIINN offers both internet and offline-based digital content distribution systems for areas with weak or non-existent information infrastructure, VISSER offers an integrated, modern, and practical solution for science education in the Philippines that is aligned with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) K-to-12 curriculum.

As of 2022, around 35 percent of public schools in the Philippines still do not have internet access.  REIINN was explicitly designed to be a cost-effective and rapidly-deployable solution to provide internet access to schools that are still poorly connected.

REIINN, an innovation developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), was originally envisioned as a content delivery platform for schools.  Its core technologies could be reconfigured for other use cases. 

REIINN's technology demonstrators include the RuralCasting Box, a digital TV Tuner, and a modified datacasting receiver with a Local Wi-Fi Hotspot Network to distribute locally cached digital educational resources.  The other technology is LokalFi, a voucher-based internet connection management system with locally-cached digital educational resources.

Currently, REIINN is undergoing technology validation in nine pilot school communities across Luzon Island, Philippines. 

While REIINN helps students and teachers connect, VISSER allows students and teachers to learn science through hands-on activities and experiments, transforming complex scientific ideas into easily understandable information that encourages active learning.  VISSER was designed to seamlessly integrate into existing educational environments without requiring additional infrastructure.  Its kit is tailored to fit the K-12 curriculum as the experiments complement the learning competencies necessary for the grade levels. 

VISSER is an innovation created by Making Technology Manufacturing Corporation, a registered spin-off company established by researchers from the National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman, is much more affordable, costing only a fifth of similar international technologies. This makes it an accessible option for schools and communities aiming to improve STEM education. 

To ensure effective classroom use, VISSER also provides comprehensive training programs for teachers adopting the technology.  Over 150 VISSER kits are deployed all over the Philippines, reaching various schools and educational institutions, and over 500 teachers were trained in the use of VISSER and other science competency skills. Local support and maintenance services are also available to guarantee reliability and ease of implementation.

Making Technology has been granted a Commercial License by UP Diliman for the production, reproduction, distribution, redistribution, retransmission, sale, offer to sell, and/or marketing of VISSER.  The company is also the sole distributor and manufacturer of VISSER. 

REIINN and VISSER are among the twenty-three DOST-Technology Application Promotion Institute (TAPI) assisted technologies showcased in the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.