May 21th 2010, Minato-Ku Tokyo, Japan- Representative Director of Castalia. Co. Ltd., Satoshi Yamawaki commences the private beta version of iUniv (ahy-yoo-nuh-v http://www.iuniv.tv), the social learning service/platform. The private beta version is a pre-launch. Accounts for OCWC Global 2010 participants, persons concerned and applicants' will be processed consequently.

iUniv is a service and platform that formulates social learning by using visual and auditory content provided online by institutions such as universities and other organizations. Self-learners can enjoy these contents (video and audio) and use the Fusen™(foo-sen) to study and share with their fellow users.

-Application of over 60,000 lecture contents mainly composed by renown overseas universities (*)
-Emphatic learning generated by the Fusen™
-Enabling the sharing of comments and knowledge with Fusen™ and social media
*the private beta version is subject to a restricted audience.

By the universal use of YouTube and Podcast, educational institutions primarily in Europe and North America along with major media corporations have been providing Open Educational Resources in prime visual and auditory content daily en masse. Extensions from Universities such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, and MIT exemplify the prevalent.

Nevertheless, it is typical that the lectures are extensive, and some could have a duration lasting longer than 60 minutes. Users endured a time constraint as well as a bind, and the absence of information exchange amongst them was a concern.

The Fusen™, developed by Castalia allows the placing of digital stickies on visual and auditory contents. By applying this, the user is able to leave digital stickies with notes for portions which they find relevant. One can simply refer to the time and notes in ease, which conduces efficacious "reflective study." Further, these stickies can be shared with other users and can be linked with Twitter, Facebook and possibly with other social media which yields reciprocal use of knowledge.

iUniv will release its beta version for public access in June, which will be followed by an iPhone application.

* The figure is based on the number of lectures currently available on the private beta version, and the is increasing along with Youtube and Podcast sources.

*YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, iPhone and Android are registered trademarks of their respective holders.