Synchronized 360°VR Classroom Using Locally Hosted Open Infrastructure and Meta Quest 3 Headsets

This paper presents the design and implementation of a locally hosted, synchronized 360° VR system for group teaching in STEM education, using only off-the-shelf hardware and free software. The proposed architecture is deployed at the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences and is based on a dedicated virtual server, Wi-Fi 6E classroom infrastructure, and a fleet of 25+1 Meta Quest 3 headsets. The system utilizes DeoVR’s remote control API and custom Python scripts over ADB to enable centralized teacher control of video playback, including starting, pausing, seeking, and switching between heterogeneous 360° video assets of varying resolutions, frame rates, and formats. A digital reservation module integrated with the institution’s scheduling system automates content preparation and access control for instructors. Network and load testing with 26 devices confirm low-latency, stable playback well below available bandwidth limits, demonstrating that a local, license-free solution can effectively replace costly commercial VR management platforms.