Integrating Haptic Devices and Mixed Reality for Enhanced Learning Experiences

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Description
Virtual reality (VR) provides significant opportunities for students to experience immersive education. In VR, students can travel to the international space station, or go through a science experiment at home. However, the current tactile feedback provided by these systems do

Virtual reality (VR) provides significant opportunities for students to experience immersive education. In VR, students can travel to the international space station, or go through a science experiment at home. However, the current tactile feedback provided by these systems do not feel real. Controllers do not provide the same tactile feedback experienced in the physical world. This dissertation aims to bridge the gap between the virtual and physical learning environments through the development of novel haptic devices capable of emulating tactile sensations found in physical science labs. My research explores haptic devices that can emulate the sensations of fluids in vessels within the virtual environment. Fluid handling is a cornerstone experience of science labs. I also explore how to emulate the handling of other science equipment. I describe and research on four novel devices. These are 1) SWISH: A shifting-weight interface of simulated hydrodynamics for haptic perception of virtual fluid vessels, 2) Geppetteau, 3) Vibr-eau, and 4) Pneutouch. SWISH simulates the sensation of virtual fluids in vessels using a rack and pinion mechanism, while Geppetteau employs a string-driven mechanism to provide haptic feedback for a variety of vessel shapes. Vibr-eau utilizes vibrotactile actuators in the vessel’s interior to emulate the behavior of virtual liquids. Finally, Pneutouch enables users to interact with virtual objects through pneumatic inflatables. Through systematic evaluations and comparisons with baseline comparisons, the usability and effectiveness of these haptic devices in enhancing virtual experiences is demonstrated. The development of these haptic mechanisms and interfaces represents a significant step towards creating transformative educational tools that provide customizable, hands-on learning environments in both Mixed (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR) - now called XR. This dissertation contributes to advancing the field of haptics for virtual education and lays the foundation for future research in immersive learning technologies.
Date Created
2024
Agent

Skeeter Breeder: Exploring UI for Gamified K-12 EduMobile Applications

Description

This research study investigates the design principles and best practices for incorporating gamification in EduMobile apps for teaching about mosquito breeding grounds. With limited research investigating the effectiveness of EduMobile apps in engaging and educating students on complex topics, this

This research study investigates the design principles and best practices for incorporating gamification in EduMobile apps for teaching about mosquito breeding grounds. With limited research investigating the effectiveness of EduMobile apps in engaging and educating students on complex topics, this study aims to uncover best practices for designing EduMobile apps for early learners (elementary and middle schoolers). A convenience sample of adults who were not part of the target demographic were recruited to test the app. The System Usability Scale was used to measure user satisfaction, and question-wise t-tests were conducted to analyze the effectiveness of specific design changes. Results show a significant difference in user satisfaction between the original and revised designs, with question 5 of the System Usability Scale driving the overall difference in score. Inconsistent design was found to increase extraneous cognitive load and split attention, while consistency within different views was shown to increase user perception of system integration. These findings suggest that incorporating gamification and following best practices in designing EduMobile apps can increase student engagement and motivation in learning about mosquito breeding grounds.

Date Created
2023-05
Agent

Gaming Mosquito Eradication: An Innovative Educational App

Description

The majority of the public is not aware that common objects in their backyard can be mosquito breeding sites, thus leading to an increase in mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases affecting humans and animals during the peak seasons. An engaging a

The majority of the public is not aware that common objects in their backyard can be mosquito breeding sites, thus leading to an increase in mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases affecting humans and animals during the peak seasons. An engaging app that instructs people of all ages how to identify, prevent, and eliminate breeding sites may be of use in increasing positive behavioral changes in people, and therefore reducing available breeding sites for mosquitoes. The Embodied Games Lab in Psychology at Arizona State University created an educational game phone app using machine learning to teach students how to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Skeeter Breeder is an interactive, educational game that teaches participants about potential mosquito breeding sites and how to eliminate them from the immediate environment as documented by smartphone imagery. Currently, there is no educational game phone app that uses machine learning to teach this topic. This Thesis describes a pilot study focused on educating about common mosquito breeding sites and increasing the knowledge of 5th graders on the topic through an agentic (by taking their own pictures), engaging (game-like platform with rewards), and interactive (receiving immediate feedback on pictures) game developed from scratch at ASU.

Date Created
2023-05
Agent

Physical Disability Assistance through VR Technologies: XtendingXR

Description

For the average person, when they use a computer, they interact with two main groups: the Computer Input, which consists of a keyboard and a mouse, and the Computer Output, which consists of a monitor and speakers. For those with

For the average person, when they use a computer, they interact with two main groups: the Computer Input, which consists of a keyboard and a mouse, and the Computer Output, which consists of a monitor and speakers. For those with physical disabilities, traditional Computer Input and Output methods can be difficult or uncomfortable to use. I believe VR Technology can make using computers much more accessible for those individuals, and my application demonstrates that belief.

Date Created
2023-05
Agent

Virtual Reality Workspace: The Zoom Room

Description

This project is called the Zoom Room and it is about the use of virtual reality (VR) for workspace productivity. It is where Zoom and VR meet to form an enhanced productive workspace for users. Equipped with two 3D printers

This project is called the Zoom Room and it is about the use of virtual reality (VR) for workspace productivity. It is where Zoom and VR meet to form an enhanced productive workspace for users. Equipped with two 3D printers that show how a 3D printer moves and the intricate parts that make up the 3D printer, it is much more than just a standard meeting room. It is a place to analyze machines and meet with others in a virtual space.

Date Created
2023-05
Agent

Lott Honors Thesis (Spring 2022)

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Description

There are numerous possibilities for virtual reality (VR) to improve upon the dissemination of information in several professional fields. Virtual reality has the capacity to be a useful tool in the judicial system related to its use in the presentation

There are numerous possibilities for virtual reality (VR) to improve upon the dissemination of information in several professional fields. Virtual reality has the capacity to be a useful tool in the judicial system related to its use in the presentation of evidence to juries and other persons. Crime scenes are a crucial part of an investigation but are difficult to present to a jury. This experiment proposes an investigation to study the difference in the emotional impact of showing jurors an immersive virtual reality representation of a crime scene compared to traditional crime scene photos and the subsequent impact that the VR crime scene tour has on juror decision making. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a 3D VR recreation of a crime scene or be presented with crime scene photos. User responses will then be collected. The following study proposes a prototype for the recreation of a crime scene in VR using the real-world children of Darlie Routier murder case study.

Date Created
2022-05
Agent

Crime Scene VR

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Description

There are numerous possibilities for virtual reality (VR) to improve upon the dissemination of information in several professional fields. Virtual reality has the capacity to be a useful tool in the judicial system related to its use in the presentation

There are numerous possibilities for virtual reality (VR) to improve upon the dissemination of information in several professional fields. Virtual reality has the capacity to be a useful tool in the judicial system related to its use in the presentation of evidence to juries and other persons. Crime scenes are a crucial part of an investigation but are difficult to present to a jury. This experiment proposes an investigation to study the difference in the emotional impact of showing jurors an immersive virtual reality representation of a crime scene compared to traditional crime scene photos and the subsequent impact that the VR crime scene tour has on juror decision making. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a 3D VR recreation of a crime scene or be presented with crime scene photos. User responses will then be collected. The following study proposes a prototype for the recreation of a crime scene in VR using the real-world children of Darlie Routier murder case study.

Date Created
2022-05
Agent

Crime Scene Reconstruction and Evidence Presentation in Virtual Reality

Description
There are numerous possibilities for virtual reality (VR) to improve upon the dissemination of information in several professional fields. Virtual reality has the capacity to be a useful tool in the judicial system related to its use in the presentation

There are numerous possibilities for virtual reality (VR) to improve upon the dissemination of information in several professional fields. Virtual reality has the capacity to be a useful tool in the judicial system related to its use in the presentation of evidence to juries and other persons. Crime scenes are a crucial part of an investigation but are difficult to present to a jury. This experiment proposes an investigation to study the difference in the emotional impact of showing jurors an immersive virtual reality representation of a crime scene compared to traditional crime scene photos and the subsequent impact that the VR crime scene tour has on juror decision making. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a 3D VR recreation of a crime scene or be presented with crime scene photos. User responses will then be collected. The following study proposes a prototype for the recreation of a crime scene in VR using the real-world children of Darlie Routier murder case study.
Date Created
2022-05
Agent

Dress Your Shape: An Online Shopping Experience to Provide Users with Clothing Style Options that Flatter their Specific Body Shape

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Description

Physical appearance is an important communication tool that involves the way people define themselves and others around them. Clothing is a major component of physical appearance. When people can understand how different clothing styles flatter their specific body shapes, they

Physical appearance is an important communication tool that involves the way people define themselves and others around them. Clothing is a major component of physical appearance. When people can understand how different clothing styles flatter their specific body shapes, they can use clothing as a means to manipulate their physical appearances. In this way, people can choose deliberate clothing to send out purposeful visual messages that align with their goals and interests. Understanding how clothing affects visual appearance can be a very complicated task (Ilnitsky, 2018; Nix-Rice, 2014). There should be a simple and way for people to pick clothes that will specifically look good on their body. The purpose of this current study is to introduce a new method of online shopping that collects users’ body dimensions and shows them clothing that will flatter their particular body shape. The following study proposes a prototype design for such a shopping experience.

Date Created
2021-05
Agent