Interactive Virtual-Reality Driven Learning Framework for Engineering and Science Education
Ehren Biglari, Yusheng Feng · 2014
The University of Texas at San Antonio has established a cutting edge Advanced Visualization Lab ( http://vislab.utsa.edu ) that consists of a large-scale high-resolution VizWall powered by a hybrid CPU/GPU LINUX cluster with 6,000 processors, and various latest visualization technology including large screen 3D stereoscopic display, immersive 3D Oculus Rift virtual reality device, Google Glass, multi-touch visual control, Lean Motion gesture control, haptic control devices, Kinect enabled model control as well as laser scanner and 3D printers. It provides us a comprehensive visualization facility capable of building a simulation and visualization pipeline from start to finish. In this paper, we first present a general framework on how to develop and integrate some of the visualization devices into the large-scale (14.5 x 6 ft 2 ) high-resolution (98 Mpixels) VizWall for interactive learning. Then, we discuss a few application examples that are built on this platform include classical engineering beam deformation, biomedical virtual surgery simulation, artistic application with Kinect to track a dancer so that a live video mask can be interactively controlled by the dancer's movements, as well as a football kicking simulation system to provide interactive visual-based feedback to both players and coaches with model-based coaching techniques for performance improvement and injury mitigation. With rapid advancement of today's technology, it can make learning of various subjects of engineering and science more interesting and effective by designing interactive and visually stimulating curricula.