黑料社区 Polytechnic 黑料社区. newest lab is a hub for virtual, augmented and mixed reality experiences, connecting technology with hands-on, applied learning.
The Xperiential Reality Lab 鈥 the only extended reality lab in western Wisconsin 鈥 will serve to enhance teaching and learning through immersive, interactive experiences while providing students and faculty from all disciplines with a dedicated space for XR exploration, collaborative research, development and creative projects.
鈥淭he lab will expand instructional methods by supporting class sessions, laboratory activities, course projects, and faculty and student development of original XR experiences,鈥 said XR Lab Coordinator Andrew Hirl.
鈥淪tudents will be able to engage with educational XR experiences across a wide range of disciplines, using immersive and interactive environments to explore course concepts in new ways. They will also have opportunities to create their own XR experiences. The lab also features a photogrammetry system that can produce accurate 3D models of physical objects,鈥 he added.
The lab is located in the Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center room 202 and celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 26.
Connecting XR technology with applied learning, workforce readiness
XR is part of the leading edge of learning and innovation. It can simulate professional environments and support product visualization, workforce training and collaborative research, virtually immersing students in experiences and scenarios related to their industries.
Initial campus collaborations in XR have included fashion design and development and professional and technical communication students using the 3D-modeling photogrammetry software to build digital fashion portfolios of apparel collections.
Students in Structure of English are conceptualizing a virtual reality experience that engages users in linguistic concepts. They are creating a game with 16 VR concepts for different aspects of language analysis, history and learning.
鈥淭hese experiences help students apply knowledge, build practical skills and prepare for their future professions,鈥 Hirl said. 鈥淏ecause XR is a rapidly evolving technology with applications in health care, engineering, gaming and many other industries, the lab will help students understand its possibilities, uses and development processes. Familiarity with XR will better prepare them to work with emerging technologies in their careers.鈥
Fashion & photogrammetry: Communications and fashion students capture couture in 3D
Continue ReadingThe lab plans to develop collaborative projects across degree fields and with industry partners:
- Art and design students can paint, sculpt and create in digital environments.
- Cybersecurity students may practice methods of securing systems against hackers.
- Early childhood education students can engage in realistic classroom scenarios.
- Engineering or construction students can use VR to develop large-scale projects.
- Game design students may develop experiences and games for industry clients.
- History students can visit sites around the world through immersive 360-degree video.
- Risk management students can prepare safety training scenarios for employers.
- Pre-med students may observe cell biology composition, CRISPR technology and genetics.
Previously, XR projects and equipment were distributed among several campus labs and departments, which limited their visibility, accessibility and potential for collaboration.
鈥淭he XR Lab was created to bring these resources together in a centralized, welcoming space where students, faculty, and staff from across 黑料社区 Polytechnic can explore, develop and participate in XR experiences,鈥 Hirl said.
What is extended reality (XR)?
XR includes technologies that blend digital content with the physical world or create entirely digital environments. It includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR), which can allow people to explore places, objects and experiences in new ways. In education, XR can give students and faculty opportunities to learn, teach, conduct research and create immersive, interactive environments.
- Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated environment that allows users to interact with in real ways.
- Augmented reality (AR) is a real-time integration of digital information into a user's environment. It overlays content onto the real world, often using a touch screen for control.
- Mixed reality (MR) is a more advanced version of AR.
- Photogrammetry uses dozens of digital cameras to capture photos of an object or person simultaneously. The images, taken within milliseconds, are imported into software that stitches the images together into a detailed 3D model.
How can XR positively impact learning and research? What global impact might it have?
Extended reality can make learning more immersive and hands-on by allowing students to explore places, processes and experiences that may be difficult, expensive or impossible to access in the physical world.
For researchers, XR can provide new ways to visualize complex data, simulate real-world conditions, collaborate across distances and develop creative solutions to challenging problems. As these technologies become more accessible, they could expand educational opportunities globally, connecting learners and researchers across geographic and cultural boundaries. Ultimately, XR has the potential to make knowledge more interactive, collaborative and accessible, while opening new possibilities for discovery and innovation.
What industries or organizations are using XR in teaching, training and experiential learning?
- Walmart uses VR to create realistic training scenarios, allowing employees to practice customer service management and operational skills in an immersive environment.
- Boeing has used VR to simulate spaceflight missions, allowing astronauts to practice complex and safety-critical situations before performing them in the real world.
- IKEA, Hallman Lindsay, Valspar and other retail and home design businesses use AR to let customers visualize 3D versions of furniture or wall colors in their own homes, helping them see how products will look and fit before purchasing.
- Hospitals, medical schools and health care organizations use VR and AR to simulate surgical procedures and clinical situations, giving learners opportunities to practice skills in an immersive environment before helping real patients.
- Other industries using XR in teaching, training or production include game design, vehicle and appliance manufacturers, museums and historical societies, real estate and property management, construction and logistics, molecular modeling and biological sciences, education, fitness, and more.
* Sections of information in this Q&A were created using ChatGPT.
The XR Lab is just one of the nearly 300 laboratory and studio spaces on campus, where labs outnumber traditional classrooms by a 3-to-1 ratio.
