VR: A New Challenge in Digital Teaching of Optics and Photonics

摘要

The paper describes the implementation of practical laboratory settings in a virtual environment. With the entry of VR glasses into the mass market, there is a chance to establish educational and training applications for displaying some teaching materials and practical works. Therefore our project focuses on the realization of virtual experiments and environments, which gives users a deep insight into selected subfields of Optics & Photonics. Our goal is not to substitute the hand on experiments rather to extend them. By means of VR glasses, the user is offered the possibility to view the experiment from several angles and to make changes through interactive control functions. During the VR application, additional context-related information is displayed. By using object recognition, the specific graphics and texts for the respective object are loaded and supplemented at the appropriate place. Thus, complex facts are supported in an informative way. The prototype is developed using the Unity Engine and can thus be exported to different platforms and end devices. Another major advantage of virtual simulations to the real situation is the high degree of controllability as well as the easy repeatability. With slight modifications, entire experiments can be reused. Our research aims to acquire new knowledge in the field of e-leaming in association with VR technology. Here we try to answer a core question of the compatibility of the individual media components.