Web3D and Augmented Reality to support engineering education

TLDR

Traditional lecture delivery can be enriched by local or online multimedia and tabletop AR environments. The study explores the potential benefits of Web3D and AR technologies for engineering education and learning. The authors implemented a Web3D framework comprising an XML data repository, an XML‑based communication server, and an XML‑based client visualization application, configured to deliver multimedia content on mechanical engineering themes such as machines, vehicles, platonic solids, and tools.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We present an educational application that allows users to interact with 3D web content using virtual and augmented reality (AR). This enables us to explore the potential benefits of Web3D and AR technologies in engineering education and learning. A lecturer’s traditional delivery can be enriched by viewing multimedia content locally or over the Internet, as well as in a table-top AR environment. The implemented framework is composed an XML data repository, an XML based communications server, and an XML based client visualisation application. In this paper we illustrate the architecture by configuring it to deliver multimedia content related to the teaching of mechanical engineering. We illustrate four mechanical engineering themes (machines, vehicles, platonic solids and tools) to demonstrate use of the system to support learning through Web3D.