Development of a Nanoscale Virtual Environment Haptic Interface for Teaching Nanotechnology to Individuals who are Visually Impaired Dianne Pawluk 1 , Curtis Taylor 2 , Marcia Hoffman 1 and Maria McClintock 1 1 Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University 2 Dept.of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida With support from the National Science Foundation VCU 2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition
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Development of a Nanoscale Virtual Environment Haptic
Interface for Teaching Nanotechnology to Individuals
who are Visually Impaired
Dianne Pawluk1, Curtis Taylor2, Marcia Hoffman1 and Maria McClintock1
1Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
2Dept.of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida
With support from the National Science Foundation
VCU
2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition
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Outline of Presentation
• What is haptics?• Motivation for using haptics to teach
Traditional Teaching of Abstract Science and Nanotechnology
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Traditional methods of teaching• lectures• rely on 2-D diagrams or display• poor engagement of students• difficult to conceptualize• more difficult for visually impaired
molecular machine
materialstructure
atomic structure
New methods needed to increase engagement and perception
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What is haptics?
• The combination of:
• Perception of forces and position
• Sense of touch
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Why Nanotechnology, Why Haptics?• Governments, educators and researchers
– Future demand for employees– Diversity
• educate, attract
• Students who are blind or visually impaired– No one can see what goes on at the
• engaged, interest The first atomic force microscope
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Virtual Reality System with Haptics
• for a wide range of ages, compare to something familiar• include individuals who are blind or visually impaired,
sonification
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State-of-the-art in Haptics
Novint Falcon • affordable force feedback device, with position information• easily replicated in a classroom• allows for interactive, multi-sensory exploration of nanoscale concepts for sighted and visually impaired
• Developed new haptic-based, interactive simulations to teach abstract science and nanotechnology concepts • Developed learning modules to teach concepts of
• size and scale• dominant forces
• Demonstrated to prototype to elementary school, undergraduate and graduate students
• extremely positive reaction
• Will validate using: • cognitive measures • affective measures • compare to: vision alone and traditional methods