Lab for virtual & mixed reality | FAK 5
The Lab for Virtual and Augmented Reality was established in 2017 to bundle research and development for virtual teaching and design in the fields of architecture, civil engineering and transport economics and has an extensive, constantly growing hardware and software infrastructure.
In addition to empowering students to create their own VR/AR solutions, the aim of the lab is to support research work in the teaching and research areas of the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering by developing immersive and interactive presentation and collaboration solutions such as:
- Collaborative working and teaching in various VR/AR scenarios
- 3D architecture and urban planning visualisation
- Visualisation of photogrammetric data (real-time/aerial image)
The different realities
Mixed reality (hybrid reality) is the fusion of real and virtual worlds to create new environments and visualisations in which both physical and digital objects coexist and interact in real time.
Mixed reality does not only take place in the physical or virtual world, but is a mixture of reality and virtual reality, which includes augmented reality as well as augmented virtuality through immersive technology. Studies show that the introduction of spatially registered virtual objects superimposed over a person's direct view of a real physical environment can significantly enhance human performance.
Research has shown that we remember 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see and up to 90% of what we do or simulate. Virtual reality is a perfect example of the latter. VR is still a very new medium that offers potential for completely new and unique social applications and visualisations. Real physical movements, which are reflected in VR thanks to motion control, create a new perception of social presence. Sharing a virtual space with another user and interacting with them enables new digital collaboration scenarios and students can be taken to any imaginable location to impart knowledge in a differentiated way. Relevant course content can thus be presented in a more plastic way than was previously possible. Group work and discussions can be facilitated with the help of VR. Real situations can be represented very precisely and newly acquired knowledge can be applied directly.
Nowadays, we can find some excellent examples of augmented reality in educational use around the world. The ability to combine reality and digital content has slowly taken hold, opening up more possibilities for educators and students alike.AR is being used in the classroom to support teaching materials with AR features.AR offers the ability to render anything that is difficult to imagine in a classroom or on a computer as a 3D model. Abstract and complex content can be represented using visual models, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding. This offers alternative ways of integrating theoretical material into a real concept. With specialised apps, for example, medical students can explore parts of the body individually and learn human anatomy easily, and the use of AR features can help them learn and practice virtually with fully digital content or additional 3D models.
