AugmentedWearEDU

The main objective of AugmentedWearEdu is to introduce a novel framework for e-Learning consisting of including haptic experiences to enable digital access to laboratories in higher education. This will be achieved by combining both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tools with a novel generation of wearable haptic devices. This will make it possible to engage students in a hapto-audio-visual hands-on laboratory environment. In this project, we will evaluate which of the available haptic technologies are suitable for e-Lerning and may foster the students’ ability to create complex simulations using existing or in-world modelling techniques and scripting tools, while offering the functionality to link to the real world and capture data which can be visualised in real-time. Haptics, VR and AR tools will be adopted either from our ongoing research activity or from various low-cost commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) tools. In this way, an innovative educational and research loop will also be established. This approach will contribute towards the achievement of fully-immersive, open and distance laboratory learning.
Starting from current state-of-art knowledge, AugmentedWearEdu will further advance this knowledge by producing the following intellectual outputs:

- assessment tool for educators’ competencies evaluation on using VR/AR including wearable haptic technologies. We propose a self-assessment tool for educators’ competencies
evaluation in VR and AR including haptic wearable technologies. This tool will support academic staff taking responsibility for their own professional growth through the identification of the current status of their pedagogical and technological skills with respect to VR/AR and integrated haptic wearables. The proposed tool will make it possible to design tailor-made courses for educators. From a methodology perspective, this is expected to also impact other disciplines in higher education. This is aligned with the European Commission’s
guidelines on supporting teacher competence development for better learning outcomes;
- training program for educators on haptics, VR and AR competences development (methodology and tools). We propose the design of a training program for educators regarding
competence development and the adoption of haptics, VR and AR as tools for realising a hands-on laboratory with practical experiences for students. The development of the
proposed training course for the integration of haptics, VR and AR for teaching is a novel methodological contribution towards supporting teacher competence development;
- open source library of VR, AR and wearable haptics to be used for re-designed study modules and engineering laboratories. We will deliver a website that will be called
AugmentedWearEdu Portal. The portal will be an initiative to advance the design and use of VR/AR contents including haptic interaction for e-Learning. We will include in the portal all
the information needed to build and set up the proposed wearable haptic interface starting from off-the-shelf components and our current research prototypes. The combination of
VR/AR methodologies and haptics can be exploited beyond engineering courses. Medicine courses, arts and other courses where lab activities are envisaged may take advantage
from the proposed novel methodologies.

Trasnational project meetins as planned:

1- Kickoff Meeting

2 – Developers' workshop

3 – Midterm plenary meeting

4 – Final meeting

Multiplier Events as planned:

E1 National dissemination event Lithuania

E2 National dissemination event Portugal

E3 National dissemination event Italy

E4 National dissemination event Romania

E5 European Conference Norway