2024 · Environ Earth Sci
VR-EX – An Immersive Virtual Reality Serious Game for Science Communication about the ERT Measurements in Mont Terri, Switzerland
N Graebling, G Ziefle, M Furche, R Nicol, S Schefer, M Ziegler, D Jaeggi, C Nussbaum, Y Annanias, S Goldstein, K Rink
Abstract
This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of VR-EX, a combination of a virtual field trip and a serious game in immersive virtual reality. The application’s purpose is the communication of research conducted in the Mont Terri underground research laboratory in Switzerland. VR-EX enables users to actively attend electrical resistivity tomography measurements within a geological experiment, from planning to execution to analysis of the results, and in this way imple- ments an active and playful learning approach. The work conducted in underground research laboratories has a high relevance for society as it contributes to research on the final disposal of nuclear waste. Therefore, the active communication of research methodology and results is crucial to increase understanding of scientific processes and boost interest. VR-EX was evaluated in a user study with 35 participants to measure its overall quality and its effectiveness of the knowledge transfer. Taking the evaluation’s qualitative results into account, the application was improved in an iterative process. Overall, the results prove the good quality of the application and its high effectiveness in terms of knowledge transfer. The reported high engagement, joy, and immersion indicate the benefits of employing immersive virtual reality for vivid science communication.
Authors
N Graebling, G Ziefle, M Furche, R Nicol, S Schefer, M Ziegler, D Jaeggi, C Nussbaum, Y Annanias, S Goldstein, K Rink
Details
- Year
- 2024
- Journal
- Environ Earth Sci
- Citation key
Graebling2024
@article{Graebling2024,
abstract = {This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of VR-EX, a combination of a virtual field trip and a serious game in immersive virtual reality. The application’s purpose is the communication of research conducted in the Mont Terri underground research laboratory in Switzerland. VR-EX enables users to actively attend electrical resistivity tomography measurements within a geological experiment, from planning to execution to analysis of the results, and in this way imple- ments an active and playful learning approach. The work conducted in underground research laboratories has a high relevance for society as it contributes to research on the final disposal of nuclear waste. Therefore, the active communication of research methodology and results is crucial to increase understanding of scientific processes and boost interest. VR-EX was evaluated in a user study with 35 participants to measure its overall quality and its effectiveness of the knowledge transfer. Taking the evaluation’s qualitative results into account, the application was improved in an iterative process. Overall, the results prove the good quality of the application and its high effectiveness in terms of knowledge transfer. The reported high engagement, joy, and immersion indicate the benefits of employing immersive virtual reality for vivid science communication.},
author = {N Graebling and G Ziefle and M Furche and R Nicol and S Schefer and M Ziegler and D Jaeggi and C Nussbaum and Y Annanias and S Goldstein and K Rink},
doi = {10.1007/s12665-024-11613-2},
howpublished = {r̆lhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12665-024-11613-2},
journal = {Environ Earth Sci},
pages = {art.~318},
title = {VR-EX – An Immersive Virtual Reality Serious Game for Science Communication about the ERT Measurements in Mont Terri, Switzerland},
volume = {83},
year = {2024}
}