Introduction to a New World of Learning
The Magic School Bus, a classic cartoon series, took students on incredible school trips, exploring the human body and the solar system in a magical bus that would shrink or use rocket boosters. While we may not have such a bus in real life, technology is bringing us closer to creating such experiences possible. Augmented reality (AR) is revolutionizing the best way we learn, especially in fields like geology.
Augmented Reality in Geology
A bunch at Washington University in St. Louis, led by Martin Pratt, is developing revolutionary apps that tap into the immense potential of AR. One such app is GeoXplorer, available for iOS and Android, which allows users to visualise the arrangement of atoms in crystalline structures of minerals, rock types, and even entire rock outcrops in 3D. The team can be developing apps for AR headsets like Microsoft’s HoloLens, providing a more immersive experience.
The Power of 3D Visualization
The goal of those apps is to represent data in a three-dimensional way, allowing users to go searching and manipulate it as they might in real life. This approach provides a more intuitive teacher-student setting, using body language cues like eye contact to direct attention. AR is especially useful in geology, a spatial science that requires a deep understanding of complex structures and relationships.
Exploring New Frontiers
The scope of AR is restricted only by the devices we use, and in the longer term, we are able to expect to bring distant worlds like Mars into the classroom. NASA’s Mars rover teams are already working on 3D visualization using AR technology, and Martin’s team has created a basic visualization of the Red Planet. This technology will hopefully develop into more accessible to students and researchers, allowing them to review complex data in a more engaging and interactive way.
Applications Beyond Geology
Professionals from other fields have also approached Pratt with requests for visualizations, including models of proteins, archeological models, and artistic endeavors. AR is getting used at the side of photogrammetry to review delicate ancient stays, reminiscent of the 11,500-year-old skull of Luzia Woman. As the technology continues to evolve, we are able to expect to see more revolutionary applications across various industries.
Conclusion
The use of AR in geology and other fields is an exciting development that can speed up the expansion of AR and VR technology. As we imagine the ways this technology will shape the longer term of learning, it’s clear that the probabilities are limitless. With the flexibility to visualise complex data in 3D, students and researchers will have the option to realize a deeper understanding of the world around them, making learning more engaging, interactive, and fun. As we move forward, it’s going to be interesting to see how AR and VR proceed to remodel the best way we learn and explore the world.
