Performing laboratory experiment for off-campus and distance learning students is always a challenging task. Unlike other theory-based courses, engineering laboratory experiment focuses heavily on hands-on tasks. Although many web-based and other virtual reality (VR)-based laboratories widely exist, non-portability, difficult accessibility and high cost of these VR-based devices bring disadvantages to the convenience of learning. One solution is to use mobile devices, which are more portable, easier to access and cheaper in cost, and yet can still be interactive and engaging for students to practice and experience hands-on activities. In this paper, we discuss the benefits of using mobile devices for online education and the development of an Android-based 3D interactive mobile app for an undergraduate mechanical engineering laboratory. This app is capable of not only providing off-campus and distance-learning students an opportunity to practice the experiment on mobile devices, but also helping on-campus students to get familiarized with the experiment procedure prior to their physical laboratory experiment.
Shuo Ren is a PhD Candidate and Research Assistant in the Department of Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization Engineering at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He holds a M.S. in Modeling, Simulation and Visualization Engineering from Old Dominion University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech. His research interests include virtual reality, immersive learning and human-computer interaction.
Zelin Zhu is a Software Development Engineer at ESRI in Redlands, California, USA. He holds dual master's degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Modeling, Simulation and Visualization Engineering respectively from Old Dominion University and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Automation from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications. He is the first generation Microsoft HoloLens developer. His research interests include virtual reality and mobile application development.
Rick McKenzie is a Professor and Chair in the Modeling, Simulation and Visualization Engineering (MSVE) Department and a joint faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Old Dominion University. Before coming to Old Dominion University, he spent six years in the simulation industry as a Senior Scientist. McKenzie’s research has been in medical modeling and simulation, human behavior representation, and simulation architectures often focusing on aspects of scientific visualization and virtual reality.
Yuzhong Shen received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Fudan University, Shanghai, China, M.S. degree in Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, and Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware. His research interests include computer graphics, visualization, serious games, signal and image processing, and modeling and simulation. Dr. Shen is currently an Associate Professor of the Department of Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of Old Dominion University. He is also affiliated with Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC). Dr. Shen is a Senior Member of IEEE.
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