VR technology has seen many advancements with an increase in its application combined with a decrease in cost. VR applications in education and training are on the rise due to the many benefits. VR has tremendous cognitive and pedagogical benefits in enhancing the students’ understanding of the subjects and education experience.
The benefits of virtual reality labs are extended to students with special needs and distance learning students. Additionally, institutes stand to gain substantially from reducing infrastructure costs by replacing physical labs with VR labs.
The expansions in computer and internet technologies have impacted students’ learning styles. Students are displaying better learning outcomes with visual and simulated learning.
This, combined with the fact that VR labs are also cost-effective, has enhanced the scope of virtual reality for engineering.
Virtual Reality for Engineering
The application of VR in educational settings is giving rise to new careers and a technology embraced workforce.
The engineering industry is all set to benefit immensely from the adoption of VR.
• The VR market in education is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 42.5% from 2021 to 2026.
• Studies show that VR in engineering can reduce model design time by 10% and construction time by 7%.
• VR enabled training reduces the possibilities of work-related injuries by 43%.
• 70% of professionals believe that VR training will increase
Some of the significant applications of Virtual Reality for Engineering include
– Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE)
These streams involve prototyping- ideating, designing and testing, before full-scale manufacturing. VR prototyping enables faster and more cost-effective product development. Autodesk, Augment, and Solidworks are CAD software that allows a better understanding of real-time implementation.
– Stereoscopic Videos
Stereoscopic VR offers a real like world view and provides an immersive experience. Creating a sense of 3D depth gives a feeling of “being within” the environment.
VR in engineering has been growing as it can offer engineering students safe learning zones that otherwise may be impossible to access. These experiences boost the students’ practical learning without time or space limitations.
– VR Labs
The benefits of Virtual Reality labs in science and engineering education is immense. They eliminate the infrastructure costs of physical labs and offer seamless learning irrespective of time and location.
They enable students to enhance their practical understanding and undertake complex research in a safe and controlled environment.
Benefits of Virtual Reality Labs
Let’s shed some light on VR labs’ numerous benefits in engineering education.
– Reduced Infrastructure and time cost
Setting up laboratories and laboratory is a time consuming and expensive process. Virtual reality laboratories reduce both of these expenses, with no fear of broken or faulty equipment. VR labs enhance empirical learning systems.
– Boosts Clarity, Curiosity and Creativity
Some topics are very complex and require rounds of practical learning. Visual and simulation-based learning can help students to grasp complex topics more quickly. They can interact with the minutest details of any part as an engine to better understand its functionality. The interactive environment also increases the curiosity and creativity required for scientific endeavours.
– Anytime, Anywhere Learning
With VR labs, students can learn from anywhere, facilitating better outcomes. There are no missed sessions to worry about.
– Inclusive
VR Labs empower students with special needs and distance learners, thereby ensuring that no student misses out on learning.
– Increased Safety:
Some experiments can be risky in physical laboratories but are necessary as well. Virtual reality can enable dangerous experiments to be conducted repeatedly without any safety concerns.
– Scalable
VR labs are scalable and adaptable to suit the current needs of the engineering institutes.
VR Labs facilitate new-age learning
The demographics of engineering students enrolled is evolving, with many more part-time or distance learners, and the demand for anytime-anywhere learning is growing.
Many engineering colleges have initiated virtual reality for engineering solutions through web-based engineering programs to cater to the markets, where VR labs play a key role.
The benefits of virtual reality labs can be harnessed even for on-campus students. VR reduces both infrastructure costs whilst augmenting student learning outcomes and creativity.
Engineering K-Lab from IXR Labs offers 1000+ engineering concepts in one state of the art virtual reality lab. Developing a VR Simulation Lab requires insight, experience and tailored solutions.
IXR Labs can identify the right mix of technologies and provide total turnkey solutions to set up a VR Lab for your engineering institute.
