The application of Virtual Reality to (Chemical Engineering) education

Virtual reality, VR, is an emerging computer interface that strives to make simulations so realistic that users believe, if only for a moment, that they are experiencing "the real thing." Highly realistic and believable simulations are accomplished using high-speed graphics supercomputers, three-dimensional graphics accelerators, head-mounted display devices, wired gloves, spatial audio processing, psychological and cognitive skills and numerous other technologies and techniques [7]. Less realistic though still effective VR is available on modern personal computers. As the speed and capabilities of personal computers rapidly increase, and as the cost of high-performance graphics computers continues to drop, we can expect to see high-quality VR on the average desktop within the next 5 to 10 years. The question then, is “How can we take advantage of this new technology to enhance and improve engineering education, and how can the skills we gain as a result be applied to other areas of engineering? ” In order to answer these questions, work has been conducted at the University of Michigan to develop a series of VR-based educational modules [1-2]. This paper will briefly discuss these modules, as well as some of the things that have been learned during their development, and how educators can download and implement the modules