It is generally accepted that augmented feedback, provided by a human expert or a technical display, effectively enhances motor learning. However, discussion of the way to most effectively provide augmented feedback has been controversial. Related studies have focused primarily on simple or artificial tasks enhanced by visual feedback. Recently, technical advances have made it possible also to investigate more complex, realistic motor tasks and to implement not only visual, but also auditory, haptic, or multimodal augmented feedback. The aim of this review is to address the potential of augmented unimodal and multimodal feedback in the framework of motor learning theories. The review addresses the reasons for the different impacts of feedback strategies within or between the visual, auditory, and haptic modalities and the challenges that need to be overcome to provide appropriate feedback in these modalities, either in isolation or in combination. Accordingly, the design criteria for successful visual, auditory, haptic, and multimodal feedback are elaborated.

/pdf/augmented-visual-auditory-haptic-and-multimodal-feedback-in-2jc0b0ky7k.pdf

Augmented visual, auditory, haptic, and multimodal feedback in motor learning: A review

/pdf/enhancing-our-lives-with-immersive-virtual-reality-496gj7y20r.pdf

Enhancing Our Lives with Immersive Virtual Reality

Over the last 20 years research has been done on the question of how egocentric distances, i.e., the subjectively reported distance from a human observer to an object, are perceived in virtual environments. This review surveys the existing literature on empirical user studies on this topic. In summary, there is a mean estimation of egocentric distances in virtual environments of about 74p of the modeled distances. Many factors possibly influencing distance estimates were reported in the literature. We arranged these factors into four groups, namely measurement methods, technical factors, compositional factors, and human factors. The research on these factors is summarized, conclusions are drawn, and promising areas for future research are outlined.

https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/2543581.2543590

The perception of egocentric distances in virtual environments - A review

The merger of game-based approaches and Virtual Reality (VR) environments that can enhance learning and training methodologies have a very promising future, reinforced by the widespread market-availability of affordable software and hardware tools for VR-environments. Rather than passive observers, users engage in those learning environments as active participants, permitting the development of exploration-based learning paradigms. There are separate reviews of VR technologies and serious games for educational and training purposes with a focus on only one knowledge area. However, this review covers 135 proposals for serious games in immersive VR-environments that are combinations of both VR and serious games and that offer end-user validation. First, an analysis of the forum, nationality, and date of publication of the articles is conducted. Then, the application domains, the target audience, the design of the game and its technological implementation, the performance evaluation procedure, and the results are analyzed. The aim here is to identify the factual standards of the proposed solutions and the differences between training and learning applications. Finally, the study lays the basis for future research lines that will develop serious games in immersive VR-environments, providing recommendations for the improvement of these tools and their successful application for the enhancement of both learning and training tasks.

/pdf/a-review-of-immersive-virtual-reality-serious-games-to-1m4i5nbl31.pdf

A review of immersive virtual reality serious games to enhance learning and training

Note on the effect of thermal radiation in the linearized Rosseland approximation on the heat transfer characteristics of various boundary layer flows

Technical Section: A review of virtual environments for training in ball sports

The present paper is concerned with the study of the radiation effects (Rosseland model) on the flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a flat sheet near the stagnation point. The system of ordinary differential equations is solved numerically using the Runge-Kutta method coupled with a shooting technique. The results show that a boundary layer is formed and its thickness increases with the radiation, velocity and temperature parameters and decreases when the Prandtl number is increased.

Radiation effects on the flow near the stagnation point of a stretching sheet

Navigating a powered wheelchair and avoiding collisions is often a daunting task for new wheelchair users. It takes time and practice to gain the coordination needed to become a competent driver and this can be even more of a challenge for someone with a disability. We present a cost-effective virtual reality (VR) application that takes advantage of consumer level VR hardware. The system can be easily deployed in an assessment centre or for home use, and does not depend on a specialized high-end virtual environment such as a Powerwall or CAVE. This paper reviews previous work that has used virtual environments technology for training tasks, particularly wheelchair simulation. We then describe the implementation of our own system and the first validation study carried out using thirty three able bodied volunteers. The study results indicate that at a significance level of 5 percent then there is an improvement in driving skills from the use of our VR system. We thus have the potential to develop the competency of a wheelchair user whilst avoiding the risks inherent to training in the real world. However, the occurrence of cybersickness is a particular problem in this application that will need to be addressed.

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The Implementation and Validation of a Virtual Environment for Training Powered Wheelchair Manoeuvres

Control of a powered wheelchair is often not intuitive, making training of new users a challenging and sometimes hazardous task. Collisions, due to a lack of experience can result in injury for the user and other individuals. By conducting training activities in virtual reality (VR), we can potentially improve driving skills whilst avoiding the risks inherent to the real world. However, until recently VR technology has been expensive and limited the commercial feasibility of a general training solution. We describe Wheelchair-Rift, a cost effective prototype simulator that makes use of the Oculus Rift head mounted display and the Leap Motion hand tracking device. It has been assessed for face validity by a panel of experts from a local Posture and Mobility Service. Initial results augur well for our cost-effective training solution.

A Cost-Effective Virtual Environment for Simulating and Training Powered Wheelchairs Manoeuvres

A numerical analysis is made for thermophoretic transport of small particles through the convection in a differentially heated square cavity with a wavy wall. The governing gas-particle partial dif...

/pdf/double-diffusive-natural-convection-in-a-differentially-1a0m0z2uod.pdf

Serban R. Pop

Papers

Technical Section: A review of virtual environments for training in ball sports

Radiation effects on the flow near the stagnation point of a stretching sheet

The Implementation and Validation of a Virtual Environment for Training Powered Wheelchair Manoeuvres

A Cost-Effective Virtual Environment for Simulating and Training Powered Wheelchairs Manoeuvres

Double-Diffusive Natural Convection in a Differentially Heated Wavy Cavity Under Thermophoresis Effect