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Virtual Reality Avatars to support Learning and Education
We will explore the design space of avatars in Virtual Reality to support learning and creativity. The project will leverage the concept of "embodied cognition", a set of theories that imply that our bodies and their interaction with the environment can impact how we learn. We will develop a Unity3D-based VR environment for embodied learning that can be deployed on everyday VR headsets.
Embodied cognition is a set of theories acknowledging that our bodies, and the interaction of said bodies with the environment, impact how we learn. Recently, Virtual Reality (VR), a technology supporting and integrating bodily movements has been used to implement embodied learning activities, with a strong focus on learning design and interaction design.
Moreover, recent trends in VR research have explored the relationship between our physical bodies and our digital bodies (avatars): the sense of avatar embodiment. Interestingly, research has explored how to embody physically different avatars, for example hands with 6 fingers, or even non-human avatars, such as creatures or objects.
Now the question is: If our bodies impact how we learn, and if VR can be used to embody different bodies, can we deliberately design digital avatars to support learning? In this project, we define and explore the concept of semantic avatars: digital avatars designed to highlight a specific meaning, explored through bodily actions.
Embodied cognition is a set of theories acknowledging that our bodies, and the interaction of said bodies with the environment, impact how we learn. Recently, Virtual Reality (VR), a technology supporting and integrating bodily movements has been used to implement embodied learning activities, with a strong focus on learning design and interaction design.
Moreover, recent trends in VR research have explored the relationship between our physical bodies and our digital bodies (avatars): the sense of avatar embodiment. Interestingly, research has explored how to embody physically different avatars, for example hands with 6 fingers, or even non-human avatars, such as creatures or objects.
Now the question is: If our bodies impact how we learn, and if VR can be used to embody different bodies, can we deliberately design digital avatars to support learning? In this project, we define and explore the concept of semantic avatars: digital avatars designed to highlight a specific meaning, explored through bodily actions.
To explore this concept, the student will design, implement, and evaluate three semantic avatars for three different use cases (mathematics, creativity, and a third use case defined by the student). The avatars will then be evaluated through mixed-methods user studies. To ensure success, this interdisciplinary thesis will be supervised by experts in Human-Computer Interaction as well as Learning Sciences.
Requirements:
- Basic knowledge of character animation and rendering.
- Experience with 3D visualization tools (e.g., Open3D, Blender, Maya).
- Experience with 3D game engines (e.g, Unity, Unreal Engine) is a plus.
- Background in Human-Computer Interaction or Learning Sciences is a plus.
- Experience with qualitative methods is a plus.
To explore this concept, the student will design, implement, and evaluate three semantic avatars for three different use cases (mathematics, creativity, and a third use case defined by the student). The avatars will then be evaluated through mixed-methods user studies. To ensure success, this interdisciplinary thesis will be supervised by experts in Human-Computer Interaction as well as Learning Sciences.
Requirements:
- Basic knowledge of character animation and rendering.
- Experience with 3D visualization tools (e.g., Open3D, Blender, Maya).
- Experience with 3D game engines (e.g, Unity, Unreal Engine) is a plus.
- Background in Human-Computer Interaction or Learning Sciences is a plus.
- Experience with qualitative methods is a plus.
Julia Chatain, julia.chatain@sec.ethz.ch
Yi-Chi Liao, yichi.liao@inf.ethz.ch
Julia Chatain, julia.chatain@sec.ethz.ch Yi-Chi Liao, yichi.liao@inf.ethz.ch
