Maroon

Maroon

Maroon (2013-now) is a interactive physics laboratory and experiment environment implemented in Unity3D, designed for active learning in the classroom or at home. It visualizes and simulates various experiments with a focus on physics experiments. Since 2018 it is supported by the Austrian Ministry for Education and introduced for first tests in Austrian schools. 

• 2017 GOLC Award for “Best Visualized Experiment”
• 2018 Feature at Forbes Magazine (DE/AT)

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happy to announce that our VR physics lab #maroon got awarded as best visualized experiment!!! #madewithunity @unity3d #vr @tugraz_news pic.twitter.com/NeeAc5Tgh9

— Johanna Pirker (@JoeyPrink) March 19, 2017

Maroon support three main environments:

• • Maroon Web
  • Maroon MobileVR (with smart phones)
  • Maroon VR (HTC Vive / Oculus)

The original virtual lab:

Maroon VR

Abstract: Maroon VR is a three-dimensional immersive lab experience in VR. Different physics experiments are visualized and simulated and rendered in VR to engage learners in an innovative and emerging environment. Maroon VR is designed for two different learning scenarios: (1) a room scale virtual reality experience with the HTC Vive fully immerses learners into the lab. Learners experience a Tesla coil at close range and can interact with the electro-magnetic experiments and feel resistance through the controllers. The second (2) scenario implements the lab in fully mobile VR experiments with the Gear VR or Google Cardboard. Since most students already own a smartphone, this version is cost-effective and easily available and remotely and mobile usable. This version is designed to be used in the classroom and supports immersive and engaging learning in a mobile, stand-alone, and cost-effective way.

Maroon Mobile VR

Maroon Roomscale VR

Short Documentary (German) from ORF about Maroon:

 

 

Live Demos:

• http://www.jpirker.com/demos/maroon2019/WebGL/ (Master’s Thesis, Holly) 
• http://jpirker.com/demos/physics-lab/WebGL/ (Bachelor’s Thesis in progress)

Further Simulations:

• Point Charge Simulations: http://www.jpirker.com/demos/tealsim-pc (Bachelor’s Thesis )
• http://jpirker.com/demos/TEALsim/  (Bachelor’s Thesis in progress)

Publications:

• Pirker, J., Holly, M., Lesjak, I., Kopf, J., & Gütl, C. (2019). MaroonVR—An Interactive and Immersive Virtual Reality Physics. Learning in a Digital World: Perspective on Interactive Technologies for Formal and Informal Education, 213.
• Pirker, J., Lesjak, I., Parger, M., Gütl, C. (2017, March)  An Educational Physics Laboratory in Mobile Versus Room Scale Virtual Reality – A Comparative Study. In Remote Engineering and Virtual Instrumentation (REV), 2017 13th International Conference on. IEEE. 
• Pirker, J., Holly, M. S., Hipp, P., König, C., Jeitler, D., & Gütl, C. (2017, November). Improving Physics Education Through Different Immersive and Engaging Laboratory Setups. In Interactive Mobile Communication, Technologies and Learning (pp. 443-454). Springer, Cham.

• Pirker, J., & Gütl, C. (2015). Educational Gamified Science Simulations. In Gamification in Education and Business (pp. 253-275). Springer International Publishing.
  (Download, Book Chapter).

• Pirker, J., Gütl, C., Belcher, J.W., Bailey, P.H.: Design and Evaluation of a Learner-Centric Immersive Virtual Learning Environment for Physics Education. SouthCHI 2013: 551-561. (acceptance rate: 22%) (Paper) (Slides)

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