Virtual Reality in Engineering Education: The Future of Creative Learning

Authors

  • Abdul-Hadi Ghazi Abulrub CEng MIMechE MCMI
  • Alex Attridge CEng MIMechE
  • Mark A Williams CEng FIMechE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v6i4.1766

Keywords:

Education, Engineering, Interactive, Virtual Reality, 3D Visualisation.

Abstract


Virtual reality has achieved an adequate level of development for it to be considered in innovative applications such as education, training, and research in higher education. Virtual reality offers both opportunities and challenges for the educational sector. One of the challenges of virtual reality technology is the costs associated which have been unaffordable for educational institutes. However, in recent years, computer hardware and software development has made it more feasible to incorporate virtual reality technology into future teaching strategies. Despite the cost challenges, educational benefits of implementing virtual reality remain compelling. This paper explains virtual reality principle and describes the interactive educational environment developed at WMG, the University of Warwick. It also discusses the benefits of using state-of-the-art 3D photorealistic interactive and immersive virtual environment for engineering undergraduates and postgraduate teaching, learning and training.

Author Biographies

Abdul-Hadi Ghazi Abulrub, CEng MIMechE MCMI

is a Research Fellow at WMG, the University of Warwick. He served as a post-doctoral fellow at Power Transmission and Motion Control Centre, the University of Bath from 2006-2009 where he currently holds an honorary position as a visiting fellow. Dr. Abulrub received his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Muâ??tah University, Jordan in 2000. He was awarded his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Bath, the UK in 2002 and 2007, respectively. He is a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and a member of Chartered Management Institute from which he was awarded a professional diploma in management and leadership. Following his arrival at WMG, Dr. Abulrub worked as a research fellow in the Metrology and Visualisation Centre and currently, is responsible for the UK highest 3D visualisation suite which is part of £5 million project funded by AWM and ERDF. The project is in partnership with more than 20 industrial partners including Jaguar Land Rover, TMTEC, Autodesk, Arup, Nikon, Holovis International and other leading industries. His research lies mainly in the innovation management within SMEs as an instrument to develop pioneering processes that add business value by reducing cost and time. He is an author of two book chapters by Springer, and is author, or co-author of more than 15 other publications.

Alex Attridge, CEng MIMechE

is a Senior Research Fellow at WMG, University of Warwick. He was awarded an MEng (Hons) in 1999 and a PhD in 2003, both from the University of Birmingham. He is currently team leader of an EPSRC-funded research project developing and evaluating future automotive HMI solutions, Project Manager of a £5M Regional Development Agency/European Regional Development Fund Centre of Excellence, and is involved in a Technology Strategy Board funded project. He is also involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and project supervision in the fields.

Mark A Williams, CEng FIMechE

is a Professorial Fellow at WMG, The University of Warwick. He served a four-year apprenticeship and gained a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from Nottingham University in 1993 and a PhD from the University of Manchester in 1998. He also spent five years in industry with Jaguar Land Rover, and was made a Fellow of the IMechE in 2007. He is currently leader of the Product Evaluation Technologies research group at WMG, which carries out research into the development of advanced metrology systems and human­machine interface (HMI) technology, with funding from EPSRC, Technology Strategy Board and the regional development agencies.

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Published

2011-11-25

How to Cite

Abulrub, A.-H. G., Attridge, A., & Williams, M. A. (2011). Virtual Reality in Engineering Education: The Future of Creative Learning. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 6(4), pp. 4–11. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v6i4.1766

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2011)

Section

Papers