Exploring Campus through Web-Based Immersive Adventures Using Virtual Reality Photography: A Low-Cost Virtual Tour Experience

Authors

  • Agariadne Dwinggo Samala Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4425-0605
  • Marina Ricci Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9355-8430
  • Christian Jonathan Angel Rueda Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Santiago de Querétaro, México
  • Ljubisa Bojic Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Fadhli Ranuharja Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia
  • Winda Agustiarmi Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v20i01.44339

Keywords:

virtual reality, virtual tour, educational technology, web-mobile application

Abstract


This study aims to assess the incorporation of virtual reality (VR) photography into the web-based immersive application “virtual interactive campus tour (VICT).” This application offers users an immersive experience, allowing them to virtually explore university campuses and access information about the facilities and services available. The VICT application offers a cost-effective, attractive, and sustainable alternative for universities to display their resources and interact with potential students. Through black box testing, we conducted user acceptance testing (UAT) and functionality testing, confirming the application’s readiness for deployment and its capability to meet institutional and end-user requirements. This study also examined the potential for universities to use VR to meet the expectations of prospective students. The application is compatible with both desktop and mobile devices. The results indicated that the overall average validity score was 0.88, suggesting that the measure is valid. The validation results were thoroughly tested and reliable. This study emphasizes the potential of immersive web-based tours in higher education and aims to bridge the divide between virtual exploration and physical visits. By offering an immersive virtual campus experience, this innovative tool has the potential to revolutionize university marketing strategies, increase student engagement, and transform campus visit approaches.

Author Biographies

Agariadne Dwinggo Samala, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Dr. Agariadne Dwinggo Samala is an educator, futurologist, dedicated researcher, and an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP), Indonesia, specializing in Informatics and Computer Engineering Education. He graduated from the Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Information Technology, Universitas Andalas, Indonesia. In 2015, he completed a Master’s in Technology and Vocational Education from the Faculty of Engineering at UNP, focusing on Informatics Engineering Education. In 2023, he received his Ph.D. from UNP, Indonesia, with a research focus on the convergence of technology and education. Additionally, Agariadne is the Founder and Coordinator of EMERGE (Emerging Technologies, Multimedia, and Education Research Group) at Digital Lab, where he contributes to advancing research initiatives. He is an external collaborator of the Digital Society Lab at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory (IFDT), University of Belgrade, Serbia, and an external collaborator at Technology, Instruction, and Design in Engineering and Education Research (TiDEE.rg), Universidad Católica de Ávila, Spain. In addition, he is a member of the International Society for Engineering Pedagogy (IGIP) in Austria. With a deep passion for education, he has conducted impactful research on Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL), Emerging Technologies in Education, Flexible Learning, 21st Century Learning, and Technology, Vocational Education and Training (TVET). He serves as an editorial board member of the journals: J-HyTEL, AMLER, JPTK, JEREL, and JCIM. He has contributed to the scientific community through his extensive publication record, with more than 35 published scientific papers. He has also fostered collaborative partnerships with other experts worldwide to drive education progress. He holds certifications as a Microsoft Certified Educator (21st Century Learning), Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, and Google Certified Educator. These certifications underscore his commitment to innovative teaching and learning practices, integrating technology to enhance education and research.

Marina Ricci, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

Marina Ricci received her B.A. and M.A. degrees with honors in Industrial Design at the Polytechnic University of Bari in 2018 and 2020. Currently, she is a third-year doctoral researcher in Industry 4.0 at the Polytechnic University of Bari and a member of the VR3 Group. Her doctoral path covers and intertwines the areas of Interaction Design and Computer Science. Her current research concerns "Extending" reality by creating novel user experiences by focusing on their multisensorial aspect through the use of Virtual and Augmented Reality and haptic technologies.

Christian Jonathan Angel Rueda, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Santiago de Querétaro, México

Dr. Christian Jonathan Angel Rueda is a distinguished scholar in the field of educational technology, with a specific focus on three-dimensional immersive digital environments for educational purposes. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Technology from the Autonomous University of Queretaro. His thesis centered on developing a didactic model to acquaint educators with the utilization of virtual worlds for educational endeavors. Dr. Rueda's extensive research encompasses virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, virtual worlds, and extended reality, striving to enhance teaching and learning experiences. His academic contributions include the systematic review of immersive digital environments in programming education and the exploration of collaborative work within these realms, particularly in the metaverse context. Through his publications, Dr. Rueda continually investigates the educational affordances of immersive digital realms, marking a significant stride in bridging innovative technology with pedagogical practices. Currently, Dr. Rueda is pursuing his Postdoctoral research at the Polytechnic University of Santa Rosa, delving into the academic usage of virtual worlds for teaching robotics.

Ljubisa Bojic, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Ljubisa Bojic is a communication scientist, futurologist, and author of the paper The Metaverse through the prism of power and addiction: What will happen when the virtual world becomes more attractive than reality? and a monograph, Culture Organism or Techno-Feudalism: How Growing Addictions and Artificial Intelligence Shape Contemporary Society. Bojic received his Ph.D. from the University of Lyon II, France in 2013 and is currently a senior research fellow and coordinator of the Digital Society Lab, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, at the University of Belgrade, senior research fellow at The Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia, senior research fellow at the Department of Communication, University of Vienna, researcher for AI at the United Nations Development Programme and visiting fellow of the Institute for Human Sciences Vienna (IWM). He has written more than 50 scientific papers, some of them published in leading journals, such as the European Journal of Futures Research and Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research. Bojic is appointed to the United Nations Environment Programme Foresight Expert Panel by UNEP’s Chief Scientist Andrea Hinwood. He was a member of a Serbian government work group dedicated to developing ethical standards for artificial intelligence. Bojic is associate editor of Springer’s journal Humanities & Social Sciences Communications and serves as an executive board member on Horizon’s Project 2022 TWin of Online Social Networks Project. He is the founder of EMERGE: Forum on the Future of AI Driven Humanity and the initiator of the Belgrade Digital Freedom Pledge intended to stimulate widespread conversations about recognizing recommender systems as a public good and digital identity as a human right. The current focus of Bojic’s work is the development of global AI policies and the alignment of AI with human values and wellbeing. He is frequently invited by the media to comment on the latest developments in AI from the perspective of digital humanism. Bojic speaks at universities and events across the world about his latest research.

Fadhli Ranuharja, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Fadhli Ranuharja is a highly accomplished lecturer and researcher. Specializing in Learning Technology, Multimedia, and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training). He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Informatics Engineering in 2014, marking the beginning of his academic journey. In recognition of his exceptional aptitude and dedication to his craft, Fadhli Ranuharja was appointed as a lecturer in the Electrical department of the Faculty of Engineering at Padang State University in 2022. Since then, he has been actively engaged in both teaching and conducting research, striving to enhance the educational experience of his students while making valuable contributions to the advancement of Learning Technology, Multimedia, and TVET.

Winda Agustiarmi, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Winda Agustiarmi is a Lecturer of the Electronics Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang. Her research interests include but are not limited to Optimization, Multimedia, and Robotics.

Cover iJOE – Vol 20, No 01, 2024

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Published

2024-01-12

How to Cite

Samala, A. D., Ricci, M., Angel Rueda, C. J., Bojic, L., Ranuharja, F., & Agustiarmi, W. (2024). Exploring Campus through Web-Based Immersive Adventures Using Virtual Reality Photography: A Low-Cost Virtual Tour Experience. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE), 20(01), pp. 104–127. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v20i01.44339

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 01 (2024)

Section

Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Agariadne Dwinggo Samala, Marina Ricci, Christian Jonathan Angel Rueda, Ljubisa Bojic, Fadhli Ranuharja, Winda Agustiarmi

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.