This document describes research on developing a haptic virtual environment to teach nanotechnology concepts to visually impaired students. Key points: - Traditional teaching methods rely on diagrams which are difficult for visually impaired students to understand and do not engage students. Haptics can provide interactive multi-sensory exploration. - Researchers created learning modules using a low-cost haptic device to teach concepts of size and scale by zooming in on familiar objects, and dominant forces at the nanoscale. - Preliminary results showed extremely positive reactions from students tested at various education levels. Future work will validate the approach using cognitive and affective measures compared to vision alone and traditional teaching methods.

1. 2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Development of a Nanoscale Virtual Environment Haptic Interface for Teaching Nanotechnology to Individuals who are Visually ImpairedDianne Pawluk1, Curtis Taylor2, Marcia Hoffman1 and Maria McClintock11Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University2Dept.of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of FloridaVCUWith support from the National Science Foundation

2. 22009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition 2Outline of PresentationWhat is haptics?Motivation for using haptics to teach nanotechnologyBackgroundLearning ModulesPreliminary ResultsFuture Plans

3. 3Traditional Teaching of Abstract Science and Nanotechnology2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Traditional methods of teachinglectures

4. rely on 2-D diagrams or display

5. poor engagement of students

6. difficult to conceptualize

7. more difficult for visually impairedmaterialstructureatomic structureNew methods needed to increase engagement and perceptionmolecular machine3

8. 4What is haptics?2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition The combination of:Perception of forces and positionSense of touch4

9. 5Why Nanotechnology, Why Haptics?2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Governments, educators and researchersFuture demand for employeesDiversityeducate, attractStudents who are blind or visually impairedNo one can see what goes on at the nanoscalePictures are not very intuitive in describing forcesinclusiveness, opportunitySighted studentsConsiderable portion haptic learnersengaged, interestThe first atomic force microscope5

10. 62009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Virtual Reality System with Hapticsfor a wide range of ages, compare to something familiar

11. include individuals who are blind or visually impaired, sonification6

12. 72009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition State-of-the-art in HapticsHapticstraining

13. surgery, flying aircraft, etc.

14. tele-nanomanipulation

15. teachingPhantom (> $10,000)SideWinder (< $50)Novint Falcon affordableforce feedback device, with position information

16. easily replicated in a classroom

17. allows for interactive, multi-sensory exploration of nanoscale concepts for sighted and visually impairedNovint Falcon (< $200)7

18. 82009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition What are the big ideas in nanotechnology?1. Size and Scale2. Dominant Forces3. Structure of matter4. Instrumentation5. Nanomachines6. Nanoscale FabricationScienceEngineering8

19. 9Module 1: Size and Scale2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Understanding of size continuum helps understand matter and materialsIdea: controllably “zoom in” on objects that are familiarImplementationrepresent objects at different scales by gray-scale imagesintensity = heightgraphicstriangular tesselation in openGLHapticsF = kvirtual* dpenetration9

20. 10Module 2: Dominant Forces2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Properties of matter change with scaleMacroscale gravity

21. inertiaNanoscale van der Waal

22. adhesion forces (electrostatic, capillary, etc.)force10

23. Preliminary ResultsFor Teaching Nanoscale Science and EngineeringTouching AtomsInteractive NanofabricationUnderstanding Atomic PotentialsFalcon Force-Feedback Controller

24. 12Conclusion2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition Developed new haptic-based, interactive simulations to teach abstract science and nanotechnology concepts

25. Developed learning modules to teach concepts of

26. size and scale

27. dominant forces

28. Demonstrated to prototype to elementary school, undergraduate and graduate students

29. extremely positive reaction

30. Will validate using:

31. cognitive measures

32. affective measures

33. compare to: vision alone and traditional methods 12