An augmented virtuality system facilitating learning through nature walk

Augmented Virtuality (AV), the augmentation of a virtual environment with real-world objects or information, provides unique educational opportunities, such as photorealistic avatars (using content generation sensors) that convey natural gestures and body language, frames of reference for scale comparisons, and embodied cognition. In this research, we focus on the use of AV technologies for educational tours, such as nature walks, which are guided educational tours to teach students how to identify trees. Because additional content generation and tracking sensors require additional costs and logistics for educational deployment, we conducted a between-subjects experiment comparing AV systems with rear-only and front-and-rear Kinect sensor arrangements. While prior research indicates comparable tracking accuracies for such sensor conditions, we found significant differences between the two conditions. More importantly, we found evidence indicating that the rear-only sensor condition altered participant behavior and caused some participants to prioritize completing the educational tour quickly over correctly identifying trees and their features on the tour. However, we also found that both conditions afforded significant learning improvements, based on pre and post knowledge tests.