Current solar energy systems design methods mainly rely on experts developing designs on 2D flat screens using outdated CAD models. Immersive 3D design methods may democratise the design process, such that systems can be designed quickly and accurately. Therefore, in this manuscript we measure user engagement or stress levels in both a 2D and 3D immersive virtual reality environment during a solar energy systems design task. User engagement was measured by estimating a user's vital signs using a non-invasive FMCW radar. In our pilot study, four participants tried a 2D and 3D interface while their vital signs were being monitored. According to participant feedback from self-reported questionnaires, our results clearly indicate that the 3D virtual reality offers higher user engagement. These findings could have a tremendous impact on the way we develop renewable energy systems of the future.

No abstract

Global energy demands have escalated due to the industrial endeavour and urbanization which further led to the surge in greenhouse gases worldwide. Consecutively, carbondioxide emissions are majorly responsible for human-induced climate change and is a major global concern. Therefore, tackling some of the world's toughest environmental challenges requires widening the scope of education and training to accelerate our energy transition to zero carbon emissions by 2050. The aim of this article is to review the literature on extended reality (XR) for training students about the implications of climate change and how these can be addressed in an effective manner. Furthermore, our review explores the social as well as psychological impacts of using an immersive and engaging environment using XR technology for delivering meaningful climate change visualisation. In addition, we include a critical review and analysis of recently published manuscripts on climate change research in XR. A total of 10 articles satisfied our search criteria. Based on our search results, we discuss the types of headsets used, the game engine and overall student perceptions.

<p>As the demand for renewable energy sources continues to increase, solar energy is becoming an increasingly popular option. Therefore, effective training in solar energy system design and operation is crucial to ensure the successful implementation of solar energy technology. To make this training accessible to a wide range of people from different backgrounds, it is important to develop effective and engaging training methods. Immersive virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing solar energy training and education. In this paper, we present a unique approach to evaluating the effectiveness of an immersive VR experience for solar energy systems design training, using a multi-module approach and a detailed analysis of user engagement. To better understand the effectiveness of this VR experience, we divided our experiment into several scenes and employed a range of sensors, including eye-tracking and wireless wearable sensors, to accurately assess users' engagement and performance in each scene. Our results demonstrate that the immersive VR experience was effective in improving users' understanding of solar energy systems design and their ability to perform complex tasks. Moreover, by using sensors to measure user engagement, we identified specific areas that required improvement and provide insights for enhancing the design of future VR training experiences for solar energy systems design. Our study highlights the potential of immersive VR as a tool for enhancing solar energy training and education, with implications for both research and practice.</p>

<p>As the demand for renewable energy sources continues to increase, solar energy is becoming an increasingly popular option. Therefore, effective training in solar energy system design and operation is crucial to ensure the successful implementation of solar energy technology. To make this training accessible to a wide range of people from different backgrounds, it is important to develop effective and engaging training methods. Immersive virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing solar energy training and education. In this paper, we present a unique approach to evaluating the effectiveness of an immersive VR experience for solar energy systems design training, using a multi-module approach and a detailed analysis of user engagement. To better understand the effectiveness of this VR experience, we divided our experiment into several scenes and employed a range of sensors, including eye-tracking and wireless wearable sensors, to accurately assess users' engagement and performance in each scene. Our results demonstrate that the immersive VR experience was effective in improving users' understanding of solar energy systems design and their ability to perform complex tasks. Moreover, by using sensors to measure user engagement, we identified specific areas that required improvement and provide insights for enhancing the design of future VR training experiences for solar energy systems design. Our study highlights the potential of immersive VR as a tool for enhancing solar energy training and education, with implications for both research and practice.</p>