Design and Development of a VR Serious Game for Chemical Laboratory Safety

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) technologies are becoming more and more popular, not only as a gaming console, but also as a viable training tool. Especially for health and safety training programmes, VR can be very useful to train people in dangerous environments and situations without imposing real danger on them or others. Chemical laboratories are environments where risks of severe injury or even fatality are always present. For this, we developed a VR serious game, called VR LaboSafe Game, as a tool for laboratory safety training. However, designing a VR serious game is a challenging task. There are many factors to consider for an optimal game design. In this study, we discuss important design considerations and we present the game design of VR LaboSafe Game. Preliminary tests of an early version of the game show usability issues and minor discomforting symptoms for some participants. Nevertheless, participants do agree that VR LaboSafe Game is useful for learning laboratory safety; is more active and responsive in their learning process and makes safety training more engaging.

The Combination of Serious Gaming and Immersive Virtual Reality through the Constructivist Approach: An Application to Teaching Architecture

“…Consistently, previous research on immersion and user studies [35] shows that affordance, telepresence, and ergonomics are the primary constructs for learning via IVR-SGs. In accordance with our results, Chan et al [36], experimenting with IVR-SGs for safety in chemical laboratories, found that applications with more advanced technological features can provide a high level of immersion and reduce symptoms of simulator sickness. The high importance of immersivity in cognitive acquisition in IVR-SGs was also noted by Luigini and Basso [37] in an application on learning traditional cultural heritage practices.…”

Game on: immersive virtual laboratory simulation improves student learning outcomes & motivation

“…Nevertheless, over three‐quarters of participants reporting eye strain and a quarter reporting vestibular side effect pose a serious issue for future implementation of VR technology. Other groups developing VR laboratory simulation have reported similar side effects in participants following prolong VR headset use [56,57]. This points to the need for future inquiry into strategies for reducing eye strain and vestibular symptoms, such as intermittent breaks or reducing motion of visual stimuli [58], prior to widespread adoption.…”

Study of Motivation and Engagement for Chemical Laboratory Safety Training with Vr Serious Game

“…More details about VR LaboSafe Game can be found in the Appendix A. Supplementary material -Section C and in the paper of Chan et al (2021). After each level of the game, a participant could choose to take a break from VR in order to prevent severe symptoms of simulator sickness.…”

“…The players have to identify safety risks, minimise these risks and perform experiments safely in a virtual laboratory environment. This VR serious game is custom made of which the design and development is described in the study of Chan et al (2021). The current study will contribute to a better understanding of motivation and engagement of learners for chemical lab safety training.…”