Science centers accessible to all with interactive AR
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Tom Tits Experiment AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 998 310 |
| Project duration | October 2020 - September 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Innovations to mitigate the crisis |
| Call | Finding new ways in the time of a crisis |
Important results from the project
Science center AR Lab (scAR Lab) is a learning tool that has proven that science centers can meet digitalisation in a meaningful way. Via interactive virtual labs based on physical installations, experiments become accessible to those who may not otherwise be able to visit a science center. Children, young adults, teachers and adults can engage with experiments before or after a visit to a science center in their own classroom or living room, extending and deepening the impact of the experience.
Expected long term effects
Currently, scAR Lab hosts two interactive AR installations, the Acceleration track and the Laser light path. Via an app, a digital model of a science center experiment is displayed where the user is. The tool also includes do-it-yourself experiments for further exploration. scAR Lab is available for iOS and Android phones and tablets. The solution is designed to be easily scalable and has been distributed nationally to the target user group and to parties interested in further development.
Approach and implementation
Tom Tits Experiment, Technichus and Thnx Innovation have worked together with agile system development of the tool. To ensure that scAR Lab works for the main target group, teachers and students in grades 4-6, the tool and digital installations have been developed based on schools’ governing documents and feedback from teachers and students who tested the tool during development. The AR tool is created to work with the most common hardware used by schools to-date to increase accessibility.