AugmentedWearEdu: Pioneering Haptic Integration in E-Learning with an Open-Source Platform

AugmentedWearEdu, an Erasmus+ European initiative, is devoted to enhancing immersive education by supplying educators with reasonably priced and open-source VR solutions. The project's open-source framework simplifies customization to accommodate individual teaching requirements and subject demands. One of the technological outputs of the project is SimpleThimble, a wearable haptic device that can give force feedback to the fingertips. Emphasizing simplicity and affordability, we designed SimpleThimble for easy assembly without requiring specialized tools or technical expertise. It seamlessly integrates with the Unity development platform, enabling adaptation to various virtual world applications. The project website provides downloadable 3D models, facilitating users to acquire the necessary components through 3D printing, whether at home or in a laboratory. What distinguishes this project is its capability to equip educators with a wide-ranging skill set, from programming to 3D printing, enhancing the learning experience with wearable haptics technology and its virtual reality applications.