Research News
LIVE awarded a Wellcome People Award to use Haptic Simulators
31 January 2011
LIVE have been awarded a Wellcome People Award to use haptic simulators to engage young people at Camden schools in Biomedical Science: 'Building the Body: Sense and Simulation in Biomedical Science'
The RVC team is led by Sarah Baillie, Jon Parry and Caroline Wheeler-Jones. They will be working with Jim Cannon (WP), Tierney Kinnison (LIVE), Neil Forrest (LIVE) and Julia Leewood, Secondary Consultant (Science) Achievement, London Borough of Camden Schools
Workshops will be delivered to KS3 students from Camden schools using the RVC's range of virtual reality (VR) haptic simulators including the Haptic Cow and Haptic Horse. The aim is to stimulate innovation by simulating practical experience in the biomedical sciences.
Each workshop will have three parts: First, we will run a practical class with the haptic simulators to give the students a "hands-on" and dynamic experience, which will provide a unique way to learn about, and increase understanding of, different body systems e.g. reproductive, intestinal and cardiovascular, and related physiological functions. Students will be able to touch and interact with simulated internal organs, appreciate structure and function, and experience the effects of certain disease processes.
After "trying their hands" at our existing simulators, students will work in teams to ‘build’ part of a body using a prototyping tool with a ‘drag and drop’ interface that allows people who do not have specific ICT skills to develop their own haptic simulations.
Finally, students will be tasked with identifying some innovative uses of the technology to address and overcome some of the challenges encountered when using more traditional methods and approaches to teaching and learning in biomedical sciences. A project report will be produced detailing the activities, analysis of feedback and plans for ongoing and wider use and dissemination.
See also YouTube footage: "Haptics at the Royal Veterinary College":
Please see the Research News Archive for older stories.