The augmented reality sandbox : An interdisciplinary mediation tool to foster Development

Résumé 0

The Augmented Reality Sandbox (AR Sandbox or ARS) is a 3D interactive and dynamic scientific mediation tool being widely used more and more today. In scientific arenas amongst researchers, for pedagogical purposes within schools and universities, as exhibits for fairs/festivals in museums and/or science centers or simply for fun for children to get to play and create. It is much appreciated for its capacity to overlay virtual information onto physical environment. Having each, one AR Sandbox, the LETG and IDEES laboratory of Caen and Rouen, offered a master’s 2 internship to see the opportunities that exists in France and around the world in regard to the AR Sandbox. If there were possibilities to improve their ARS in terms of design and structure, new modules and equipment used that could have developed until today, as well as seeing if there were some curiosity about its use amongst the local actors within the Normandie region, in hopes of creating a collaborative synergy. This could have been for current or future projects.This thesis shows what was found upon contacting various local and international schools, universities and organizations within the internship months, the advice, and experiences that they so kindly gave about their AR Sandboxes, thus showing different designs and structures that exists, modes/modules installed and the manner in which the ARS can be used which then shows its interdisciplinarity. It goes on to show its value in two major fields that is ever so important, and that is within STEM education and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Last but not least it aims to show its potential use within countries that do not possess one as of yet, and perhaps the opportunities that can exist in creating a lower technology version of the ARS. All in all, the Augmented Reality Sandbox can be an effective tool to foster development whether it be locally and/or internationally in such scenes and contexts.