The VR application

The development of the milk powder processing VR application is based on a large-scale milk powder production facility. It is a compact plant containing a diverse range of processing units. The information content of the VR application is presented in four panels: ‘Info Panel’, ‘Pano Viewer’, ‘Process Flow Diagram’ and ‘3D map’ (Figure 5-1). The information in all the panels is linked to each other. Having different panels linked is a unique feature of this VR application compared to other VR applications used in education. The inclusion of these panels in the design of the application is based upon the

multiple representations principle (an explanation based on a combination of words and pictures is more effective than an explanation in either words or pictures only) and the

contiguity principle (better learning takes place when the words and pictures are presented together instead of separately) (Mayer, 1997). The links between the panels allow users to see related information. The information presented in this VR application is also consistent with the graphical realism guidelines provided by Schofield (2010) who suggests that a sophisticated level of realism, a combination of abstract and realistic presentations and a multimodal approach (i.e., a combination of 3D environments and text information) should be used for effectiveness of engineering educational software packages.

The ‘Info Panel’ (top left Figure 5-1) contains text related to milk powder processing, the ‘Pano Viewer’ (top right) contains 360o panoramas of the process plant, the ‘Process Flow Diagram’ (bottom left) is a diagram of the milk powder production process and the ‘3D map’ (bottom right) displays a 3D model.

Figure 5-1 The four panels of the VR application displayed on the screen.

Figure 5-2 The interactive piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) of the VR application.

Clicking on the camera symbols moves the users to the specified location.

Info Panel Process Flow Diagram Pano Viewer

The arrows allow users to move sequentially through the milk processing steps.

A button to display the current P&ID.

A slider to rotate the 3D map.

Buttons to display the panel as a larger proportion of a screen.

3D Map

This green highlighted camera symbol indicates the current position in the panoramas.

A list of ‘instrument symbol’ buttons. Options to display

the current P&ID.

Options to display the respective process streams.

This 3D model is of the area where the user is currently located. For example, in Figure 5-1, the user is at the dryer area and, therefore, the 3D model of the dryer area is shown. The 3D map can be rotated to allow users to view it from different angles. The components of the map are coloured based on their function, for example, the piping lines are yellow. Since spatial knowledge is not the focus of this application, the 3D model is used as it provides a representation of the plant at once, allowing the users to view location of where each process takes place.

The information in each panel is linked to other panels allowing users to relate corresponding content. For example, in Figure 5-1, the current location of the user in the dryer area is shown in both the PFD and the 3D map by a green highlighted camera symbol.

In order to move from the location of one 360o panorama to another, users can move using the arrows at the top of the ‘Info Panel’. These allow users to move sequentially through the milk powder production process from tanker reception to the packaging area. Alternatively, users may move to a specific location by clicking on the camera symbols available in the PFD. This moves them to the specific 360o panorama based on the PFD selection.

At the top of the ‘Info Panel’ is a button that enables a display of the current piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID) (Figure 5-2). The P&ID contains too many components and is therefore presented by itself. Users are able to display the current P&ID from the drop down menu and the respective process streams via the checkboxes. Clicking on one of the buttons from the list of ‘instrument symbol’ buttons at the bottom right allows a display of detailed information related to the respective instruments in a pop-up window, similar to the one shown in Figure 5-4.

Figure 5-3 The hotspots and the ‘Pano Viewer’ panel displayed in half screen.

Figure 5-4 The pop-up window displays additional information related to the respective unit’s operation.

At the top right of the panels is a set of buttons ( ) that allow the panel to be resized, see the example in Figure 5-3 where the ‘Pano Viewer’ panel occupies half the screen. A hotspot (highlighted area of interest) is also included in the VR application (Figure 5-3). When the cursor hovers over the blue text in the ‘Info Panel’ (in this example, the ‘holding tubes’), the image of the holding tubes in ‘Pano Viewer’ is highlighted in green. At certain points, clicking on the blue text will display a pop-up window that contains additional information including videos and animations (Figure 5-4).

5.1.1 Specific user interface issues

A number of the features of the milk powder processing VR application were designed to address some user interface issues identified in the BP VR application (Table 15).

Table 15 User interface issues of the VR application and approaches taken to address them.

Issues Approaches taken to address them

Ease of use

Users are confused about returning to the previous page (no ‘back button’).

 Four different panels displayed in one screen, allowing users to move to any area and able to look at all information at once.

 The information in each panel is linked.

 The buttons ( ) allow the panel to be

displayed as a larger proportion of the screen and minimised back to its original size. This allows users to enlarge each panel and at the same time maintain their awareness between panels. Links between

information Lack of links between the PFD the 360o panoramas.

Appropriate size and use of colours for the components in the application

Map is small.

Hotspots are difficult to see

because of the colour.  Green hotspots.

Suggestions Approaches taken to address them

Guided tour

An additional suggestion, related to navigation, includes adding extra information such as the current location of the user and where they are moving next.

 Arrows at the top of the Info Panel allow users to navigate the plant based on the sequence of steps for milk powder processing.

Intuitive application

The application could be more intuitive (e.g., information appears when the cursor hovers over the equipment in the VE).

 Instead of information appearing when the hotspots are clicked, hotspots are displayed when the cursor hovers over the blue underlined text in the Info Panel. This provides users with a

reference to the items referred to in the text information.

Informative map

Include an indicator to show the size of equipment.

 The 3D map in this VR application has a ‘human figure’ included for size comparison of the scale of the plant. The equipment on the map is coloured based on its functionality.

These issues included unclear hotspots, lack of links between the PFD and the 360o panoramas, and the small size of the map, as discussed in Chapter 3. Table 15 summarises these issues and the approaches to address them. The issue related to navigation was not included as it was catered separately in Chapter 4. The search engine functionality is not yet included in this VR application but it will be included in future.