Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) technology has been capturing the public imagination for decades. VR software applications that allow for interactive immersion are emerging as a renowned medium in many areas, including educating the public in biochemistry-related subjects via public engagement events. This report provides information about an immersive, interactive and educational virtual reality (VR) game named Bug Off Pain that increases scientific literacy about chronic pain and spider venoms among the public and high school students. Here, VR was shown to be an innovative and fun approach to learning and public engagement in biochemistry. Bug Off Pain places the viewer inside the brain and shows the molecular system that allows people to sense pain. After securing three (learning) points via the multimedia-based clips, this experience translates to the interactive game. Here, a player has to choose a venom that shuts down the pain until that results in “pain over”. Bug Off Pain can be played (free of charge) on two different VR platforms: Oculus Rift and Android devices.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1486-1490 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Chemical Education |
Volume | 96 |
Issue number | 7 |
Early online date | 15 May 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 9 Jul 2019 |
Profiles
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Jesus Angulo
- School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology - Honorary Senior Lecturer
- Pharmaceutical Materials and Soft Matter - Member
Person: Honorary, Research Group Member
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Leanne Stokes
- School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology - Associate Professor in Pharmacology
- Molecular and Tissue Pharmacology - Member
Person: Research Group Member, Academic, Teaching & Research