Supporting Electronics Learning through Augmented Reality

TL;DR

This paper explores how augmented reality can enhance electronics learning by visualizing complex processes and addressing educational challenges, highlighting open research issues in AR application design.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of AR applications in electronics education and identifies key research challenges related to functionality, fidelity, feedback, and interactivity.

Findings

AR visualizations improve understanding of electronic components

Current AR tools face challenges in achieving high fidelity and interactivity

Open research issues include balancing functionality and user engagement

Abstract

Understanding electronics is a critical area in the maker scene. Many of the makers' projects require electronics knowledge to connect microcontrollers with sensors and actuators. Yet, learning electronics is challenging, as internal component processes remain invisible, and students often fear personal harm or component damage. Augmented Reality (AR) applications are developed to support electronics learning and visualize complex processes. This paper reflects on related work around AR and electronics that characterize open research challenges around the four characteristics functionality, fidelity, feedback type, and interactivity.