Virtual Reality to Improve Nanotechnology Education: Development Methods and Example Applications

Nanotechnology has had a tremendous effect on industries, from material designs to manufacturing processes, and in various applications, from drug delivery for medicines to reducing airplane noise through the use of nanofibers. This impact has been described as the next industrial revolution, and there is a large investment from countries all across the world to improve teaching and training in nanotechnologies [1]. The biggest challenge in nanotechnology education is providing hands-on laboratory instruction, which requires expensive tools, a cleanroom environment, and safe interaction with hazardous chemicals. In this article, a successful new method for teaching nanotechnology using virtual reality (VR) is presented. VR training is a promising method that has the benefit of personalized instruction and an engaging media format [2].