Solar Energy Systems Design Using Immersive Virtual Reality: A Multi-Modal Evaluation Approach

Abstract

As the demand for renewable energy sources continues to increase, solar energy is becoming an increasingly popular option. Therefore, effective training in solar energy systems design and operation is crucial to ensure the successful implementation of solar energy technology. To make this training accessible to a wide range of people from different backgrounds, it is important to develop effective and engaging training methods. Immersive virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing solar energy training and education. In this paper, a unique method is presented to evaluate the effectiveness of an immersive VR experience for solar energy systems design using a multi-modal approach that includes a detailed analysis of user engagement. To gain a detailed analysis of user engagement, the VR experience was segmented into multiple scenes. Moreover, an eye-tracker and wireless wearable sensors were used to accurately measure user engagement and performance in each scene. The results demonstrate that the immersive VR experience was effective in improving users’ understanding of solar energy systems design and their ability to perform complex tasks. Moreover, by using sensors to measure user engagement, specific areas that required improvement were identified and insights for enhancing the design of future VR training experiences for solar energy systems design were provided. This research not only advances VR applications in solar energy education but also offers valuable insights for designing effective and engaging training modules using multi-modal sensory input and real-time user engagement analytics.