MagicChem: A Multi-modal Mixed Reality System Based on Needs Theory for Chemical Education

Due to the reasons such as the complicated preparation of reagents, danger, pollution, and lack of teacher resources, there are few chemical experiments that students can actually operate during the chemistry learning, which is not conducive to the chemistry learning and the phenomena principle understanding. Fortunately, MR technology provides us with the possibility of solving the safety issues and the space-time constraints, while the theory of human needs provides us with a way to think about designing a comfortable and stimulant MR system with realistic visual presentation and interaction. This study combines with the theory of human needs to propose a new needs model for virtual experiment. Based on this needs model, we design and develop a comprehensive MR system called MagicChem to verify the needs model. User study shows MagicChem that satisfies the needs model is better than the MR experimental environment that partially meet the needs model. In addition, we explore the application of the needs model in VR environment.