The potential to integrate augmented reality into educational settings has led to the development of myriad programs for implementing these transformative technologies into education. However, the transformative learning processes possible for learners can best be developed through integration in immersive virtual learning environments. The integration of augmented reality (AR) technologies into education involves matching the potential of AR with the most effective instructional model for immersing learners in the learning process. With current research focused heavily on blended or online learning, augmented reality fits right into the new technologies and trends that are being developed and utilized on a consistent basis. There is a need for research that provides detailed curriculum guides, templates for designing virtual worlds, evaluation processes, and immersive learning procedures that can be utilized to provide the best educational environment for student success. Implementing Augmented Reality Into Immersive Virtual Learning Environments provides current research for the integration of transformative new technologies into multiple educational settings. Examining the why, what, and how of integrating augmented reality into immersive virtual learning technologies, this book covers various educational settings, such as nursing education, sports coaching, language education, and more. While highlighting the benefits for virtual reality, its role in remote learning, the logistics of simulation, and branches of it such as gamification, this book is ideally intended for teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, practitioners, IT specialists, educational software developers, researchers, academicians, and students interested in integrating augmented reality in educational programs.

Due to the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence technologies, schools, museums, and art galleries will need to change traditional ways of working and conventional thought processes to fully embrace their potential. Integrating virtual and augmented reality technologies and wearable devices into these fields can promote higher engagement in an increasingly digital world. Virtual and Augmented Reality in Education, Art, and Museums is an essential research book that explores the strategic role and use of virtual and augmented reality in shaping visitor experiences at art galleries and museums and their ability to enhance education. Highlighting a range of topics such as online learning, digital heritage, and gaming, this book is ideal for museum directors, tour developers, educational software designers, 3D artists, designers, curators, preservationists, conservationists, education coordinators, academicians, researchers, and students.

For the last decade, virtual reality has been utilized in diverse fields such as entertainment, medicine, and industry. Recently, virtual reality has been applied in educational settings in order to transform student learning and experiences through such methods as building prototypes using digital devices or exploring new cultures through immersive interactions. Teachers who can incorporate virtual reality into their classrooms can provide their students with more meaningful learning experiences and can witness higher engagement. Current and Prospective Applications of Virtual Reality in Higher Education is a cutting-edge academic research book that provides comprehensive research on the integration of virtual reality in education programs and establishes foundations for course design, program development, and institutional strategic planning. The book covers an overall understanding and approach to virtual reality in education, specific applications of using virtual reality in higher education, and prospects and issues of virtual reality in the future. Highlighting a wide range of topics such as gamification, teacher training, and virtual reality, this book is ideal for teachers, instructional designers, curriculum developers, academicians, program developers, administrators, educational software developers, policymakers, researchers, education professionals, and students.

Create engaging Augmented Reality (AR) applications with Unity 3D that can be experienced with devices such as HoloLens and Daydream Key Features Learn the principles of AR application development Work with the most popular sensors used in AR games and applications across Android, Apple and Windows Build experiences with interactive objects, physics, UI, animations, and C# scripting Book DescriptionAugmented Reality allows for radical innovations in countless areas. It magically blends the physical and virtual worlds, bringing applications from a screen into your hands. Meanwhile, Unity has now become the leading platform to develop augmented reality experiences, as it provides a great pipeline for working with 3D assets. Using a practical and project-based approach, Unity 2018 Augmented Reality Projects educates you about the specifics of augmented reality development in Unity 2018. This book teaches you how to use Unity in order to develop AR applications which can be experienced with devices such as HoloLens and Daydream. You will learn to integrate, animate, and overlay 3D objects on your camera feed, before gradually moving on to implementing sensor-based AR applications. In addition to this, you will explore the technical considerations that are especially important and possibly unique to AR. The projects in the book demonstrate how you can build a variety of AR experiences, whilst also giving insights into C# programming as well as the Unity 3D game engine via the interactive Unity Editor. By the end of the book, you will be equipped to develop rich, interactive augmented reality experiences for a range of AR devices and platforms using Unity. What you will learn Build and run AR applications for specific headsets, including HoloLens and Daydream Create 3D scenes with Unity and other 3D tools while learning about world space and scale Move around your AR scenes using locomotion and teleportation Create filters or overlays that work in tandem with facial recognition software Use GPS, geolocation services, and the camera feed to create a fitness application Integrate AR and VR concepts together in a single application Who this book is forUnity 2018 Augmented Reality Projects is for you if you're a game developer familiar with 3D computer graphics and interested in building your own AR games or applications. Any experience in Unity and C# is an advantage.

Explore the latest features of Unity 2018 to create immersive VR projects for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Daydream and Gear VR Key Features A project-based guide to teach you how to develop immersive and fun VR applications using Unity 3D Build experiences with interactable objects, physics, UI, animations, C# scripting, and other Unity features Explore the world of VR by building experiences such as diorama, first-person characters, 360-degree projections, social VR, audio fireball game, and VR storytelling Book DescriptionUnity has become the leading platform for building virtual reality games, applications, and experiences for this new generation of consumer VR devices. Unity Virtual Reality Projects walks you through a series of hands-on tutorials and in-depth discussions on using the Unity game engine to develop VR applications. With its practical and project-based approach, this book will get you up to speed with the specifics of VR development in Unity. You will learn how to use Unity to develop VR applications that can be experienced with devices such as Oculus, Daydream, and Vive. Among the many topics and projects, you will explore gaze-based versus hand-controller input, world space UI canvases, locomotion and teleportation, software design patterns, 360-degree media, timeline animation, and multiplayer networking. You will learn about the Unity 3D game engine via the interactive Unity Editor, and you will also learn about C# programming. By the end of the book, you will be fully equipped to develop rich, interactive VR experiences using Unity. What you will learn Create 3D scenes with Unity and other 3D tools while learning about world space and scale Build and run VR applications for specific headsets, including Oculus, Vive, and Daydream Interact with virtual objects using eye gaze, hand controllers, and user input events Move around your VR scenes using locomotion and teleportation Implement an audio fireball game using physics and particle systems Implement an art gallery tour with teleportation and data info Design and build a VR storytelling animation with a soundtrack and timelines Create social VR experiences with Unity networking Who this book is forIf you're a non-programmer unfamiliar with 3D computer graphics, or experienced in both but new to virtual reality, and are interested in building your own VR games or applications, then this book is for you. Any experience in Unity is an advantage.

The internet of things (IoT) is quickly growing into a large industry with a huge economic impact expected in the near future. However, the users' needs go beyond the existing web-like services, which do not provide satisfactory intelligence levels. Ambient intelligence services in IoT environments is an emerging research area that can change the way that technology and services are perceived by the users. Ambient Intelligence Services in IoT Environments: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a unique source that systemizes recent trends and advances for service development with such key technological enablers of modern ICT as ambient intelligence, IoT, web of things, and cyber-physical systems. The considered concepts and models are presented using a smart spaces approach with a particular focus on the Smart-M3 platform, which is now shaping into an open source technology for creating ontology-based smart spaces and is shifting towards the development of web of things applications and socio-cyber-physical systems. Containing coverage on a broad range of topics such as fog computing, smart environments, and virtual reality, multitudes of researchers, students, academicians, and professionals will benefit from this timely reference.

It can be tough to roll out a pre-configured environment if you don't know what you're doing. We'll show you how to streamline your service options with Docker, so that you can scale in an agile, responsive manner. Key Features Learn how to structure your own Docker containers Create and manage multiple configuration images Understand how to scale and deploy bespoke environments Book DescriptionMaking sure that your application runs across different systems as intended is quickly becoming a standard development requirement. With Docker, you can ensure that what you build will behave the way you expect it to, regardless of where it's deployed. By guiding you through Docker from start to finish (from installation, to the Docker Registry, all the way through to working with Docker Swarms), we'll equip you with the skills you need to migrate your workflow to Docker with complete confidence. What you will learn Learn to design and build containers for different kinds of applications Create a testing environment to identify issues that may cause production deployments to fail Discover how you can correctly structure and manage a multi-tier environment Run, debug, and experiment with example applications in Docker containers Who this book is forThis book is ideal for developers, system architects and site reliability engineers (SREs) who wish to adopt a Docker-based workflow for consistency, speed and isolation of system resources within their applications. You'll need to be comfortable working with the command line.

Learn to design and build Virtual Reality experiences, applications, and games in Unreal Engine 4 through a series of practical, hands-on projects that teach you to create controllable avatars, user interfaces, and more. Key Features Learn about effective VR design and develop virtual reality games and applications for every VR platform Build essential features for VR such as player locomotion and interaction, 3D user interfaces, and 360 media players Learn about multiplayer networking and how to extend the engine using plugins and asset packs Book DescriptionUnreal Engine 4 (UE4) is a powerful tool for developing VR games and applications. With its visual scripting language, Blueprint, and built-in support for all major VR headsets, it's a perfect tool for designers, artists, and engineers to realize their visions in VR. This book will guide you step-by-step through a series of projects that teach essential concepts and techniques for VR development in UE4. You will begin by learning how to think about (and design for) VR and then proceed to set up a development environment. A series of practical projects follows, taking you through essential VR concepts. Through these exercises, you'll learn how to set up UE4 projects that run effectively in VR, how to build player locomotion schemes, and how to use hand controllers to interact with the world. You'll then move on to create user interfaces in 3D space, use the editor's VR mode to build environments directly in VR, and profile/optimize worlds you've built. Finally, you'll explore more advanced topics, such as displaying stereo media in VR, networking in Unreal, and using plugins to extend the engine. Throughout, this book focuses on creating a deeper understanding of why the relevant tools and techniques work as they do, so you can use the techniques and concepts learned here as a springboard for further learning and exploration in VR. What you will learn Understand design principles and concepts for building VR applications Set up your development environment with Unreal Blueprints and C++ Create a player character with several locomotion schemes Evaluate and solve performance problems in VR to maintain high frame rates Display mono and stereo videos in VR Extend Unreal Engine's capabilities using various plugins Who this book is forThis book is for anyone interested in learning to develop Virtual Reality games and applications using UE4. Developers new to UE4 will benefit from hands-on projects that guide readers through clearly-explained steps, while both new and experienced developers will learn crucial principles and techniques for VR development in UE4.

Write efficient, reusable scripts to build custom characters, game environments, and control enemy AI Key Features Build captivating multiplayer games using Unreal Engine and C++ Incorporate existing C++ libraries into your game to add extra functionality such as hardware integration Practical solutions for memory management, error handling, inputs, and collision for your game codebase Book DescriptionUnreal Engine 4 (UE4) is a popular and award-winning game engine that powers some of the most popular games. A truly powerful tool for game development, there has never been a better time to use it for both commercial and independent projects. With more than 100 recipes, this book shows how to unleash the power of C++ while developing games with Unreal Engine. This book takes you on a journey to jumpstart your C++ and UE4 development skills. You will start off by setting up UE4 for C++ development and learn how to work with Visual Studio, a popular code editor. You will learn how to create C++ classes and structs the Unreal way. This will be followed by exploring memory management, smart pointers, and debugging your code. You will then learn how to make your own Actors and Components through code and how to handle input and collision events. You will also get exposure to many elements of game development including creating user interfaces, artificial intelligence, and writing code with networked play in mind. You will also learn how to add on to the Unreal Editor itself. With a range of task-oriented recipes, this book provides actionable information about writing code for games with UE4 using C++. By the end of the book, you will be empowered to become a top-notch developer with UE4 using C++ as your scripting language! What you will learn Create C++ classes and structs that integrate well with UE4 and the Blueprints editor Discover how to work with various APIs that Unreal Engine already contains Utilize advanced concepts such as events, delegates, and interfaces in your UE4 projects Build user interfaces using Canvas and UMG through C++ Extend the Unreal Editor by creating custom windows and editors Implement AI tasks and services using C++, Blackboard, and Behavior Trees Write C++ code with networking in mind and replicate properties and functions Who this book is forIf you are really passionate game developer looking for solutions to common scripting problems, then this is the book for you. Understanding of the fundamentals of game design and C++ is expected to get the most from this book.

Unreal Engine 4 for virtual reality game design, development, User Experience design techniques and Blueprint programming to create virtual reality gameplay for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Key Features Build VR games from scratch with the power of Unreal Engine 4 Learn User Experience design practices to take your VR game to the next level Understand the best practices to creating art for games on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and PSVR Book DescriptionWith the ability to put players directly in the game, virtual reality gives users the chance to experience digital worlds directly. Nevertheless, many designers are unsure where to start when working with this amazing technology. With this book, you will learn user experience design processes and create immersive gameplay experiences designed for entertainment and player comfort. Using the power of Unreal Engine 4's Blueprint visual scripting language, you will build player interaction and locomotion systems from scratch and use these flexible systems to create a sample game, as well as develop functional 2D and 3D user interfaces for players to interact with. And also learn the best practices for creating game art for virtual reality. Finally, you will learn how to test your application with your target audience and finalize your game for distribution. By the end of this book, you will have the knowledge to be able to make the leap from traditional game development to creating immersive virtual reality experiences using Unreal Engine 4. What you will learn Understand how to get started with VR development in Unreal Engine 4 Design and create interaction and locomotion systems from scratch Plan and program a sample game for VR Understand how VR affects user experience and user interfaces Discuss what is needed to create optimized art for VR Test your game with users and prepare for distribution Who this book is forThe audience for this book is intermediate or advanced users of Unreal Engine 4 but who have not begun working with VR technology. These users are familiar with the game engine and have an interest in VR technology. They are just beginning to explore the VR features that the game engine has to offer.

Transform the ways you communicate, create, collaborate, and explore using Microsoft HoloLens About This Book * Create immersive augmented reality apps for Microsoft HoloLens from scratch * Leverage the powerful HoloLens sensors to interact with real-world motions and gestures and make your app life-like * Explore the powerful Unity 5 SDK along with the Windows Unified platform to get the most out of your HoloLens app Who This Book Is For If you are a developer who wants to create augmented reality apps for the Microsoft HoloLens platform, then this is the book for you. Coding experience with C# is assumed. What You Will Learn * Design an app for HoloLens that is feasible and attractive to use * Add gestures and interact with them * Create sounds in the app and place them in a 3D space * Use voice generation and voice recognition to make your apps more lifelike * Interact with the physical environment to place holograms on top of physical objects * Compare HoloLens with the other products and know how to use its strengths * Use assets from third parties to enrich our app In Detail HoloLens, Microsoft's innovative augmented reality headset, overlaps holograms into a user's vision of their environment. Your ideas are closer to becoming real when you can create and work with holograms in relation to the world around you. If you are dreaming beyond virtual worlds, beyond screens, beyond pixels, and want to take a big leap in the world of augmented reality, then this is the book you want. Starting off with brainstorming and the design process, you will take your first steps in creating your application for HoloLens. You will learn to add gestures and write an app that responds to verbal commands before gradually moving on creating sounds in the app and placing them in a 3D space. You will then communicate between devices in the boundaries of the UWP model. Style and approach This book takes a step-by-step, practical, tutorial-style approach where you will dive deep into HoloLens app development. You will work with the API and write your own complex scripts that would interact with the powerful HoloLens sensors and with realistic examples, you will be able to create immersive 3D apps for HoloLens.

As virtual reality approaches mainstream consumer use, new research and innovations in the field have impacted how we view and can use this technology across a wide range of industries. Advancements in this technology have led to recent breakthroughs in sound, perception, and visual processing that take virtual reality to new dimensions. As such, research is needed to support the adoption of these new methods and applications. Cases on Immersive Virtual Reality Techniques is an essential reference source that discusses new applications of virtual reality and how they can be integrated with immersive techniques and computer resources. Featuring research on topics such as 3D modeling, cognitive load, and motion cueing, this book is ideally designed for educators, academicians, researchers, and students seeking coverage on the applications of collaborative virtual environments.