MatAR: dynamic augmented reality platform for accessible molecular visualization

Abstract

Color blindness affects 5% of the world's population, and it can challenge the accessibility and inclusivity of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Inspired by the fourth United Nations’ (UN) sustainable development goal of quality education, we aim to provide sustainable and accessible resources for lifelong learning for all. In this work, we present MatAR, an educational augmented reality (AR) mobile app that enables colorblind learners to visualize 3D molecular structures by color pallet optimization. Leveraging Vuforia's cloud database, MatAR offers a sustainable solution for storing and accessing target images. Accessibility to AR applications for physics, chemistry, and materials science learning is currently limited. We believe that MatAR provides immersive visualization solutions for education and academic/industry research and has the potential to enhance the accessibility of STEM education for learners with color vision deficiencies and promote inclusive and equitable quality education, aligning with the united nations sustainable development goals.