Augmenting Welding Training: An XR Platform to Foster Muscle Memory and Mindfulness for Skills Development

Abstract

Metal welding is a craft manufacturing skill that can be unusually difficult to externalize and represent to novices. Building competency requires an apprentice to iteratively practice embodied skills and sensitize themselves to a sensorially complex practice. To explore these challenges, we identified opportunities for mixed reality and meditation processes to augment welding training and practice. Our demo showcases an extended reality (XR) welding helmet and torch that enhances the embodied learning of welding. We do this in two key ways: biometric sensing that enhances mindfulness and stress management in sensorially challenging environments, and combined motion-sensing and visual XR feedback that helps improve proprioceptive and embodied learning. © 2023 Owner/Author.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Augmented reality Craft 3D Interaction Embodied Interaction Prototyping Smart Objects and Environments Toolkits Ubiquitous Computing

Index Keywords

Mixed reality Skills development Augmented reality welding Ubiquitous computing 3D interactions Craft Embodied interaction Prototyping Smart environment Smart objects Toolkit Welding training Metal welding

Author Affiliations

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Funding & Acknowledgements

Carnegie Mellon University, CMU

We would like to thank Tim Kaulen, staff, and students at our partner organization, the Industrial Arts Workshop, for their time and expertise. This work was funded by the Manufacturing Futures Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.

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Augmenting Welding Training: An XR Platform to Foster Muscle Memory and Mindfulness for Skills Development

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