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There is a looming shortage of well-trained professionals in the wood construction workforce. To challenge this shortage, we developed a simulated learning environment that leverages a novel Virtual Reality (VR) system to train novice workers in wooden wall construction. A comprehensive task analysis was first used to best identify training requirements. Then, a virtual building site was modeled and a 3D video tutorial was implemented using a VR Head-Mounted Display (HMD). To evaluate the effectiveness of this tool, participants who learned via the VR training tool were compared with participants who instead only had simple 2-D instructional video training. VR training resulted in better retention, task performance, learning speed, and engagement than the video training counterpart, maintaining system usability. This demonstrates that VR is a viable training tool for the construction sector and can produce benefits beyond those of traditional video training.

This work describes a Mixed Reality application useful to modify and cut virtual objects. A digital simulation of surgical operations is presented. Following this approach, surgeons can test all the designed solutions of the preoperative stage in a Mixed Reality environment. High precision in surgery applications can be achieved thanks to the new methodology. The presented solution is hands free and does not need the use of a mouse or computer&rsquo, s keyboard: it is based on HoloLens, Leap Motion device and Unity. A new cutting algorithm has been developed in order to handle multiple objects and speed up the cut with complex meshes and preserve geometry quality. A case study presents the cut of several bones in order to simulate surgeon&rsquo, s operations. A reduction in cut time compared to the original method is noticed, together with a high flexibility of the tool and a good fidelity of the geometry. Moreover, all the object fragments generated from the algorithm are available for manipulation and new cuts.

This paper presents the application of a low-cost 3D printing technology in pre-operative planning and intra-operative decision-making. Starting from Computed Tomography (CT) scans, we were able to reconstruct a 3D model of the area of interest with a very simple and rapid workflow, using open-source software and an entry level 3D printer. The use of High Temperature Poly-Lactic Acid (HTPLA) by ProtoPasta allowed fabricating sterilizable models, which could be used within the surgical field. We believe that our method is an appealing alternative to high-end commercial products, being superior for cost and speed of production. It could be advantageous especially for small and less affluent hospitals that could produce customized sterilizable tools with little investment and high versatility.

Augmented Reality (AR) is worldwide recognized as one of the leading technologies of the 21st century and one of the pillars of the new industrial revolution envisaged by the Industry 4.0 international program. Several papers describe, in detail, specific applications of Augmented Reality developed to test its potentiality in a variety of fields. However, there is a lack of sources detailing the current limits of this technology in the event of its introduction in a real working environment where everyday tasks could be carried out by operators using an AR-based approach. A literature analysis to detect AR strength and weakness has been carried out, and a set of case studies has been implemented by authors to find the limits of current AR technologies in industrial applications outside the laboratory-protected environment. The outcome of this paper is that, even though Augmented Reality is a well-consolidated computer graphic technique in research applications, several improvements both from a software and hardware point of view should be introduced before its introduction in industrial operations. The originality of this paper lies in the detection of guidelines to improve the Augmented Reality potentialities in factories and industries.

The mounting attention to environmental issues requires adopting better disassembly procedures at the product's End of Life. Planning and reckoning different disassembly strategies in the early stage of the design process can improve the development of sustainable products with an easy dismissing and recycling oriented approach. Nowadays many Computer Aided Process Planning software packages provide optimized assembly or disassembly sequences, but they are mainly based on a time and cost compression approach, neglecting the human factor. The environment we developed is based upon the integration of a CAD, an Augmented Reality tool, a Leap Motion Controller device, see-through glasses and an algorithm for disassembly strategies evaluation: this approach guarantees a more effective interaction with the 3D real and virtual assembly than an approach relying only on a CAD based disassembly sequence planning. In such a way, the operator may not test in a more natural and intuitive way automatic disassembly sequences, but he/she can also propose different strategies to improve the ergonomics. The methodology has been tested in a real case study to evaluate the strength points and criticalities of this approach.

Our purpose is to develop the preoperative diagnosis stage for orthopedic surgical treatments using additive manufacturing technology. Our methods involve fast implementations of an additive manufactured bone model, converted from CAT data, through appropriate software use. Then, additive manufacturing of the formed surfaces through special 3D-printers. With the structural model redesigned and printed in three dimensions, the surgeon is able to look at the printed bone and he can handle it because the model perfectly reproduces the real one upon which he will operate. We found that additive manufacturing models can precisely characterize the anatomical structures of fractures or lesions. The studied practice helps the surgeon to provide a complete preoperative valuation and a correct surgery, with minimized duration and risks. This structural model is also an effective device for communication between doctor and patient.

Nei due secoli successivi alla sua fondazione, voluta da Romano III Argiro nel 1031, il complesso religioso della Theotokos Peribleptos fu tra i più prestigiosi e influenti monasteri di Costantinopoli. Ciò sembra trovare conferma sia nelle attestazioni delle fonti storico-letterarie coeve (Psello e Scilitze in primis), sia in alcuni riscontri più concreti, forniti ora da occasionali visitatori di epoca più tarda, come l’ambasciatore spagnolo Ruy Gonzales de Clavijo, ora dall’esame delle numerose testimonianze artistiche (sigilli, reliquie, icone) e manoscritte (codici di proprietà del monastero o redatti all’interno del suo scriptorium) oggi reperibili. Alcune personalità piuttosto conosciute, inoltre, hanno legato il proprio nome al complesso della Peribleptos nel periodo preso in esame : fra queste, il monaco Eutimio, eresiologo originario dell’Akmonia, e, sul fronte opposto, lo ieromonaco Nifone, condannato dal sinodo per bogomilismo e confinato proprio nel monastero fondato da Romano III., Dans les deux siècles qui suivirent sa fondation, voulue par Romain III Argyre en 1031, le complexe religieux de la Théotokos Péribleptos fut parmi les monastères les plus prestigieux et influents de Constantinople. Cela semble trouver confirmation aussi bien dans les attestations des sources historico-littéraires contemporaines (en premier lieu Psellos et Skylitzès) que dans quelques indications plus concrètes, fournies ici par des visiteurs occasionnels d’époque plus tardive, comme l’ambassadeur espagnol Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo, là par l’examen des nombreux témoignages artistiques (sceaux, reliques, icônes) et manuscrits (manuscrits appartenant au monastère ou transcrits dans son scriptorium) aujourd’hui repérables. En outre, quelques personnalités plutôt connues ont lié leur propre nom au complexe de la Péribleptos durant la période prise en compte : parmi elles, le moine Euthyme, hérésiologue originaire d’Akmonia, et, dans le camp opposé, le hiéromoine Niphon, condamné par le synode pour bogomilisme et relégué précisément dans le monastère fondé par Romain III., Osti Francesco. Il monastero costantinopolitano della Theotokos Peribleptos fra 11o e 12o secolo. In: Revue des études byzantines, tome 69, 2011. pp. 235-252.