Use of Augmented Reality in the Instruction of Analytical Instrumentation Design

Instruction on the design of analytical instrumentation is a critical component of the analytical chemistry curriculum. To simplify this process and enable students to directly see how the instruments that are in their own laboratory setting work, the use of augmented reality technology can be implemented. In this report, the HP Reveal platform was used to create digital overlays that are triggered when students view an analytical instrument through their smartphone camera. From here, further information on the components and operation of the instrument can be presented to students. To demonstrate this technology, various overlays were created for four analytical instruments commonly taught in second-year undergraduate analytical chemistry courses: flame atomic absorption spectrometer, gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer, liquid chromatograph, and double-beam UV–vis spectrophotometer.