MultiAR: A Multi-User Augmented Reality Platform for Biomedical Education

This paper addresses the growing integration of Augmented Reality (AR) in biomedical sciences, emphasizing collaborative learning experiences. We present MultiAR, a versatile, domain-specific platform enabling multi-user interactions in AR for biomedical education. Unlike platform-specific solutions, MultiAR supports various AR devices, including handheld and head-mounted options. The framework extends across domains, augmenting biomedical education applications with collaborative capabilities. We define essential requirements for a multi-user AR framework in education, detail MultiAR’s design and implementation, and comprehensively evaluate it using anatomy education examples. Quantitative and qualitative analyses, covering system performance, accuracy metrics, and a user study with 20 participants, highlight the urgent need for a tailored collaborative AR platform in biomedical education. Results underscore enthusiasm for collaborative AR technology, endorsing MultiAR as an accessible, versatile solution for developers and end-users in biomedical education.