Development of Virtual Reality for Forensic Anthropology

Abstract

The foundation of forensic anthropology lies in the knowledge of skeletal biology and related subjects. Human skeletal remains, essential for forensic anatomy learning, are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. Thus, alternative approaches like virtual reality are necessary. The aim of this research is to develop virtual reality applications for forensic anthropology. In the initial phase, a survey was conducted to assess students' readiness for virtual-based learning. Subsequently, experts were interviewed to gain insights into bone design, after which skeletal preparations were manually drawn using laboratory specimens. Two-dimensional drawings were then transformed into three-dimensional designs to facilitate identification from various angles. The bone model used is the femur bone. The femur bone is sketched from a two-dimensional preparation and then modified into three dimensions. The virtual bone model designed is integrated into software that can be applied to virtual reality devices. Students display a high level of readiness and positive expectations regarding the integration of virtual reality into forensic anatomy education. Therefore, there is a need for the implementation and evaluation of virtual reality tools.