Popar Smart Mats
Popar Smart Mats
Products graciously provided by Popar
I reached-out to several companies to see if they could offer any of their materials as part of our continued AR research, assessment, and review project. Popar was kind enough to provide the three Smart Mats which I will discuss below - free of charge. This assessment is intended to be an objective review of augmented reality content and functionality as well as educational value. It is not necessarily an endorsement of the product itself. I used an Apple iPad and Samsung tablet for this review.
Popar Smart Mats - AR Material Review
Tim Scapin, AREA
February 16, 2021
Each Popar Smart Mats works in conjunction with a unique app. The first mat I choose to review was Human Anatomy. I downloaded the app and grabbed the mat. It sits at 19" wide by 14" in height - printed on plastic. It feels like I would hold-up for a while, even in the hands of younger learners. A serial key appears on the back of that mat that must be entered in the app to access content.
The mat layout centers around an image of the human body. That image is flanked by images of the different systems as well as a sampling of components of those systems; heart, skull, spleen. When viewed through the user's device, the center image comes to life in AR form as a model of the human body raises-up from the mat in a ring of light. By clicking each system on my screen I was able to view AR models of each. Users can also switch between models by using the pop-up menu located on the bottom right of the screen. Whole bodies can be viewed as well as parts, such as body, head, torso, arm, and leg. As far as AR functionality, I was able to zoom in/out, rotate, and adjust my point of view to some degree - as long as the marker remained visible by my device. Users are also able to view horizontal versions of each model - in both male and female form. Models are well designed and extremely detailed.
Some models appear with certain elements or parts labeled. Touching a label on my screen lead me to a new window which offered a detailed 3D model and specific anatomical information. A narrator read-aloud the name of each system and the specific part I was viewing. One system - respiratory - was accompanied by a video.
The app's main menu offers some other features; Anatomy in Virtual Reality and the game Build-A-Body. In VR users can choose from all the different systems to view in 3D form. Models are extremely detailed and can be manipulated in a number of ways. The same anatomical information as found in AR is found in VR, The game function asks users questions like about the content. A correct answer allows users to proceed to the next. Three incorrect answers make the user start over at question #1. This exercise helps to positively reinforce app and mat content. As a whole, great AR content is married well with a nicely formatted mat.
The Solar System Smart Mat presents a illustration of the solar system beginning with the sun to the left and leading out to Pluto on the right. Each planet is accompanied by scientific data and metrics such as mass, distance from the sun, and length of a day. The name of an associated satellite, probe, or rover is listed next to each.
From the main menu of the app, the Explore Mode leads to a tutorial introduction of how the mat is set-up and works with the app. Once I entered the serial key from the back of the mat I flipped it over to view through my device. A touch of my device's screen triggered a space portal to open and lifted the planets and the sun onto the mat - in AR form. Each appears over the static illustration on the mat, along the top and bottom rows. Clicking on each body sent me to a new screen where I could view stats, a video, or read a fun fact. If desired, a narrator can read-aloud the fun fact. I was able to view a stand-alone AR model of a planet to view in my space and capture a still image as well.
Taking a step back, the app presents a few more tabbed options; probes, scaling, and system. Probes displays AR models of satellites, probes, and rovers. Stats and info for each is available. Scaling displays the parts of our solar system in linear form. Users can choose two at a time and view and contrast the planetary data. These models are more embedded into the may rather than raising above. Clicking on the solar system tab activated a note stating, 'Answer 20 questions correct in Seek and Find mode to view the module'.
Since I wanted to check-out the solar system model I headed over to the Find and Seek game. This game displayed a depiction of the mat on my device's screen. A question appeared which required me to click the correct planet or probe. Each correct answers allowed me to move on the next. Luckily an incorrect choice - or three - didn't require me to start over. Once I hit my mark I headed back to view the solar system model. With the system model I found there was no ability to manipulate. Only by adjusting my device was I able to slightly adjust my point of view. The model showed the planets as they revolved around the sun, each with a blue streak running behind. At the top of the screen was a running calendar for a year, day, and month sometime in the distant future. It would have been beneficial to have a solar system model which further manipulated and have adjustable speeds of planets.
The Solar System game option displays each planet and the sun. Users are timed as they move each into the correct order in distance from the sun (so one is a given as the sun must appear as first in order). The Virtual Reality mode displays all models of the app in AR form. Looking through my device I appears that I was fully enveloped - finding the models all around in my space. Clicking an item led back to the screen where info and stats are found. Overall, this is a pretty comprehensive app and acts as a good companion to the Smart Mat.
The meat of this Smart Mat consists of the periodic table with illustrations of the composition percentages of the earth's crust, human body, atmosphere, and sea water appearing at the bottom. From the main menu of the app I chose Elements to head towards the AR content. After entering the serial key, I viewed the mat through my device's rear facing camera. I watched each element box and the composition charts rise-up as elevated AR models. I was able to select an item in two ways, by using my finger or the 'laser pointer' options which uses a tip of a red line as essentially a pointer. Either way, clicking an item allowed me to proceed.
A new screen appears listing each element's scientific data, information, and facts. A 3D model of its atomic structure as well as its natural stats appears. Each item listing its composition possesses a new screen showing what elements it consists of and an illustration of its structure; for example the earth's crust and its layers.
The Compound option on the main menu is designed to allow users to combine many different elements in their purest forms to build compounds, It's intended to teach about their basic functions, as well as their composition by mass. The Game mode presents some elemental information and asks users to choose the correct answer from one of four possible options.
Instead of relying heavily on AR content, this app uses it in such a way that it acts as a side-kick to the bigger educational experience. Think of the AR as Robin to the app and mat's Batman. There could be some further integration of AR into the app, but as it stands it works out well. That aside, the app is extremely robust.
Smart Mats are available on the Popar website for $29.99 (USD) for a pack of 4.
The apps are available in both the Apple App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android).
Popar Awards
Popar Human Anatomy Smart Mat
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https://popartoys.com/https://popartoys.com/t/popar-smart-matshttps://popartoys.com/products/popar-human-anatomy-smart-matshttps://popartoys.com/products/popar-solar-system-smart-matshttps://popartoys.com/products/popar-periodic-table-of-elements-smart-matshttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/popar-human-anatomy/id717760367https://apps.apple.com/us/app/popar-solar-system/id646803491https://apps.apple.com/us/app/popar-planets/id569044109Physicists Measured The Central Engine That Powers Solar Flares For The First Time. https://www.sciencealert.com/physicists-have-measured-the-central-engine-that-powers-solar-flares-for-the-first-time