Technology & Operation
Devices, three operating levels, data protection, sign-in and learning analytics, and open publication of the XR2ACH application – for training providers and IT staff.
A research and development project. XR2ACH is a publicly funded project in the InnoVET PLUS programme. The application is a research prototype, used and developed further with partners in trials – not a commercial product. It is not sold, and there is no support or operation offered as a service.
Devices and platform
The application runs standalone on an XR headset with video passthrough: it shows virtual content and, if wanted, the real surroundings through the headset’s cameras. No PC is needed.
- Test Platform Meta Quest 3 - Operated with Controllers or Hand Gestures
- Built on OpenXR The open standard of the Khronos Group. The application can therefore be ported to other OpenXR devices, such as standalone headsets from other manufacturers or PC VR.
- Development Unity (Real-Time 3D Engine)
Use of Unity is governed by the Unity Terms of Service. The Unity runtime contained in distributed builds remains under Unity’s terms and is not part of the project’s open licence.
Software Architecture Diagram
This diagram shows how devices, identity services, the learning platform, and the learning record store connect.
Select a component to see its direct connections.
Three operating levels
One application, three levels. A training provider can start with a single headset and no server, and move up later – without changing product and without losing content.
| Level 1: single, offline | Level 2: group on a local network | Level 3: personalized | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network | none | local Wi-Fi (dedicated VLAN or own router) | internet access |
| Server | none | none – one headset hosts the group | sign-in service, learning platform (Moodle) and learning record store |
| Sign-in | none | none – temporary names in the room | OpenID Connect; existing school accounts can be connected |
| Progress | local on the device, not persistent | local | persistent, synchronized with the learning record store and Moodle |
| Use | at the institution, in the company or at home | group room with 3 × 3 m per person | alongside a course, over several sessions |
Data protection and data sovereignty
Every level works without personal data. Only when a training provider explicitly wants personalized learning analytics do identity and learning data come into play – and then on its own infrastructure.
- Device Headsets run in “shared without account” mode – nobody has to hand personal data to the headset manufacturer. The device can be set up so that only the XR2ACH application runs.
- Identity Sign-in uses OpenID Connect against a sign-in service run by the training provider or the project, on servers in Germany. Existing school accounts can be connected instead of creating new ones.
- Learning Data Learning data are stored only with a valid sign-in, under the signed-in person’s ID – never anonymously under a shared account. If no e-mail address is available, a pseudonymous ID is used.
Sign-in and learning analytics
An XR headset has no browser suited to an ordinary sign-in redirect. The application therefore uses the OAuth 2.0 device authorization grant (RFC 8628) with PKCE (RFC 7636): the headset shows a short code, the person signs in in any browser, and the application takes over the session.
Actions in the scenario, quiz answers and progress are stored as xAPI statements in a learning record store. Alongside, a state document holds each person’s current progress. Moodle assigns learning modules and gives trainers the evaluation. If the connection drops, progress stays on the device and is uploaded at the next sign-in.
Open and reusable
The application, source code and documentation are to be published on OpenCode, the platform of the Centre for Digital Sovereignty of Public Administration (ZenDiS), under an open licence. The licence covers the project’s own source code and content. It does not cover the Unity engine and its runtime, third-party packages and content, or manufacturers’ CAD models, which remain under their own terms. Building from source requires a separate, separately licensed Unity installation.
The open-source components and third-party content used are listed under Open Source & Licences. The application and guides for its use are also to be listed on platforms for open educational resources, including LEANDO, BIBB’s portal for training staff.
Still open
- Comparing Meta Quest 3/3S with other headsets, including legal aspects and usability
- Porting to further headsets and to powerwall and CAVE systems
- Cost models for purchase, maintenance and further development at each operating level
- Day-to-day operation in courses: hygiene for shared headsets, device maintenance, number of headsets per site – questions trainers raised in Maintal
Bring XR2ACH to your institution
Planning to use XR2ACH at your institution?