SBIR Phase I: Feasibility of Teaching Polarized Light Microscopy in an Innovative Virtual Analysis Environment

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段研究项目将展示开发一个创新的虚拟分析环境的可行性，以教育、培训和测试大专学生和专业人士使用偏振光显微镜（PLM）。关键的创新贡献将是设计一个先进的PLM模拟器和一个虚拟分析环境，可以通过互联网或CD/DVD交付。之所以选择偏振光显微镜，是因为它是材料表征各个领域的基础教学和研究资源，并且具有显著的商业潜力。模拟的PLM将在教学实验室中补充实际的PLM仪器，或者可以在没有这些仪器的地方实施。第一阶段提案的主要目标是：1)设计一个具有功能控制和图像查看区域的PLM GUI；2)设计虚拟分析环境架构，以支持PLM利用“堆栈”图像（焦平面和贝克线，或干涉颜色与舞台旋转）；3)评估易用性、真实感、响应时间和图像质量方面的功能；4)与合适的学生和专业人员一起测试PLM原型模拟器；和5)开发一个教育模块的大纲(s)结合PLM模拟器。据保守估计，基于PLM模拟的法医和地质学产品的商业潜力约为每年200万美元。然而，虚拟分析环境的应用正在深入到商业、工业和其他相关的教育市场。一旦基本的虚拟分析环境得到优化，相关产品的市场将有潜力扩展到其他教育领域和世界各地数千个实验室。这样的项目将在国家需要高素质的毕业生准备填补科学和技术相关领域的职位方面发挥作用。本提案中讨论的技术支持终身学习的概念。此外，在这项工作中开发的产品支持了NSF建立网络基础设施（CI）的努力，作为将数字革命带入课堂的资源。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project will demonstrate the feasibility of developing an innovative virtual analysis environment to educate, train and test post secondary students and professionals in the use of polarized light microscopy (PLM). The key innovative contribution will be the design of an advanced PLM simulator and a virtual analysis environment that can be delivered via the Internet or CD/DVD. Polarized light microscopy was selected because it is a fundamental teaching and research resource in diverse areas of materials characterization, and has significant commercial potential. The simulated PLM will supplement actual PLM instrumentation in teaching laboratories, or could be implemented where such instruments are not available. The key objectives of this Phase I proposal are to: 1) design a PLM GUI with areas for function control and image viewing; 2) design the virtual analysis environment architecture to support PLM utilization of 'stacks' of images (either focal plane and Becke line, or interference colors with stage rotation); 3) assess the functionality with respect to ease of use, realism, response time, and image quality; 4) test the PLM prototype simulator with appropriate students and professionals; and 5) develop the outline of an educational module(s) incorporating the PLM simulator .The commercial potential of products based on PLM simulation for forensic and geology is conservatively estimated to be on the order of $2,000,000 per year. However, the applications of the virtual analysis environment are far reaching into commercial, industrial and other related educational markets. Once the basic virtual analysis environment is optimized, the market for related products would have the potential to expand into other areas of education and thousands of laboratories around the world. Such a program will play a role in the national need for highly qualified graduates ready to fill positions in science and technology related fields. The technology discussed in this proposal supports the concept of lifelong learning. Further, products developed in this effort support the NSF efforts in establishing the Cyberinfrastructure (CI) as a resource that will bring the digital revolution into the classroom.