The "ProteoAR" app is an innovative interactive educational tool developed within the framework of the "ProteinAR" project. This project is a teaching initiative of the University of Concepción, funded through a competitive grant. Its overall objective is to facilitate three-dimensional learning and visualization of protein structure, addressing a common challenge in Biochemistry courses where information in textbooks and presentations is often two-dimensional, making it difficult to mentally construct the specialty of molecules.
"ProteoAR" is an essential complement to the physical and digital book of the same name. The conceptualization and initial material for the book, which the app complements, came from the professor responsible for the project, Dr. José Antonio Martínez Oyanedel. By integrating augmented reality (AR) technology, the app allows users, primarily Biochemistry students, to scan specific markers printed on the book's pages with their mobile phone cameras. This allows interactive and dynamic 3D models of protein structures to be superimposed directly onto the physical environment, transforming the learning experience. This free, publicly available solution is designed to provide students with materials that facilitate the understanding of abstract concepts. It can be widely used and has the potential to improve the educational environment and academic motivation. The application was developed and deployed in collaboration with the Center for Training and Teaching Resources (CFRD) of the University of Concepción. The application only requires camera access to function.