Enhancing Inclusive Education for Young Students with Special Needs through Mixed Reality: Exploring the Potential of CNC Milling Machine Application

Mixed Reality (MR) is one of the major technology trends right now, and it is going to increase much more in the future. This term includes different technologies that range from Augmented Reality (AR) to immersive Virtual Reality (VR). The main characteristic of AR is the possibility to see and interact with virtual objects while always being able to see the surrounding real world thanks to a dedicated device. This technology allows a new way of interaction, communication, and productivity. The aim of this paper is the development of an MR application for the Charly4U CNC milling machine that helps students with special needs to work and interact with the machine safely. Three configurations have been developed and tested: a desktop version running on a PC, an Android tablet-based version, and a solution running on the Microsoft HoloLens device.