Curved Spaces vs Spatial Vis

Curved Spacess is a flight simulator for multi-connected universes. Because light itself wraps around such a space, inhabitants see their universe’s contents repeating in a crystalline pattern, like a hall of mirrors but with no reflection. Curved Spaces is intended for undergraduates and graduate students studying 3‑manifolds, and has also found use as a research tool in topology and cosmology. Recreational math enthusiasts may instead prefer Torus Games, which offers 3D Mazes and 3D Tic-Tac-Toe in a variety of multi-connected 3D spaces, along with games on multi-connected 2D surfaces.

Spatial Vis is a training tool for engineering, pre-engineering, and other science and technology students. The app teaches freehand sketching of 2D and 3D views, which is an important skill for technical communication and improving one's ability to visualize shapes in 3D. These skills have been shown to increase GPAs and graduation rates in STEM. Spatial Vis has 10 unique lessons that include orthographic projections, rotations of 3D objects, and flat patterns. Students complete assignments by sketching their solution and submitting their sketch to be automatically graded. Students have access to hints if they get stuck, but Spatial Vis is gamified to encourage students to try on their own before using the help features. Spatial Vis is designed for students enrolled in a course at a participating institution. Instructors and students not at participating institutions may work on assignments and review the course material through the Not For Course Credit mode.