Diseño e implementación de un simulador educativo en realidad virtual basado en arquitectura de software, mecánicas interactivas y game design patterns para el laboratorio de comercio exterior y logística internacional

Abstract

This study aimed to design and implement an educational virtual reality simulator to support the practice of export and import processes among students from the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences. The system was developed in Unity using the Meta XR SDK and structured through a modular architecture based on the Singleton, Observer, and Template Method design patterns. The simulator incorporated hand tracking, gesture recognition, teleportation, object grabbing, and socket-based validation, together with modules for task management, data recording, user progress tracking, and interactive tutorials supported by virtual hand animations. Functional testing verified application startup, scene transitions, locomotion, two-handed grabbing, task execution, interface behavior, and directional audio. On Meta Quest 3S, with a target cap of 72 frames per second, performance ranged approximately from 52 to 72 FPS. In addition, a pilot test with five students identified usability issues related to locomotion, grabbing distance, and hand poses, which were subsequently adjusted. The results indicate that the prototype provides a functional technological foundation for guided practice in foreign trade processes; however, its contribution to learning outcomes still requires further validation through a formal educational evaluation.