Inspiration
The seed for VALab was planted when we observed a glaring disparity in STEM education. While theory can be taught from a textbook, the magic of science happens in the lab. Unfortunately, for millions of students—particularly those in rural communities and those with mobility challenges—access to safe, well-equipped physical laboratories is non-existent.
We realized that "lab day" shouldn't be a privilege reserved for well-funded schools. We wanted to build a bridge that connects any student, regardless of their physical location or ability, to the hands-on experience of scientific discovery.
What it does
VALab (Virtual Accessible Laboratory) is a web-based platform that simulates a fully interactive laboratory environment.
Accessibility First: The interface is designed with large touch targets and keyboard navigability to support students with motor impairments.
Real-Time Simulation: Students can mix chemicals, adjust heat sources, and measure results just like in a real lab.
Cost-Effective: It removes the need for expensive glassware and consumable chemicals, making high-quality education affordable.
How we built it
We built VALab as a modern web application to ensure it runs smoothly in any browser without requiring heavy downloads.
Frontend: We used [React / Next.js / Vue] to create a responsive and accessible user interface.
Simulation Engine: The core experiments rely on custom logic to calculate outcomes in real-time. For example, when simulating a physics experiment, we ensure that fundamental laws are obeyed. We calculate force vectors dynamically using:
F net =m⋅a and for chemical reaction rates, we approximate kinetics to give realistic visual feedback.
Deployment: The app is deployed on Vercel for instant global access and continuous integration
Challenges we ran into
Balancing Realism with Performance: We wanted the simulations to look good but didn't want to crash older school computers. Optimizing the rendering engine was a major hurdle.
True Accessibility: Designing for mobility challenges meant we couldn't rely on standard "drag-and-drop" interactions, which can be difficult for some users. We had to implement alternative input methods (like keyboard shortcuts and click-to-move) to ensure WCAG compliance.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Successfully deploying a latency-free environment where interactions feel instant.
Creating a UI that is clean, distraction-free, and genuinely usable for students with limited motor control.
The potential to scale this to thousands of students with zero marginal cost.
What we learned
We learned that accessibility cannot be an afterthought—it has to be baked into the design process from day one. We also gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of translating physical laws into code.
What's next for VA LAB
VR Integration: Expanding into WebXR for an even more immersive experience
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