2.03B Common Types and Interface Devices and Systems of Virtual Reality

2.03 Explore virtual reality design and use.

Types of Virtual Realities

Types of Virtual Realities Desktop

Uses 3-D Graphics Does not require additional equipment.

Immersive Requires additional equipment. Is the most effective of Virtual Reality technologies. Eyes, ears, or other body senses are isolated from real environment

and fed information that is generated by the computer. Telepresence

Allows a person to interact with another live, real place at a different physical location other than their actual location.

Involves life-size images. In some situations, participants may be able to manipulate devices or

the environment in the remote location.

Common Interface Devices

Interface Devices

Head-mounted display (HMD)

Facial sensor/body suit

Interface Devices

Wand

Data glove

Head-Mounted Display (HMD)

Device on top of helmet signals head movements. A computer continually updates the simulation to reflect new

perspectives. Its viewing screen adds depth to flat pictures.

Blocks out surrounding environment.

Is popular with the entertainment industry.

Data GlovePrograms the computer to change modes in response to gestures

made with data gloves. Some use fiber optic cables. Some use strain sensors over joints.

Facial sensor/body suitSensors read facial expressions/body movements and transfer

information to the computer for animation purposes.

Wand Is simplest of interface devices. Most have on/off buttons. Some have knobs, dials, or joy sticks. Wands operate with six degrees of freedom. By pointing a wand at an object, its position and

orientation can be changed in any of six directions forward or backward, up or down, or left or right

Example of Use: Biologists use wands like scalpels to slice tissue samples from virtual brains.

Interface Systems

Interface Systems

Three common systems: HMD – Head-mounted Display BOOM – Binocular Omni Orientation

Monitor CAVE – Automatic Virtual Environment

BOOM (Binocular Omni Orientation Monitor)

Is similar to HMD – but no helmet. Viewing box suspended from rotating arm. Uses handles on box sides to move image

around. Buttons on handles allow user to interact

with object. Can also hook up data gloves.

CAVE

One of the newest, most "immersive" virtual environments.

10 x 10 x 9-foot darkened cubicle. Is like climbing into the computer’s screen. Display enables user to experience the.

sensation of being "inside" the data.

Advantages of CAVE

Only need special glasses and a wand instead of clunky equipment.

Has a large field of view of data that is projected in stereoscopic images onto the walls and floor of the CAVE.

Multiple users can be in CAVE at same time. Sound can be added to images.

Shared Virtual Environments

•The users can see each other, communicate with each other, and interact with the virtual world as a team.

•In this illustration, three networked users at different locations (anywhere in the world) meet in the same virtual world by using a BOOM device, a CAVE system, and a Head-mounted Display.

•All users see the same virtual environment from their respective points of view.

•Each user is presented as a virtual human (avatar) to the other participants.

Review

Common virtual reality Types Interface devices Interface systems