Virtual RealityVirtual RealityYanci ZhangYanci Zhang

What is Virtual What is Virtual Reality?Reality?• A responsive virtual world in which the user is

effectively immersed• Features

o Immersiveo Interactiveo Real timeo Viewer centered

Crucial TechnologiesCrucial Technologies• Display system• Graphics rendering system• Tracking system• Virtual world construction and maintenance

system

Display SystemDisplay System• Display technology advances very rapidly• VR display system must provide immersion• Desktop displays are not considered to be VR

o Hardly block out the real worldo Do not present virtual world objects in life sizeo Do not create the illusion of immersion

CAVECAVE• Cave Automatic Virtual Environment• An immersive virtual reality environment

where projectors are directed to 3, 4, 5 or 6 of the walls of a room-sized cube

Head-Mounted Head-Mounted DisplayDisplay• Worn on the head or as part of a helmet• A small display optic in front of one or each

eye

Panoramic DisplayPanoramic Display• Use multiply displays to provide wide view

angle• Widely used in many applications• Challenge: geometry and color calibration

Tracking SystemTracking System• Tracking observer’s body coordinate / head

motion• Challenges:

o Accuracyo Ergonomicso System latency

Augmented RealityAugmented Reality• Direct or indirect view of a physical real-world

environment whose elements are augmented by virtual computer-generated sensory input

• Enhance person’s perception of reality

Application: Application: WikitudeWikitude• The very first Augmented Reality Browser for

smartphone-users• Scan surrounding using camera and device’s

sensors• Objects’ information is displayed in the cam

right where the real object is located

Mixed RealityMixed Reality• Merge of real and virtual worlds to produce

new environments and visualizations • Physical and digital objects co-exist and

interact in real time

Application: Application: Virtual Virtual therapytherapy• Psychologist treats soldiers with PTSD (Post

Traumatic Stress Disorder)• PTSD: can not get over from bad things

happened to him/her• Best way to treat PTSD: exposure therapy

o Go back to the bad thingo Go through it gentlyo Talk about what they were feeling

Application: Application: Virtual Virtual therapytherapy

Application: Application: Flat Flat WorldWorld• Mixed reality application for military: combine

virtual with real• Whole body get involved• 4D effects: temperature, smell, sound…• Virtual characters can see you and react to

your movement• You can have flat world in your own home

Application: Flat Application: Flat worldworld

AssignmentsAssignments• Group

o Group25: PC and MAC 15o Group26: PC and MAC 16o Group27: What is artificial intelligence?o Group28: What is expert system?

• Individual:o Write an English article: Applications of artificial

intelligence (>300 words)

• Deadline: 2010-11-22