1. Virtual Reality Trend for Digital Animation and Global Success Cases
Jim X. Chen, Ph.D.
Director of Computer Graphics Lab
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030

2. Contents Introduction to Virtual Reality and Hardware
Virtual Reality Current Trend
Virtual Reality Software and Digital Animation Systems
VR Research, Applications and Global Successful Cases
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3. Intro to VR & Hardware Conventional Computer VR-based Computer
World
VR-based Computer
Computer
World
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4. All technologies meet together at VR !!
VR technologies
Computer
graphics
Character CRT
Keyboard
Graphic CRT
Mouse tablet
Realtime CG
Virtual console
3D mouse
Virtual Reality
Computer
simulation/
visualization
Video arts
Virtual
products
design
Tele-conference
Tele-Existence
3D CAD
TV phone
Computer
Aided Design
Tele-Operation
Telephone
All technologies meet together at VR !!
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5. A sense of of immersion Stereoscopic Tracking Tactile & haptic
Acoustic, etc.
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6. 3D Graphics and Stereoscopes
User controlled movement and view
Objects may respond to actions and environment
Stereoscopes
2 projections
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7. Crystal Eyes (http://www.stereographics.com/)

8. Head Mounted Displays (http://www.fakespace.com/)(

9. Tracking Systems (http://www. polhemus. com/) (http://www

10. ImmersaDesk (http://www.fakespace.com/)

11. CAVE (http://www.fakespace.com/)(

12. RAVE (http://www.fakespace.com/)

13. Immersive Work Wall

14. VisionDome Alternate Realities Corporation

15. Tactile and Haptic Devices
PHANToM (
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16. Cyberglove (http://www.virtex.com)

17. Immersion Corp: Impulse Engines (2D and 4D [pinch])
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18. Sarcos Dextrous Master
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19. REFLEX
FREFLEX is a 7 joints articulation systems that mimics human motion
Is an exosqueleton system allowing real-time control of robots
Update rate of 130Hz
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20. Exoskeleton (Iowa State U.)
An other exoskeleton system developed at Iowa State University
Based on electromagnetic coupling
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21. CyberGrasp
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22. 3 DoF Force Feedback Joystick
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23. CyberTouch
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24. TouchMaster
TouchMaster is a vibro-tactile transducer commercialized by EXOS
Use 6 to 10 speakers coils
An vibrate at a frequency of 210 Hz
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25. Virtual Reality - Immersion
Key to the VR field is “immersion”.
A VR environment is immersive if it gives the user the feeling of being inside a scene, rather than simply looking at the scene.
True VR is nonexistent, but we do what we can:
Create a scene that is viewed by the user as if they are in it.
Allow the user to interact with objects in the scene in something approximating a “natural” way.
Bring in as many senses as we can:
Sight & sound are the main ones we deal with.
Lots of research is begin done on touch (haptic interfaces).
Taste & smell: forget it, for now.
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26. VR Terminology Virtual / Synthetic Environments Tele-presence Presence
Cyberspace
Immersion
Simulator / Motion Sickness
Lag time
3D rendering / Graphics Engine
VRML
Bodysuit
Head Mounted Display (HMD)
3D Mouse
Joystick
Stereoscopic Display
Liquid Crystal Shutterglasses
Ultrasonic / Magnetic / Optical Tracking
Cyber / Power / Data Glove
Haptic Display
Position Tracking
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27. Types of VR Window on World (WoW), Desktop Immersive Telepresence
Mixed Reality (head up displays)
Fishtank VR
Entry level VR
Basic VR
Advanced VR
Projected VR (maybe with shutterglasses)
Cockpit Simulators
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28. Output Devices Visual Audio (Stereo) Tactile Motion
Computer Screen, Head Mounted Display, 3D Shutter Glasses, Cyberscope, ImmersaDesk, CAVE, Spherical Projection, Big Screen Technology, Visiondome, Reality Centre.
Audio (Stereo)
Speakers, Earphones, Speech, Music
Tactile
Tactile Gloves
Motion
eg. Flight Simulators using pneumatic motion simulators
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29. Input Devices DataGlove and Bodysuit
Mouse, Joystick, Keyboard, 3D Mouse
Movement Trackers (eg Polhemus)
Gesture Recognition (with DataGlove)
Speech Recognition
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30. Virtual Reality: Current Trend
PC-driven VR system (
multi-channel synchronized PC-IG
Networked virtual environments with avatars (
Web3D immersive systems (
Image-based/Quicktime VR
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31. Digital Communication and Animation: Active Worlds (AW)
Universe, populated by Worlds
Universe server:
universe.activeworlds.com
World servers:
anywhere on the Internet
Enter the Universe
Select and enter a world in that Universe
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32. The virtual reality of AW
Getting into a world in the universe ….
The background image
The horizontal 0 level surface of the world
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33. The virtual reality of AW
… later there was:
an avatar
virtual embodiment of person in AW
building blocks (objects)
the building material in AW
the blocks are active - they can respond with some action, or provide additional information.
1. The world metaphor - emphasis on personality.
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34. The window to an AW universe/world
3D area
Web area
Multifunction area
1. Universe populated by worlds - one universe server can host one or many world servers. The world servers can be allocated at any machine which has permanent Internet address.
Synchronous communication area
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35. What is Web3D?
The term Web3d describes any programming or descriptive language that can be used to deliver interactive 3D objects and worlds across the internet.
Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML), Java3D and X3D (under development) - also any proprietary languages that have been developed for the same purpose come under the umbrella of Web3d.
: web3d consortuim
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36. 3D for the Web
Exploring web-based 3D environments requires the use of a Plug-in
Formats/architectures include:
The Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML): viewers include Blaxxun Contact, Cosmo Player and Cortona
X3D
Superscape e-Visualizer and Viscape
Cult 3D
Biovirtual 3DMeNow
Active Worlds
Shout3D
Shockwave 3D
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37. History of Web3D
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38. Java3D - Class
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39. Web3D games http://www.dave2n.com/ http://www.dccard.co.jp/
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40. Image-based Virtual Reality
VR system using Image-based Rendering
Presence + Interaction + Autonomy
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41. Image-based Virtual Reality
Characteristics of Images
Fixed scene geometry
Fixed camera movement
Fixed light condition
Limitation on image resolution
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42. Image-based Virtual Reality
QuickTimeVR was introduced in 1994
photorealistic virtual reality type effects with limited interaction
Applications : Museum, Gallery, Sightseeing, Model House, Cyber Shopping Mall
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43. Virtual Reality Software and Digital Animation Systems
Low-level graphics libraries
Visualization
Modeling and Rendering
Animation and Simulation
VR Software/Web3D: inventor, VRML, X3D, WTK, WUP, etc.
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44. Virtual Reality Software and Digital Animation Systems
Book: Guide to Graphics Software Tools:
A shortcut to graphics programming: shortest textbook that covers all
A list of all graphics related tools, including Web3D and Virtual Reality
Rich online sources to all different tools
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45. VR Research, Applications and Global Successful Cases
Education/
Training
Design
Engineering
Entertainment
Museum
Arts
VR application
Medicine
Scientific
Visualization
Communication
Products
Engineering
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46. VR Research Better, Faster VR with less side-effects.
The long-term effects of VR.
Applications of VR (eg for assessment of brain damage and rehabilitation)
New VR machinery.
VR (and 3D) as the interface to a process.
Presence (what is it and how do we measure it)
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47. VR Research Problems Applications VR still costly for good system
Still seen as “research” by most companies
Gap between promise and delivery
Applications
Demonstrating products, Sales, Design, Manufacturing, 3D modelling, Walk through, Visualisation, Training, Process control...
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48. Industry A couple of companies using VR VOLVO Nokia British Telecom
to test car interior designs and to demonstrate new cars on virtual roads.
Combined VR and real car cockpit, gives tactile, visual and audible information.
Nokia
VR + PHANToM, to test new and potential telephone designs.
British Telecom
For visualisation of extremely complex telephone network in England and isolation of faults using 3D visual cues.
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49. Training / Education Patient teachers of real-world situations
Safer and Cheaper environment, no lives at risk.
People with special needs
Cockpit Simulation (flight simulators)
Complex Machinery - manipulate parts and see into difficult areas with on-line help
In dangerous Situations, eg. Nuclear Reactor - quick in and out, get used to the layout before entering for real to reduce the chance for human error.
With Complex Procedures, eg. Surgical Operations, can practice on virtual patients first, or have the patient scanned and made into a virtual model - complete with force feedback on the surgical instruments.
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50. (Augmented) Telepresence
VR overlaid onto real-world with see-through HMD.
eg: Heads-up display in fighter plane
eg: Surgeon operating on a patient with overlays from CAT scans to highlight critical nerves, tendons etc.
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51. Users with special needs
Specialized requirements which are often well-served by VR systems
• visual impairment - screen readers, SonicFinder
• physical disability - speech input, gesture recognition,
predictive systems (e.g. Reactive keyboard)
• learning disabilities (e.g. dyslexia) - speech input, output
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