VIRTUAL

REALITY

What is Virtual reality?

Virtual Reality is a computer
generated,
multi-sensory
information program which tracks
a user in real time i.e. computer
system is used to create an
artificial world in which the user
has the impression of being in that
world ,with the ability to navigate
through and manipulate objects in
that world.

History of
VRsimulators
1950s, flight

In
were
built by US Air Force to train
student pilots.
In 1965, a research program for
computer graphics called The
Ultimate Display was laid out.
In 1988, commercial development
of VR began.
In
1991,
first
commercial
entertainment
VR
system
"Virtuality" was released.

Types of Virtual
Reality
Immersive
Augmented
Projected
Window on a world

system(desktop)

Immersive
VR

In a completely immersive system

, the user becomes part of the
simulated world , rather than the
simulated world being a feature
of the user's own world.
Display
devices
like
headmounted display and stereo
spectacles ; provide a 3-D virtual
space in user's vision.
The first immersive VR systems
have been the flight simulators
where the immersion is achieved

Augmented
VR

Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live

direct or an indirect view of a physical,
real-world environment whose elements
are augmented by computer-generated
sensory input, such as sound or graphics,
haptic feedback.
Augmented reality does not create a
simulation of reality. Instead, it takes a
real
object
as
the
foundation
and
incorporates technologies that deepen a
persons understanding of the subject.
AR
technology
includeshead-mounted
displaysandvirtual
retinal
displaysfor
visualization purposes, and construction of

Projected
The
superimposing of physical reality
VR
windows
onto
a
virtual
reality
environment , such that participants
of the virtual reality also see the
physical reality object.
e.g. A The virtual environment is
projected onto a large display on a
single
surface
or
a
multiple
projection CAVE from different
directions, which can serve a group of
people viewing the same content
simultaneously.

Desktop
VR

Desktop-basedvirtual
reality
involves displaying a 3-dimensional
virtual world on a regulardesktop
displaywithout
use
of
any
specialized
movement-tracking
equipment.
It is cost-effective when compared to
the immersive VR.
However they lack the immersion
quality, Because there is no sense of
peripheral vision, limiting the user's

Devices used in
VR
HMD(Head
Mounted Display)
Technology

Ahead-mounted displayis a device,

worn on the head that has a small
display optic in front of one eye
(monocular
HMD)
or
each
eye
(binocular HMD) to reproduce a
stereoscopic vision.
Training with HMDs involve a wide
range of applications from driving,
welding and spray painting, flight and
vehicle simulators, dismounted soldier

Haptic
interfaces and
feedback
Haptic tactile
technology
is a

tactile
feedback technology involving that
the man-machine interface system
should be capable of recording the
movements of the human hand and
also of replicating virtual forces.

E.g. is Cyber Grasp: It is a haptic

feedback interface that enables;
users are able to explore the
physical properties of computergenerated
3D
objects
and

CAVE

(Cave Automatic Virtual

Environment)
Surround-screen,
surround-sound, projectionbased VR system.
Illusion of immersion is created by projecting
3D computer graphics into a cube composed of
display screens that completely surround
viewer.
coupled with head and hand tracking systems.
Sound system provides audio feedback.
Sensors within the room track the viewer's
position to align the perspective correctly.
Viewer explores virtual world by moving

3D SCANNER
A 3D scanner is a device that analyses a
real-world object or environment to
collect data on its shape and possibly its
appearance (i.e. colour). The collected
data can then be used to construct
digital, three dimensional models.
They are extensively used for the
entertainment
industry
in
the
production of movies and video games ,
design , documentation of cultural
artefacts involved in the design.

BOOM
The
BOOM
(Binocular
OmniOrientation Monitor) is a headcoupled stereoscopic display device.
Screens and optical system are
housed in a box that is attached to a
multi-link arm.
The user looks into the box through
two holes, sees the virtual world, and
can guide the box to any position
within the operational volume of the
device.
Head tracking is accomplished via
sensors in the links of the arm that

Data
gloves
Data
Glove
consists

The
of
a
lightweight nylon glove with optical
sensors mounted along the fingers
which
accurately
and
repeatedly
measure the position and movement
of the fingers and wrist.
Data gloves are commonly used
invirtual realityenvironments where
the user sees an image of the data
glove
and
can
manipulate
the
movements of the virtual environment

PROJECTORS and
SHUTTER GLASSES
The Projector has extremely demanding
requirements for its graphics hardware. It
consists of 3D projection system, mirrors
and projection walls.
Shutter glasses enable us to view virtual
image or video more deliberately through
them.
Shutters
in
the
glasses
are
synchronized with the display system using
Infrared emitters.

Motion
Motion tracking uses a combination of
computer tracking
chips, sensors and cameras to
record humans in motion and create
digital doppelgangers that move the
same way.
Designed for head and hand tracking in
VR games, simulations, animations, and
visualizations.
For example, Polhemus STAR*TRAK is a
long range motion capture system that
can operate in a wireless mode (totally

 Electromagnetic tracking systems measure

and sense magnetic fields generated by
running an electric current through three
coiled wires .The system's sensors measure
how its magnetic field affects the other coils.
This measurement tells the system the
direction and orientation of the emitter.
Acoustic tracking systems emit and sense
ultrasonic sound waves to determine the
position and orientation of a target. The
system calculates the position and orientation
of the target based on the time it took for the
sound to reach the sensors.
Mechanical tracking systems rely on a
physical connection between the target and a
fixed reference point. E.g. is A BOOM display

Applications of
RehabilitationVR
and help to disable
people

It is also possible to create dialogue

based on hand gestures between a deaf
real human and a deaf virtual human
using
Sign
Language.
Muscular
dystrophy patients can learn to use a
wheelchair through VR.

Psychiatry
With the advent of realistic virtual
humans, it will be possible to recreate

 Medicine
With the simulation of the entire physiology of
the human body , the effects of various illnesses
or organ replacement will be visible. The
surgeon using an
HMD and Data Gloves may have a complete
simulated view of the surgery. For medical

Education and training

The most common example is the flight
simulator . They have lower operating costs
and are safer to use than real aircraft. They
also allow the simulation of dangerous

 Design
Many areas of design are typically 3D for
example, the design of a car shape, where the
designer looks for sweeping curves and good
aesthetics from every possible view.

 Operations in dangerous environments

Workers
in
radioactive,
space,
or
toxic
environments could be relocated to the safety of
a VR environment where they could 'handle' any
hazardous materials without any real danger.
Moreover, the operator's display can be
augmented with important sensor information,
warnings and suggested procedures.

Architectural visualization
In this area, VR allows the future customer to
live in his/her a new house before it is built.
He/she could get a feel for the space,
experiment with different lighting schemes,
furnishings, or even the layout of the house
itself.

VR SOFTWARE
VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling
Language)
standard language for interactive
simulation within the World Wide Web.
allows to create "virtual worlds"
networked via the Internet and
hyperlinked with the World Wide Web.
Aspects of virtual world display,
interaction and internetworking can
be specified using VRML without being
dependent on special gear like HMD.

Software packages
available in market
Multiverse (Freeware)
Virtual Reality Studio ($100)
Sense8 World Tool Kit (WTK)
(over $1000)
Autodesk Cyberspace
Development kit (over $1000)

CONCLUSION
Virtual Reality is at a critical design phase. The
theories behind its design and operation are
still
being
written.
There
are
61,400
international commercial companies producing
VR. There are approximately 3,600 educational
institutions which use VR.

Advantages of VR
Visualization of complicated, large data
is
helpful
for
understanding
and
analysis.
VR offers us a new way to interact with
computer.
VR enables us to experience the virtual

Efforts by

RABIA WADHWA