Three views of virtual reality: nonimmersive virtual reality

Nonimmersive virtual reality (VR), which places the user in a 3D environment that can be directly manipulated with a conventional graphics workstation using a monitor, a keyboard; and a mouse, is discussed. The scene is displayed with the same 3D depth cues used in immersive VR: perspective view, hidden-surface elimination, color, texture, lighting, shading and shadows. As in immersive VR, animation and simulation are interactively controlled in response to the user's direct manipulation. Much of the technology used to support immersive and nonimmersive VR is the same. They use the same 3D modeling and rendering and many of the same interaction techniques. The advantages and applications of nonimmersive VR systems are discussed. Immersive and nonimmersive VR systems are compared and hybrid possibilities are reviewed     

From visual simulation to virtual reality to games

During the past decades, the virtual reality community has based its development on a synthesis of earlier work in interactive 3D graphics, user interfaces, and visual simulation. Currently, the VR field is transitioning into work influenced by video games. Because much of the research and development being conducted in the games community parallels the VR community's efforts, it has the potential to affect a greater audience. Given these trends, VR researchers who want their work to remain relevant must realign to focus on game research and development. Leveraging technology from the visual simulation and virtual reality communities, serious games provide a delivery system for organizational video game instruction and training.     

An interactive clothing design and personalized virtual display system

An interactive clothing design and a personalized virtual display with user’s own face are presented in this paper to meet the requirement of personalized clothing customization. A customer interactive clothing design approach based on genetic engineering ideas is analyzed by taking suit as an example. Thus, customers could rearrange the clothing style elements, chose available color, fabric and come up with their own personalized suit style. A web 3D customization prototype system of personalized clothing is developed based on the Unity3D and VR technology. The layout of the structure and functions combined with the flow of the system are given. Practical issues such as 3D face scanning, suit style design, fabric selection, and accessory choices are addressed also. Tests to the prototype system indicate that it could show realistic clothing and fabric effect and offer effective visual and customization experience to users.

     

Research on hybrid synchronization methods in multi-user collaborative VR simulation medical surgery training system

The simulation training system based on VR technology has been applied in clinical medicine due to its immersive interactive experience, economy, and safety. In response to the limitation that most medical surgery training systems can only achieve single user operations, a hybrid synchronous model based multi-user collaborative framework design is proposed to meet the needs of collaborative training in virtual reality teaching processes. Based on the characteristics of frame synchronization and state synchronization, the synchronization method has been improved. Based on frame synchronization, specific state synchronization is used on interactive events to improve the consistency of operation details and real-time action. On this basis, a system prototype has been implemented using Unity 3D, and compared with traditional schemes, analysis shows that it has faster response speed for disconnected reconnection and more stable interaction state.     

A geoscience perspective on immersive 3D gridded data visualization

We describe visualization software, Visualizer, that was developed specifically for interactive, visual exploration in immersive virtual reality (VR) environments. Visualizer uses carefully optimized algorithms and data structures to support the high frame rates required for immersion and the real-time feedback required for interactivity. As an application developed for VR from the ground up, Visualizer realizes benefits that usually cannot be achieved by software initially developed for the desktop and later ported to VR. However, Visualizer can also be used on desktop systems (unix/linux-based operating systems including Mac OS X) with a similar level of real-time interactivity, bridging the “software gap” between desktop and VR that has been an obstacle for the adoption of VR methods in the Geosciences. While many of the capabilities of Visualizer are already available in other software packages used in a desktop environment, the features that distinguish Visualizer are: (1) Visualizer can be used in any VR environment including the desktop, GeoWall, or CAVE, (2) in non-desktop environments the user interacts with the data set directly using a wand or other input devices instead of working indirectly via dialog boxes or text input, (3) on the desktop, Visualizer provides real-time interaction with very large data sets that cannot easily be viewed or manipulated in other software packages. Three case studies are presented that illustrate the direct scientific benefits realized by analyzing data or simulation results with Visualizer in a VR environment. We also address some of the main obstacles to widespread use of VR environments in scientific research with a user study that shows Visualizer is easy to learn and to use in a VR environment and can be as effective on desktop systems as native desktop applications.     

Design evaluation and modification of mechanical systems in virtual environments

Design is one of the most important stages in the manufacturing cycle and influences all the subsequent stages of product development. In the context of today’s iterative design methodology, the modification of any design is a process involving many evaluations and improvements to the solutions chosen in earlier stages. For this purpose, in the most recent decade, 3D computer simulations have become common tools used within industry. Whilst virtual reality (VR) technology is seen as the interaction technology of the future, much of the current research in this area is carried out to explore the potential benefits and added value brought by the integration of this into standard software technologies currently used at various stages in manufacturing life cycle. A lot of attention has been given to exploring the usability and benefits of interactive VR for assembly planning, knowledge elicitation and design and simulation. However, little research has focussed on the analytical aspects of the design process, for example in the use of VR as an interface for simulation software in finite element methods and multi-body systems. This paper introduces research focussing on applications of virtual environments (VEs) for interactive design evaluation and modification adapted and used with standard simulation software. The use of such interactive visualisation offers the engineer more realistic real-time representations of the design and advanced facilities to interact with the model during the design process. While design evaluation is based mainly on visualisation; design modification requires interactive changes of the model during the simulation, and the interfaces described here highlights such applications. In this work, two software prototypes have been developed using VR technology. First, a software tool called design evaluation in virtual environments is presented together with an application in civil engineering to illustrate the mode of operation and added value of the use of an interactive visualisation environment. Linking the simulation software with the VE provides real time bi-directional communication of graphical information which can be successfully achieved even within the limits of current computer technology. The tool includes a suite of software modules and a user interface to facilitate the link between the simulation results and the VE. The second tool facilitates the design modification in virtual environments system by providing real time dynamic simulation. Two dynamic approaches are investigated in order to study the real time simulation issues in the context of design modification and system performance: the classic approach based on rigid interconnected bodies, and a new and novel approach developed by the authors based on particles dynamics. Both implementations have been tested and compared on a mechanism application under the same computing conditions. The research applications presented demonstrate the practicality, flexibility and versatility of the visualisation in virtual environment in design evaluation and modification. However, the computer efficiency whilst carrying out real time dynamic simulation is limiting the range of applications to models of moderate size; however, this is an improvement on previous similar applications.     

基于Web的虚拟展厅的设计与实现

当前的VR标准，可以描述一个被动的VR系统，即系统应用VR技术来实现一些预先设计的3D内容的可视化。然而，现实中的一个挑战在于构造主动VR应用，这种应用允许动态合成虚拟场景。为了能构造主动VR应用，该文结合目前工作描述了网络环境下虚拟展览厅系统，提出虚拟世界的数据库建模方法。文中阐述了该系统的用途和功能，给出了系统的结构模型等。     

交互式自行车模拟器视景仿真系统开发

视景仿真系统是交互式自行车模拟器的重要组成部分。其给骑车者提供逼真的虚拟三维漫游场景。开发的视景仿真系统硬件上采用PowerWall虚拟现实系统，软件上基于自主开发的虚拟现实通用应用开发平台VR Flier，提高了开发的效率。VR Flier采用面向对象方法设计，能够全面地支持小同领域和不同规模的VR应用开发。视景仿真系统通过优化以及动态调度三维场景模型的方法提高了大范围漫游场景的渲染帧率；并对场景路面坡度及视景转向信号进行平滑处理，获得很好的视景仿真效果。     

A Virtual Reality Interface for Space Planning Tasks

Manipulating and assembling elements in a 3D space is a task which interests a huge number of potential applications whether they deal with real or abstract objects. Direct manipulation techniques in traditional interactive systems use 2D devices and do not allow an easy manipulation of 3D objects. To facilitate user interaction, we have studied direct manipulation techniques in a virtual reality environment. A VR interface is naturally object-oriented and allows the definition of real-world metaphors. Operators can thus work in the virtual world in a similar way to the real world: they perceive the position of objects through the depth cue of stereo view, and can grab and push them in any direction by means of avirtual handuntil they reach their destination. They can put an object on top of another and line it up with other objects. We model the virtual world as ajob-orientedworld which is governed by a few simple rules which facilitate object positioning. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation strategies to obtain a real-time performance on a low-level workstation.     

A Study on New Virtual Reality System in Maze Terrain

This study proposes the maze virtual reality (MVR) system, which is designed to provide new immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences by generating a maze and an event-based maze environment. The MVR system consists of a maze generation technique based on mazemap, which we additionally propose for the automatic generation of diverse maze patterns, event-enhancing immersion, reducing VR sickness, and interactions. First, we present a finite algorithm that automatically generates diverse maze patterns from the user perspective and implements mazemap for automated three-dimensional (3D) terrain generation from a 2D maze pattern. Then, we present optimized events for the maze environment by providing users with deeper immersion and minimized VR sickness. The design procedure is divided into two elements: an automatic structure for arranging predefined events based on maze pattern analysis and a manual operation module. In addition, a Leap Motion-based interactive scheme is implemented for deeper immersion when the user moves in a limited space, while improving object control. Finally, experiments were conducted to analyze user satisfaction with the MVR system, the psychological impact of the continuous mazemap input, and the effects of the event-based environment on immersion enhancement and VR sickness reduction.     

用VRML和Java实现虚拟小区的交互漫游

为了实现虚拟小区的交互漫游,在系统实现过程中采用了几种方式的交互技术,文中对这些交互技术进行了讨论和实现。阐述了在虚拟小区中交互漫游的两种方式,即由用户交互控制视点和由计算机自动控制视点的方式,并对这两种交互漫游方式给出了VRML编码的具体实现;最后采用外部编程接口（EAI）实现了用户界面中的二维平面图和三维场景图的交互。     

Robot-enabled tangible virtual assembly with coordinated midair object placement

The assembly in Virtual Reality (VR) enables users to fit virtual parts into existing 3D models immersively. However, users cannot physically feel the haptic feedback when connecting the parts with the virtual model. This work presents a robot-enabled tangible interface that dynamically moves a physical structure with a robotic arm to provide physical feedback for holding a handheld proxy in VR. This enables the system to provide force feedback during virtual assembly. The cooperation between the physical support and the handheld proxy produces realistic physical force feedback, providing a tangible experience for various virtual parts in virtual assembly scenarios. We developed a prototype system that allowed the operator to place a virtual part onto other models in VR by placing the proxy onto the matched structure attached to a robotic arm. We conducted a user evaluation to explore user performance and system usability in a virtual assembly task. The results indicated that the robot-enabled tangible support increased the task completion time but significantly improved the system usability and sense of presence with a more realistic haptic experience.     

基于Java 3D的虚拟网络电力监控环境设计

虚拟现实技术（VR）是一项以计算机技术为主,利用计算机等设备构建一个三维虚拟世界,并通过人与虚拟世界的交互。实现人与虚拟世界融为一体的技术。本文介绍了应用Java 3D开发的虚拟现实技术,给出了实现该技术场景创建、动画设计和交互设计技术的部分关键代码。该设计具有开发三维视觉、实现用户网络交互的能力,并已经被运用到远程电力监测系统中。该技术也可以被应用到类似的监控系统的开发中。     

XML和VR技术在GIS中数据互操作设计与实现

GIS互操作研究是当前地理信息系统研究的热点,介绍了GIS与VR之间数据互操作技术;提出了基于XML和VR技术相结合的虚拟GIS可互操作模型,具体阐述了XML在虚拟GIS中信息共享的扩展及数据互操作应用,采用X3D编码虚拟地理数据可以较好地实现虚拟GIS数据的互操作,最后设计并实现了虚拟GIS原型系统,测试表明该原型系统较好地解决地理信息共享与互操作问题。     

虚拟拉伸实验的设计和实现

利用虚拟现实技术开发了虚拟拉伸实验,阐述了该虚拟实验的功能特点、结构模式以及设计原理,分析了其实现流程及方法,包括三维场景建模、虚拟场景动态生成以及交互式虚拟场景的开发。提出了利用可视化编程语言VB开发一个实现复杂交互动作功能的平台,该平台提供了友好界面,使用户能够直观地组成虚拟三维实验场景,利用键盘或鼠标来控制三维试验机在虚拟场景中运动,并根据用户的指令实现从静态界面对虚拟场景的调用及虚拟场景中试验仪器、工具及其事件的交互,从而控制虚拟模型的动作进行实验。     

Virtual orthopedic surgery training

Medicine is one of the most promising areas for emerging computer graphics and virtual reality techniques. VR training simulators let surgeons practice on virtual body tissue and get the same feedback they would experience in performing a real operation. Hybrid VR systems permit medical practitioners to view the patient overlaid with 3D data sets derived from 3D scanners, thus providing doctors and surgeons with pseudo X-ray vision. While currently available immersive VR surgery systems usually require expensive hardware and software, we developed a desktop VR orthopedic surgery training system that can run on commonly available personal computers     

基于VR技术的三维射击游戏开发研究

目前三维游戏中利用了虚拟场景,以便捷的人机交互,为游戏者提供最佳的游戏体验.三维游戏的衍生在很大程度上推动了虚拟现实(VR)技术的更新优化,其涵盖了虚拟现实所有技术.本文基于VR技术设计开发三维射击游戏.首先分析游戏开发需求,其次设计三维VR系统结构与游戏开发流程,再次详细规划三维射击游戏功能模块,最后进行游戏人物、场...     

基于AR-VR混合技术的儿童智力开发系统研究

传统的儿童智力开发大多采用观看图书或是视频的方式,存在信息表达单一、缺乏生动性、交互性差等缺陷。在儿童智力开发理论基础上,将增强现实技术（AR）与虚拟现实技术（VR）结合,基于Unity3D平台设计,开发出具有游戏式风格的儿童智力开发系统。VR技术用于开发虚拟漫游模块,通过沉浸式交互体验,培养儿童对身边事物的认知及观察能力。AR技术用于开发识图模块,通过3D的学习方式,为儿童传递更丰富更具体的学习体验。实验结果表明,AR-VR混合技术能构建出高度真实的学习环境,具有多感官交互效果,增强儿童对现实环境的感知和学习能力,相较于传统的儿童智力开发,该系统能帮助儿童获得更好的学习体验和交互方式,激发儿童的学习兴趣。     

虚拟现实手部康复训练系统的设计与实现

将虚拟现实技术应用到康复医学领域,可有效克服传统康复训练方法的局限性,实现安全、舒适和主动的康复训 练。本文设计并实现了一套虚拟现实手部康复训练系统,系统由交互设备、人机交互软件和虚拟环境三部分组成。交互 设备采用 5DT 公司生产的 5DT Data Glove 14 Ultra 数据手套,而人机交互软件运用 Visual Studio 2012 作为开发工具,基于 MFC 编写,实现了用户管理、数据采集、手势信号分类、实时手势识别测试等功能。构建的虚拟场景使用 Flash 游戏, 通过 MFC 和 Flash 游戏之间通讯使用者能使用手势信号实现游戏操控。本文的实验结果表明：虚拟现实手部康复训练系 统能够指导使用者进行有效的手部康复训练,Flash 康复训练游戏能有效提高使用者进行康复训练的积极性和主动性。