Applications of Virtual Reality Essay by Jaan Saar - 02/10/2006

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1 Applications of Virtual Reality Essay by Jaan Saar - 02/10/2006 Before we get into any detail regarding applications of virtual reality (VR) I should define what it is. There are many definitions of VR but in my opinion the definition given in the Encyclopedia of Virtual Environments produced by the students of The Human Interface Technology Lab at the University of Washington has a very good wording: A human-computer interface in which the computer creates a sensoryimmersing environment that interactively responds to and is controlled by the behaviour of the user. [1] Based on internet research I have concluded that Virtual Reality is practically used in 8 major fields: architecture, manufacturing, entertainment, education & training, augmented reality, art and medicine. Architecture Architecture is probably one of the best real applications for VR. It can effectively be used to enhance the experience of walking inside or around a structure that does not exist. Blueprints only give a 2D representation of the building and 3D renderings on an ordinary computer screen convey the spatial relation of a building in a very crude manner. VR enables us to experience the building in an immersive way that gives an almost real-life representation. Architecture had this particularity to be very closely compatible with what is a basic Virtual Reality system. That is, to let the user explore a 3D scene in real time, showing exactly what this user wanted to see, on demand, without having previously computed it. [2] In addition to visualizing the virtual environment VR can also be used as a tool for constructing the environment itself. This is a relatively new approach to using VR in architecture and is yet to prove its practicality. One example of this type of application is the ShadowLight- Mirage project developed at the University of Illinois: ShadowLight-Mirage is a third-generation software application that enables the creation and exploration of fully immersive worlds in virtual reality. It bestows upon its user the ability to use space itself as the design medium, encouraging artistic innovation and greatly accelerating the design process. [3] An example of work created with ShadowLight [3]

2 Manufacturing VR is extensively used in manufacturing to visualize and prototype different types of objects for one simple reason it is a lot cheaper to test a machine e.g. a plane or a car in a virtual environment instead of building a real prototype. This of course does not eliminate the need for real prototypes but it does enable the manufacturer to construct more complete prototypes. The automotive industry for example has adapted Virtual Reality into its development cycle and uses it to test the aerodynamic design and ergonomic elements of a car. For years, VR researchers have worked toward making VR an effective tool for product design and design review. Today the automobile industry seems way ahead in adopting the technology for design applications most major automobile manufacturers have installations or use nearby ones. Some are in routine production status. [6] Image courtesy of Barco [4] Image courtesy of The University of Michigan Virtual Reality Laboratory [5] Entertainment The entertainment industry was one of the first to utilize virtual reality technology in real-world applications and it has probably produced the most hype about the technology. The idea of entering an immersive virtual environment where anything is possible gives game designers a whole new dimension to work with. It can make games look and feel more like the real thing which is for many gamers the ultimate goal. There are two different markets for VR gaming systems arcades and home users. The latter has not gained much popularity due to the high costs associated with quality VR systems but as computers become increasingly faster and their components cheaper this is bound to change. VR gaming systems in theme parks and arcades on the other hand are quite popular. Image courtesy of vr.atlantis.com [8]

3 VR games allow the player to be plunged into and surrounded by the environment created by the game. The reality of the game is created by the apparent real environment in which the player exists for the duration of the game. [7] The most typical VR gaming systems in arcades are simulators where the user is sitting inside a physical model of a car or plane cockpit and is using its controls to manipulate it s virtual counterpart in a virtual environment projected onto screens or viewed through a HBD. Additional feedback is often provided through hydraulic motion. There are also combat simulators where two or more people interact with each other in a virtual world. Theme parks often employ VR systems for virtual reality motions rides. Education & Training Some of the most effective applications of VR are in the field of education and training. Different kinds of VR simulators have been developed to safely train people for real-life situations. Airplane pilots train extensively on VR simulators before they take the controls of a real plane. In addition to flight simulators virtual reality is also used to simulate combat situations, sea navigation, space exploration, truck driving, fire fighting, medical surgeries etc. Simulators used for education and training provide a more detailed virtual environment and are more complex than those used for entertainment purposes. This also makes training simulators a lot more expensive. The military has been one of the more avid users of VR simulators and thanks to extensive research funding has aided development of this technology. One of the more recent innovations for VR simulators is the VirtuSphere which enables unrestricted physical movement in a virtual world. The VirtuSphere platform consists of a large hollow sphere that sits on top of a base and allows the sphere to rotate 360 degrees. Wearing a wireless, head-mounted display, users can step inside the sphere to fully interact in immersive virtual environments. The VirtuSphere enables 6 degrees of freedom one can move in any direction; walk, jump, roll, crawl, run over virtually unlimited distances without encountering realworld physical obstacles. [9] Boeing 777 Flight Simulator [8] The VirtuSphere [9]

4 Augmented Reality Augmented reality is not exactly VR but falls under its category because a lot of similar technologies are used. The purpose of augmented reality is not to immerse the user in a completely virtual world but to add virtual elements to the real world in realtime either visually or using audio. Image courtesy of Virtualvision Inc. [13] Augmented reality combines features of a virtual environment with the real world. Most often, the augmentation is visual, with a user sporting an eyepiece connected to a wearable computer and positioning equipment. By tracking where the user s head is and what he is seeing, the computer is able to overlay graphics and/or text onto his vision. [10] This technology has a lot of potential applications for mobile workers who are not behind a desk. Everything that we would otherwise need to access on a computer screen could be automatically integrated with our view of the real world. However there are currently not a lot of commercially viable systems that have been widely adopted and it still remains a focus for further research and development. An interesting augmented reality project called Human PacMan was developed for entertainment purposes at the National University of Singapore Mixed Reality Lab: Human PacMan, superimposes a 3D PacMan world on top of the city's streets and architecture. Players enter the game by donning a wearable computer, headset and goggles before choosing to play the role of PacMan or one of the Ghosts. Players' movements are tracked using GPS receivers and motion sensors and they are linked back to a central computer system by wireless Local Area Network. [11] Human PacMan [12] Art Artistic applications of VR are perhaps the most interesting because they don t have to be practical or commercially feasible. This enables artists to experiment with the technology and create stunning new experiences for the audience. One option is to use VR just as an expression medium but another approach is to use VR tools for creating artistic content. Due to the high costs associated with immersive VR systems we don t see a lot of artist using this medium.

5 Medicine There are several practical VR application in the medical industry including training, surgery, diagnostics and rehabilitation. VR visualization particularly creates new possibilities for future doctors to perfect their life-saving skills. virtual reality simulators are becoming the training method of choice in medical schools. Unlike textbook examples, virtual reality simulations allow users to view the anatomy from a wide range of angles and "fly through" organs to examine bodies from the inside. The experience can be highly interactive, allowing students to strip away the various layers of tissues and muscles to examine each organ individually. Unlike cadavers, virtual reality models enable the user to perform a procedure countless times......vr images can help guide surgeons during conventional surgery and allow them to practice complex procedures even before they enter the operating room. [13] Images courtesy of Medical Device Link [13] Due to the fragile nature of the human body haptic feedback is equally as important (if not more) as visual feedback in medical VR applications. Augmented reality is the tool of choice for performing computer aided surgeries where computer generated imagery help to guide the surgeon during the procedure and provide vital additional data. Researchers are also investigating the possibility of remote operations using both VR and robotics: Use of medical robotics in concert with VR may allow surgeons to perform procedures using techniques that combine the advantages of minimally invasive surgery with the direct visualization and physical simplicity of open-chest surgery. [13] Immersive VR is also being used more and more frequently for rehabilitation purposes and the treatment of anxiety disorders or phobias. Conclusion Based on research conducted for this essay I can safely state that VR has many practical applications. As VR technology gets cheaper and more commercial systems are developed we will be seeing a lot more virtual reality in our reality.

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