Virtual reality
As virtual reality, VR for short, the presentation and simultaneous perception of reality and their physical properties in a real-time computer-generated interactive virtual environment is called. The term virtual reality was coined by the author Damien Broderick in his 1982 published SF novel " The Judas Mandala ," 1987, the term first appeared, as a theoretical concept, the " Oxford English Dictionary". A mixture of virtual reality and pure reality is called mixed reality (mixed reality ).
Hardware
To create a sense of immersion, special output devices are required to display virtual worlds. Especially the head-mounted display are known see, eg, Oculus Rift, big screens, or the CAVE. To create a spatial impression, two images are created and shown from different perspectives (stereo projection). In order to apply the image to the right eye, there are various technologies. There are active (such as shutter glasses ) and passive technologies ( such as polarizing filters or Infitec ). To interact with the virtual world special input devices are necessary. Mention may be made here, among other 3D mouse, data glove and Flystick and the omni-directional treadmill with which the going is controlled by real walking movements in virtual space.
The Flystick is used for navigation with optical tracking system, infrared cameras continually report the position in space by detecting markers on Flystick to the VR system, so that the user can move freely without cabling. Optical tracking systems can also be used for the acquisition of tools and complete human models in order to manipulate within the VR scenario in real time. Some input devices provide the user with force feedback on your hands or other body parts ( force feedback ), so that the man be guided by the haptic and sensor as another sensation in the three dimensional world and can perform realistic simulations.
Software
You need to create virtual reality software developed specifically for this purpose. These programs have complex three-dimensional worlds in real time, that is, with at least 25 frames per second (this value varies depending on the application - a driving simulation, for example, requires at least 60 frames per second to nausea ( simulator sickness ) to avoid ), in stereo (separate for can calculate the left and right eye).
In the nineties, the computational power and the hardware was usually not sufficient for productive use and for realistic simulations, therefore special graphics workstations were mostly used here. In this millennium have increased significantly due to significantly more powerful computers and graphics processors, the possibilities of interaction in the scenarios.
For the modeling of three-dimensional virtual objects are programs such as Maya, 3D Studio Max, Blender, Google SketchUp, Softimage XSI, Cinema 4D, Lightwave3D and other CAD or 3D application programs. Additional software is required for the video and sound editing. To assemble the modeled objects there to interactive simulations, one uses authoring tools, such as World Tool Kit or World Up.
For the presentation of interactive 3D graphical scenes placed a description language serves VRML/X3D.
Applications
Virtual reality can be used in many areas. A well-known application is the pilot training in flight simulators. In industry, this technology is increasingly being used, especially for the creation of virtual prototypes, production planning, virtual training, ergonomic reviews and spatial studies in geology. Other applications include visualization in architecture, medicine, chemistry, energy and Edutainment ( eg Virtual Cultural Heritage ). The therapeutic use of virtual reality is examined under the heading of virtual rehabilitation. In industry, both "Power Wall" as a stereoscopic 3D wall as well as multi-sided projections such as CAVE be used in complete immersion in the graphical simulation. In recent years, a number of companies have established themselves in Germany and France that offer virtual reality software for industrial companies, such ICIDO, VISENSO and others. Another example is the use in planning of infrastructure measures that change the landscape. The environment can be simulated that the citizens not only see, but experience can, what changed by a project. You can decide what position they occupy for viewing itself, either by gamepad or the internet version with arrow keys navigation. It can be seen
- Exact location and possibly alternatives
- Area with the existing buildings, the transport network and the attractions for orientation
- Roads with moving traffic, set the time of day ( based on traffic counts or forecasts)
- Shadows in the daily, monthly and yearly
The 3 -D representation is well suited for stationary applications such as in events for public participation or to explain in political bodies, and as a tool for information and consultation (eg with approval) on the Internet.
Occurrence in movies (selection)
Different concepts of virtual reality are the basis for numerous films. In the film adaptations of the novel Simulacron -3 - World on a Wire (1973) and The 13th Floor (1999) - blurring the lines between reality and virtual reality. Both films raise the question of the possibility that life itself is only a simulation. In the Disney production Tron from the year 1982, the main character is directly physically pulled into a virtual reality inside a computer and have to fight in it for survival. His opponents are custom functional units of the computer. The resulting 1992 film the Lawnmower Man shows Pierce Brosnan as a scientist who is trying to make the mentally retarded community gardeners using VR smarter. The film eXistenZ (1999) is based on a narrative structure that is increasingly disoriented shows his protagonists in a deeply nested virtual reality. 1999 appeared the first part of the Matrix series. In this almost the entire world's population lives in VR, where people do not know about it, that they only live in a simulated world; Animatrix in virtual worlds can be seen especially in the episode " Matriculated ". In the trilogy, the Zion - reality of the matrix of another reality is superior.