3.Types
of VR Systems
A major distinction of VR systems is the mode with which they interface to the
user. This section describes some of the common modes used in VR systems.
3.1. Window
on World Systems (WoW)
Some systems use a conventional computer monitor to display the visual world.
This sometimes called Desktop VR or a Window on a World (WoW). This concept
traces its lineage back through the entire history of computer graphics. In
1965, Ivan Sutherland laid out a research program for computer graphics in a
paper called "The Ultimate Display" that has driven the field for the past
nearly thirty years.
"One must look at a display screen," he said, "as a window through which one
beholds a virtual world. The challenge to computer graphics is to make the
picture in the window look real, sound real and the objects act real." [quoted
from Computer Graphics V26#3]
3.2. Video
Mapping
A variation of the WoW approach merges a video input of the user's silhouette
with a 2D computer graphic. The user watches a monitor that shows his body's
interaction with the world. Myron Kruger has been a champion of this form of VR
since the late 60's. He has published two books on the subject: "Artificial
Reality" and "Artificial Reality II". At least one commercial system uses this
approach, the Mandala system. This system is based on a Commodore Amiga with
some added hardware and software. A version of the Mandala is used by the cable
TV channel Nickelodeon for a game show (Nick Arcade) to put the contestants
into what appears to be a large video game.
3.3. Immersive
Systems
The ultimate VR systems completely immerse the user's personal viewpoint
inside the virtual world. These "immersive" VR systems are often equipped with
a Head Mounted Display (HMD). This is a helmet or a face mask that holds the
visual and auditory displays. The helmet may be free ranging, tethered, or it
might be attached to some sort of a boom armature.
A nice variation of the immersive systems use multiple large projection
displays to create a 'Cave' or room in which the viewer(s) stand. An early
implementation was called "The Closet Cathedral" for the ability to create the
impression of an immense environment. within a small physical space. The
Holodeck used in the television series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is afar
term extrapolation of this technology.
3.4. Telepresence
Telepresence is a variation on visualizing complete computer generated worlds.
This a technology links remote sensors in the real world with the senses of a
human operator. The remote sensors might be located on a robot, or they might
be on the ends of WALDO like tools. Fire fighters use remotely operated
vehicles to handle some dangerous conditions. Surgeons are using very small
instruments on cables to do surgery without cutting a major hole in their
patients. The instruments have a small video camera at the business end.
Robots equipped with telepresence systems have already changed the way deep sea
and volcanic exploration is done. NASA plans to use telerobotics for space
exploration. There is currently a joint US/Russian project researching
telepresence for space rover exploration.
3.5. Mixed
Reality
Merging the Telepresence and Virtual Reality systems gives the Mixed Reality
or Seamless Simulation systems. Here the computer generated inputs are merged
with telepresence inputs and/or the users view of the real world. A surgeon's
view of a brain surgery is overlaid with images from earlier CAT scans and
real-time ultrasound. A fighter pilot sees computer generated maps and data
displays inside his fancy helmet visor or on cockpit displays.
The phrase "fish tank virtual reality" was used to describe a Canadian VR
system reported in the 1993 InterCHI proceedings. It combines a stereoscopic
monitor display using liquid crystal shutter glasses with a mechanical head
tracker. The resulting system is superior to simple stereo-WoW systems due to
the motion parallax effects introduced by the head tracker. (see INTERCHI '93
Conference Proceedings, ACM Press/Addison Wesley , ISBN 0-201-58884-6)
