Virtual Reality (VR)Virtual Reality (VR)

CSCI 4830/6830

Course Introduction

Instructor: Dr. Kyle Johnsen

Course Notes Course Notes AcknowledgementAcknowledgementSome of the lecture notes

are drawn from lecture notes created by:

◦ Dr. Benjamin Lok at the University of Florida

◦ Dr. Larry Hodges at Clemson University

What will you get to do?What will you get to do?

Learn about the history of VR and about contemporary VR

Build your own VR experiences

Build your own 3D user interfaces

Do things that have never been done before

Play with cool toys◦ Head Mounted Displays,

Tracking Systems, Stereoscopic Projection displays, Haptic Interfaces

Build games

Ivan Sutherland (The Father of VR 1965)

More Specifically (grading)More Specifically (grading)3 VR projects worth 80% of your grade

◦ Experience Building◦ Experiences will incorporate VR input devices,

virtual environment simulations, and VR output devices

◦ Projects are weighted more heavily towards the end of the course.

Weekly 300-500 word VR paper discussions worth 20% of your grade. ◦ A maximum of 5 may be online articles or reports

on current VR technology◦ I will grade these randomly. If you plagiarize, you

will lose 10 points off your final grade. These should be your own words and your own thoughts. They will be graded for relevance to VR, insight, and accuracy.

◦ These should be uploaded to ELC. Please use PDF.

How can you get the most How can you get the most out of this class?out of this class?Grad students – Use this class to

enhance your existing research (there is nothing in CS that can’t be applied to a VR experience)

Undergrad Students – Use the projects in this class as a showcase piece for potential employers / graduate school committees

Have fun and be creative! Set a goal of what you want to achieve at the end of the course NOW!

No Textbook!No Textbook!

Class Materials◦Research Papers◦Lecture Notes◦Sample programs

Instead … Required Instead … Required Hardware Hardware Options

MS Kinect ($120-150)Playstation Move ($100)

Camera and WandNavigation controller optional (no support yet)

Wiimote + Motion Plus ($40)USB bluetooth adapter (ASUS USB-BT21 works

$15)I’d probably choose the Move or Kinect.

Both are good choices that present options for augmented reality and user tracking.

All of these have PC Drivers and virtual reality network interfaces

The Virtual Experiences Laboratory The Virtual Experiences Laboratory Hardware (Driftmier Enginering Center Hardware (Driftmier Enginering Center Room 407b)Room 407b)Some PCsHead Mounted DisplaysRear Projection ScreensStereoscopic (3D) monitors and

projectorsMagnetic Tracking System (Polhemus

Fastrak)Passive Infrared Optical Tracking systemNovint Falcon Haptic System4 Moves, 4 Kinects, 2 Wiimotes

Required Software (for Required Software (for support)support)MS Windows 7 (Sorry Mac and

Linux users … dual boot, not emulated)◦Install this today (MSDNAA)

Visual Studio (2008 or 2010)◦Also available via MSDNAA◦Install this today

Other requirements Other requirements This is a programming heavy class

◦C/C++◦It’s possible to use another language,

but not recommended and unsupported (example programs given in C++)

◦You can learn C++, if you know Java, pretty easily. Spend some time with a good introductory book. The concepts are the same, the implementation and syntax are different.

Bring a laptop to class◦If you don’t have a laptop, work with

someone who does

Software LibrariesSoftware LibrariesOgre – Object-oriented Graphics

Rendering Engine◦Performs rendering and animation of 3D

scenes◦Native C++, wrappers and ports available

in other languages (e.g. Java)◦Get started learning this NOW.

VRPN – Virtual Reality Peripheral Network◦Used to interface with VR devices over the

network or locally. Many devices provide VRPN interfaces.

◦Available for Java, but more difficult.

Software ProgramsSoftware ProgramsGoogle Sketchup

◦Exporter for Ogre◦Library of 3D Objects Available

Blender◦Exporter for Ogre◦Can be used to create more

sophisticated 3D models and animation

Discussion Topic: What Discussion Topic: What does virtual reality (VR) does virtual reality (VR) mean?mean?

Modern Definition of VR: Modern Definition of VR: Virtuality ContinuumVirtuality Continuum

Real Environment

Virtual Environment

Augmented Reality

Mixed Reality

Virtual Reality

Reality

VR in HollywoodVR in HollywoodLawnmower

man

Star Trek

Matrix

Minority Report

Avatar

What is the best (and most expensive) virtual reality technology available today?

CAVE: CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment

The The RealReal State of the Art State of the Art

Consumer VRConsumer VRWiimotePlaystation MoveNovint FalconStereoscopic

Displays◦Nvidia 3DVision,

DLP-3DMicrosoft’s

Kinect

Final WordsFinal Words

Please drop on by if you have any questions/concerns◦ My office is 503

Driftmier Engineering Center

◦ My email is kjohnsen@uga.edu

No Slackers allowed… ◦ those in search of an

easy ‘A’ drop now!◦ those in search of a

rewarding challenge stick around!