Virtual Reality Studio

What is it

Virtual Reality Studio is a real-time data visualization program with a collection of modules that support multi-modal user input and output. In other words, it's an elaborate game engine with highly configurable interface, that can communication with VR equipment: Head Mounted Displays, various motion tracking equipment, joysticks, etc.

Purpose

VR Studio allows to run experiments which involve human subjects, in immersive mode (with HMD) and desktop mode (standard monitor display). The purpose of the experiments may be testing new user interfaces, collecting data on human behaviour in simulated conditions, studying learning patterns, and user response to stimuli in general. Also, the system may be used for data visualization purposes, such as vector and scalar fields, visualizing interactions in complex systems.

Hardware

A single PC with a med-to-hight graphics card. Tested to work with the following peripheral equipment:

  • Flock of Birds tracking system, both standard and extended range
  • InterSense Inertia Cube 2
  • Wingman joystick
  • Sony Playstation game controller
  • HMDs: eMagine, NVIS, 5DT 800, V6 and V8 from Virtual Research

Software environment

Linux/Unix, OpenAL, OpenGL, SDL.

Programming

To system is fully open source and highly modular. Only application-specific code need manual programming, which can be done by 1 or 2 graduate level programmers for a single project.

Operation

The system can be operated by any computer literate person, after some training.

Projects, Past and Present

Toma
Beach
Nephron
Triage
Malekahana
Sliding Hand interface study
Augmented Manikins for Medical Educatiton

Where installed

  1. Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.
    VR studio drives the Virtual Beach used for biofeedback research and clinical treatment of patients with chronic pain.
  2. Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
    Operated by Center For Surgical Excellency, the VR Studio is undergoing evaluation for the possible use with manikin - based studies.

Publications

  • View Enhancement Techniques for Scene Exploration and Object Selection in Virtual and Mixed Environments
  • Design and Development of a Pose-Based Command Language for Triage Training in Virtual Reality
  • Optical Sight Metaphor for Virtual Environments
  • Algorithmically Generated Music Enhances VR Nephron Simulation
  • Reification of Abstract Concepts to Improve Comprehension Using Interactive Virtual Environments and a Knowledge-Based Design: A Renal Physiology Model
  • Affordable Virtual Environments: Building a Virtual Beach for Clinical Use
  • Distributed immersive virtual reality simulation development for medical education
  • Distributed Interactive Virtual Environments for Collaborative Experiential Learning and Training Independent of Distance over Internet2
  • Distributed Interactive Virtual Environments for Collaborative Medical Education and Training: Design and Characterization
  • More Details