Introduction
to Virtual Reality & Virtual
Environments
Informatics I590 (sect. 9618) -
Spring 2004
|
Current Syllabus (.pdf)
Lecture Slides:
1.1,
1.2,
2.1,
2.2,
3.1,
3.2,
4.1,
4.2,
5.1,
5.2,
6.1,
7.1,
7.2,
9.2,
Research Paper Presentations:
TULIP (Leif),
Lab Notes:
IU Lab 2 (Basic VRML),
IU Lab 5 (Advanced VRML),
VRJuggler Basics (ppt),
VRJuggler Notes
Assignments:
Assignment #1 (files-part2B),
Assignment #2 (files for molecular vis),
Assignment #3
Student Projects:
- Indiana U.:
Ryan Baula,
Craig Jacobs,
Scott McCaulay,
Mieko Furuhashi & Nick Gentile,
Mitchell Fisher,
Geng Wang,
Yong Sik Jeon
- Purdue U.:
Leif Delgass,
Michael Flaherty,
Dioselin Gonzalez,
Angela Mellema & Gang Xue,
Kevin O'Neal,
Timothy Rogers,
David Whittinghill,
Overview:
This course will
cover basic concepts in virtual reality (VR) and virtual environments
(VEs)
including display devices, real time graphics, tracking technology,
multi-modal
interaction, as well as VR task analysis, interface design, development
methods
and application areas. Students will learn the basics of creating and
using
virtual environments and will develop content and applications for the
CAVE and
other large-format systems in addition to desktop and Web-based
displays. The course will be taught in
collaboration
with Purdue University with most sessions taking place via the Access
Grid
teleconferencing and tele-collaboration system.
Prerequisites:
Students should have
a solid understanding of computer graphics. Although not required, 3D
modeling
experience, programming experience in a language such as C/C++, and/or
development experience with graphics tools such as OpenGL, Open
Inventor, or
VRML would be helpful. Students
without this experience should meet
with the
local instructor prior to enrolling
Instructors:
Meeting Times & Locations:
- Indiana
University, Bloomington:
- Lecture (sect. 9618): Tues & Thurs, 2:30p-3:45p, I323
(Informatics
Research Institute)
- Lab(sect. 9619): Fri, 9:05a-9:55a, I109
- Purdue
University:
- Lecture: Tues & Thurs, 2:30p-3:45p, Envision Center Access
Grid Room
- Lab: TBA
Topics
(See the current course
syllabus for full list of topics, course objectives, and schedule)
- Human Perception & VR:
visual, auditory, vestibular, haptic,
olfactory
- Applications of VR:
medicine, engineering, fine arts, scientific
visualization, education, training, entertainment, architecture
- VR Hardware: visual
displays (CAVEs, walls, HMDs, desktop),
haptic devices, audio systems
- VR Input Devices:
tracking technologies, wands, gloves,
biosensors, speech
- Software for VR:
high-level languages (VRML, OpenSceneGraph,
etc.), lower-level toolkits (VRJuggler, OpenGL, etc.)
- Content Development Methods:
modeling, scripting, rendered
movies, programming
- Design of Virtual Environments:
task analysis, hardware/software
selection, interaction techniques, user differences
- Evaluation of VEs:
immersion, cybersickness, effectiveness,
usability, scalability
- Telecollaboration: shared
worlds, synchronization and
coordination, video and audio conferencing
- VR Research: key people
and labs (national/international),
current research trends, local (IU & Purdue) researchers and users
