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Multimediale Technologien werden in der Marktforschung immer stärker eingesetzt, um flexible und kostengünstige Studien durchzuführen. Im Innovationsprozess kann dabei auf die langjährigen Erfahrungen zurückgegriffen werden, die durch den Einsatz der Computersimulation in der technischen Produktentwicklung zustande gekommen sind. In sehr frühen Phasen des Innovationsprozesses können durch Einsatz der neuen Technologien die Markteinführungskonzepte für neue Produkte getestet werden. Die Applikationen der virtuellen Realität bieten ein einzigartiges Potential, neue Produkte einschlieï‚lich des Marketingkonzeptes zu testen, ohne dass dieses Produkt bereits physisch vorhanden sein muss. Am Beispiel eines Elementes des Marketingkonzeptes, der Preispolitik, zeigt die vorliegende Studie auf, welches Potential die virtuelle Kaufsituation von Produkten bietet. Der Fokus des Projektes liegt auf der interaktiven Produktpräsentation in einer virtuellen Umgebung, die in eine Online-Befragung mit zusätzlichen Werbefilmen eingebettet ist. Visuell hochwertige 3D-Produktpräsentationen versetzen den Probanden in eine virtuelle Einkaufsumgebung, die einem realen Szenario entspricht. Die virtuellen Produkte werden in mehreren Kaufentscheidungsrunden zu unterschiedlichen Preisen angeboten. Der Preisuntersuchung geht eine Präsentation ausgewählter Werbespots sowie eine produktbezogene Befragung voraus. Im Anschluss an die virtuellen Preisentscheidungen werden die Eindrücke sowie einige Kontrollgröen abgefragt. In weitergehenden Studien dieser Art können die Wirkungen mehrerer Marketing-Instrumente zu einem Zeitpunkt untersucht werden, in dem sich die Produkte noch im Entwicklungsprozess befinden. Auf diesem Weg lassen sich auch Wettbewerbsvorteile bestehender Produkte effizienter erkennen und nutzen. Mit den hoch entwickelten Computer- und Visualisierungstechnologien ist ein mächtiges Werkzeug entstanden, das bereits für kommerzielle Präsentationen und Produktstudien eingesetzt wird. Zukünftig kann es auch in Kombination mit Internetanwendungen und klassischen Methoden der Marktforschung zu einem sehr frühen Zeitpunkt umfassende Erkenntnisse über ein Produkt liefern.
Die interaktive Echtzeit 3D-Visualisierung Mobilisierung und Homing von Blutstammzellen wurde konzipiert, um ein sehr komplexes medizinisches Wissen mit den Mitteln der 3-dimensionalen Visualisierung in Echtzeit und des Internets sowie der daraus resultierenden Interaktivität aufzubereiten. Dies musste auf einer Ebene geschehen, die es hinterher auch jedem Nicht-Mediziner erlaubt, die grundlegenden biologischen und medizinischen Sachverhalte nachzuvollziehen. Das Resultat: Eine informative und didaktische Anwendung, aus einer Mischung von interaktiven 3D-Stationen und erklärenden 3D-Animationen. Diskutiert werden die Methodik der Konzeptionsphase und die Interaktionstechniken.
The article discusses the question of “How to convey the experience in a virtual environment to third parties?” and explains the different technical implementations which can be used for live streaming and recording of a mixed reality experience. The real-world applications of our approach include education, entertainment, e- sports, tutorials, and cinematic trailers, which can benefit from our research by finding a suitable solution for their needs. We explain and outline our Mixed Reality systems as well as discuss the experience of recorded demonstrations of different VR applications, including the need for calibrated camera lens parameters based on realtime encoder values.
Two high dynamic range HDR environments maps based on video streams from fish-eye lens cameras are used for generating virtual lights in a virtual set renderer. The task of realistic virtual light setup of scenes using captured environment maps might be eased as well as visual quality improves. We discuss the light setting problem for virtual studio tv productions which have mixed scenes of real objects, actors, virtual objects and virtual backgrounds. Benefits of hdr interactive light control are that the real light in the studio does not have to be remodeled and the artistic impression by using the light in the studio is also captured. An analysis of system requirements identifies technical challenges. We discuss the properties of a prototype system including test production.
Virtual environment walkthrough applications are generally enhanced by a user’s interactions within a simulated architectural space, but the enhancement that stems from changes in spatial sound that are coupled with a user’s behavior are particularly important, especially within regard to creating a sense of place. When accompanied by stereoscopic image synthesis, spatial sound can immerse the user in a high-realism virtual copy of the real world. An advanced virtual environment that allow users to change realtime rendering features with a few manipulations has been shown to enable switching between different versions of a modeled space while maintaining sensory immersion. This paper reports on an experimental project in which an architectural model is being integrated into such an interactive virtual environment. The focus is on the spatial sound design for supporting interaction, including demonstrations of both the possibilities and limitations of such applications in presenting and promoting architectural designs, as well as in three-dimensional sketching.
We report about several experiments on applying mixed reality technology in the context of accessing collective memories from atomic bombs, Holocaust and Second World War. We discuss the impact of Virtual Reality, Augmented Virtuality and Augmented Reality for specific memorial locations. We show how to use a virtual studio for demonstrating an augmented reality application for a specific location in a remote session within a video conference. Augmented Virtuality is used to recreate the local environment, thus providing a context and helping the participants recollect emotions related to a certain place. This technique demonstrates the advantages of using virtual (VR) and augmented (AR) reality environments for rapid prototyping and pitching project ideas in a live remote setting.
Virtual set environments for broadcasting become more sophisticated as well as the visual quality improves. Realtime interaction and production-specific visualization implemented through plugin mechanism enhance the existing systems like the 3DK. This work presents the integration of the Intersense IS-900 SCT camera tracking and 3D interaction into the 3DK virtual studio environment. The main goal of this work is the design of a virtual studio environment for post productions, which includes video output as well as media streaming formats such as MPEG-4. The systems allows high quality offline rendering during post production and 3D interaction by the moderator during the recording.
Virtual TV studios use actor tracking systems for resolving the occlusion of computer graphics and studio camera image. The actor tracking delivers the distance between actor and studio camera. We deploy a photonic mixing device, which captures a depth map and a luminance image at low resolution. The renderer engines gets one depth value per actor using the OSC protocol. We describe the actor recognition algorithm based on the luminance image and the depth value calculation. We discuss technical issues like noise and calibration.
Die Visualisierung von Produkten in Echtzeit ist in vielen Bereichen ein hilfreicher Schritt, um potentiellen Kunden eine Vorstellung vom Einsatzgebiet und einen Überblick über die finale Anwendung zu erlauben. In den letzten Jahren haben neue Technologien in der Grafikkartenindustrie dazu geführt, dass früher nur auf teuren Grafikworkstations verfügbare Möglichkeiten nun auch mit relativ kostengünstigen Karten, welche für den Einsatz in Standard-PCs konzipiert wurden, realisierbar sind.
Es wird an einem Modellentwurf des Innenraums des People Cargo Movers gezeigt, wie die Beleuchtung innerhalb einer Echtzeitvisualisierung durch Shader realisiert werden kann. Als Lichtquelle wird dabei eine Landschaftsaufnahme herangezogen, welche als eine von mehreren Videotexturen eingebunden wurde. Außerdem werden real im virtuellen Studio gefilmte Personen im Innenraum gleichermaï‚en über Videotexturen dargestellt und ebenfalls durch die Landschaft beleuchtet.
Virtual environments can create a realistic impression of an architectural space during the architectural design process, providing a powerful tool for evaluation and promotion during a project’s early stages. In comparison to pre-rendered animations,
such as walkthroughs based on CAD models, virtual environments can offer intuitive interaction and a more life like experience. Advanced virtual environments allow users to change realtime rendering features with a few manipulations, switching between different versions while still maintaining sensory immersion. This paper reports on an experimental project in which architectural models are being integrated into interactive virtual environments, and includes demonstrations of both the possibilities and limitations of such applications in evaluating, presenting and promoting architectural designs.
The Common Lisp Interface Manager (CLIM) is used to develop graphical user interfaces for Lisp-basedapplications. With the prototype of the CLIM interface Builder (CLIB) the programmer can generate code for CLIM interactively. The developing process will be fast and less prone to errors. With this new tool, the interactive rapid prototyping reduces costs of a specification phase. Here we present the concept and first results of the prototype of CLIB.
Distance and Room Effects Control for the PSFC, an Auditory Display using a Loudspeaker Array
(2000)
The Pioneer Sound Field Controller (PSFC), a loudspeaker array system, features realtime configuration of an entire sound field, including sound source direction, virtual distance, and context of simulated environment (room characteristics: room size and liveness) for each of two sound sources. In the PSFC system, there is no native parameter to specify the distance between the sound source and sound sink (listener) and also no function to control it directrly. This paper suggests the method to control virtual distance using basic parameters: volume, room size and liveness. The implementation of distance cue is an important aspect of 3D sounds. Virtual environments supporting room effects like reverberation not only gain realism but also provide additional information to users about surrounding space. The context switch of different aural attributes is done by using an API of the Sound Spatialization Framework. Therefore, when the sound sink move through two rooms, like a small bathroom and a large living room, the context of the sink switches and different sound is obtained.
Distance and Room Effects Control for the PSFC, an Auditory Display using a Loudspeaker Array
(2000)
The Pioneer Sound Field Controller (PSFC), a loudspeaker array system, features realtime configuration of an entire sound field,including sound source direction, virtual distance, and context of simulated environment (room characteristics: room size and liveness)for each of two sound sources. In the PSFC system, there is no native parameter to specify the distance between the sound source and sound sink (listener) and also no function to control it directrly. This paper suggests the method to control virtual distance using basic parameters: volume, room size and liveness. The implementation of distance cue is an important aspect of 3D sounds. Virtual environments supporting room effects like reverberation not only gain realism but also provide additional information to users about surrounding space. The context switch of different aural attributes is done by using an API of the Sound Spatialization Framework. Therefore, when the sound sink move through two rooms, like a small bathroom and a large living room, the context of the sink switches and different sound is obtained.
A Sound Spatialization Server for a Speaker Array as an Integrated Part of a Virtual Environment
(1998)
Spatial sound plays an important role in virtual reality environments, allowing orientation in space, giving a feeling of space, focusing the user on events in the scene, and substituting missing feedback cues (e.g., force feedback). The sound spatialization framework of the University of Aizu, which supports number of spatialization backends, has been extended to include a sound spatialization server for a multichannel loudspeaker array (Pioneer Sound Field Control System). Our goal is that the spatialization server allows easy integration into virtual environments. Modeling of distance cues, which are essential for full immersion, is discussed. Furthermore, the integration of this prototype into different applications allowed us to reveal the advantages and problems of spatial sound for virtual reality environments.
Die volumetrische Erfassung von Aushüben auf Baustellen ist ein kostenrelevanter Faktor und wird auch heute im täglichen Baustellenbetrieb oft noch in manueller Detailarbeit durchgeführt. Kostengünstige Sensoren zur Tiefenerfassung ermöglichen die halbautomatische Erfassung von Baugruben. Augmented Reality (AR) kann für diesen Prozess das nötige Feedback liefern. Vorgestellt wird ein Prototyp, bestehend aus einem Tablet mit integrierter Kamera und einem Lidar-Scanner. Es wird die Erfassung des Volumens bezüglich Nutzbarkeit und Genauigkeit mit Einsatz von AR getestet und evaluiert. Zur Bestimmung des Volumens wird unter Verwendung von Strahlen mit Unterstützung einer Grafik-Engine ein Algorithmus entwickelt. Der Algorithmus ist robust gegen nicht vollständig geschlossene Volumen. Die Bedienung, Überprüfung und Visualisierung findet durch praktischen Einsatz von AR statt.
The presentation of virtual environments in real time has always been a demanding task. Specially designed graphics hardware is necessary to deal with the large amounts of data these applications typically produce. For several years the chipsets that were used allowed only simple lighting models and fixed algorithms. But recent development has produced new graphics processing units (GPUs) that are much faster and more programmable than their predecessors. This paper presents an approach to take advantage of these new features. It uses a video texture as part of the lighting calculations for the passenger compartment of a virtual train and was run on the GPU of a recent PC graphics card. The task was to map the varying illumination of a filmed landscape onto the virtual objects and also onto another video texture (showing two passengers), thereby enhancing the realism of the scene.
For this study, an experimental vibrotactile feedback system was developed to help actors with the task of moving their arm to a certain place in a virtual tv studio under live conditions. Our intention is to improve interaction with virtual objects in a virtual set, which are usually not directly visible to the actor, but only on distant displays. Vibrotactile feedback might improve the appearance on tv because an actor is able to look in any desired direction (camera or virtual object) or to read text on a teleprompter while interacting with a virtual object. Visual feedback in a virtual studio lacks spatial relation to the actor, which impedes the adjustment of the desired interaction. The five tactors of the implemented system which are mounted on the tracked arm give additional information like collision, navigation and activation. The user study for the developed system shows that the duration for reaching a certain target is much longer in case no visual feedback is given, but the accuracy is similar. In this study, subjects reported that an activation signal indicating the arrival at the target of a drag & drop task was helpful. In this paper, we discuss the problems we encountered while developing such a vibrotactile display. Keeping these pitfalls in mind could lead to better feedback systems for actors in virtual studio environments.
CAD/CAM techniques are used increasingly in dentistry for design and fabrication of teeth restorations. An important issue is preserving occlusal contacts of teeth after restoration. Traditional techniques based on the use of casts with mechanical articulators require manual adjustment of occlusal surface, which becomes impractical when hard restoration materials like porcelain are used; they are also time and labor consuming. Most existing computer systems ignore completely such an articulation check, or perform the check at the level of a tooth and its immediate neighbors. We present a new mathematical model and a related user interface for global articulation simulation, developed for the Intelligent Dental Care System project. The aim of the simulation is elimination of the use of mechanical articulators and manual adjustment in the process of designing dental restorations and articulation diagnostic. The mathematical model is based upon differential topological modeling of the jawbs considered as a mechanical system. The user interface exploits metaphors that are familiar to dentists from everyday practice. A new input device designed specifically for use with articulation simulation is proposed.
More than three decades of ongoing research in immersive modelling has revealed many advantages of creating objects in virtual environments. Even though there are many benefits, the potential of immersive modelling has only been partly exploited due to unresolved problems such as ergonomic problems, numerous challenges with user interaction and the inability to perform exact, fast and progressive refinements. This paper explores past research, shows alternative approaches and proposes novel interaction tools for pending problems. An immersive modelling application for polygon meshes is created from scratch and tested by professional users of desktop modelling tools, such as Autodesk Maya, in order to assess the efficiency, comfort and speed of the proposed application with direct comparison to professional desktop modelling tools.
This paper presents an approach to integrate non-visual user feedback in today's virtual tv studio productions. Since recent studies showed that systems providing vibro-tactile feedback are not sufficient for replacing the common visual feedback, we developed an audio-based solution using an in ear headphone system, enabling a talent to move, avoid and point to virtual objects in a blue or green box. The system consists of an optical head tracking system, a wireless in ear monitor system and a workstation, which performs all application and audio processing. Using head related transfer functions, the talent gets directional and distance cues. Past research showed, that generating reflections of the sounds and simulating the acoustics of the virtual room helps the listener to conceive the acoustical feedback, we included this technique as well. In a user study with 15 participants the performance of the system was evaluated.
In this paper we introduce a system for tracking persons walking or standing on a large planar surface and for using the acquired data to easily configure position based interactions for virtual studio productions. The tracking component of the system, radarTRACK, is based on a laser scanner device capable of delivering interaction points on a large configurable plane. By using the device on the floor it is possible to use the delivered data to detect feet positions and derive the position and orientation of one or more users in real time. The second component of the system, named OscCalibrator, allows for the easy creation of multidimensional linear mappings between input and output parameters and the routing of OSC messages within a single modular design environment. We demonstrate the use of our system to flexibly create position-based interactions in a virtual studio environment.
Given limited computational resources available for the rendering of spatial sound imagery, we seek to determine effective means for choosing whatcomponents of the rendering will provide the most audible differences in the results. Rather than begin with an analytic approach that attempts to predict audible differences on the basis of objective parameters, we chose to begin with subjective tests of how audibly different the rendering result may be heard to be when that result includes two types of sound obstruction: reflectors and occluders. Single-channel recordings of 90 short speech sounds were made in an anechoic chamber in the presence and absence of these two types of obstructions, and as the angle of those obstructions varied over a 90 degree range. These recordings were reproduced over a single loudspeaker in that anechoic chamber, and listeners were asked to rate how confident they were that the recording of each of these 90 stimuli included an obstruction. These confidence ratings can be used as an integral component in the evaluation function used to determine which reflectors and occluders are most important for rendering.
A filtering model for efficient rendering of the spatial image of an occluded virtual sound source
(1999)
Rendering realistic spatial sound imagery for complex virtual environments must take into account the effects of obstructions such as reflectors and occluders. It is relatively well understood how to calculate the acoustical consequence that would be observed at a given observation point when an acoustically opaque object occludes a sound source. But the interference patterns generated by occluders of various geometries and orientations relative to the virtual source and receiver are computationally intense if accurate results are required. In many applications, however, it is sufficient to create a spatial image that is recognizable by the human listener as the sound of an occluded source. In the interest of improving audio rendering efficiency, a simplified filtering model was developed and its audio output submitted to psychophysical evaluation. Two perceptually salient components of occluder acoustics were identified that could be directly related to the geometry and orientation of a simple occluder. Actual occluder impulse responses measured in an anechoic chamber resembled the responses of a model incorporating only a variable duration delay line and a low-pass filter with variable cutoff frequency.
A filtering model for efficient rendering of the spatial image of an occluded virtual sound source
(1999)
Rendering realistic spatial sound imagery for complex virtual environments must take into account the effects of obstructions such as reflectors and occluders. It is relatively well understood how to calculate the acoustical consequence that would be observed at a given observation point when an acoustically opaque object occludes a sound source. But the interference patterns generated by occluders of various geometries and orientations relative to the virtual source and receiver are computationally intense if accurate results are required. In many applications, however, it is sufficient to create a spatial image that is recognizable by the human listener as the sound of an occluded source. In the interest of improving audio rendering efficiency, a simplified filtering model was developed and its audio output submitted to psychophysical evaluation. Two perceptually salient components of occluder acoustics were identified that could be directly related to the geometry and orientation of a simple occluder. Actual occluder impulse responses measured in an anechoic chamber resembled the responses of a model incorporating only a variable duration delay line and a low-pass filter with variable cutoff frequenc
Dynamic characteristics of occlusion during lower jaw motion are useful in the diagnosis of jaw articulation problems and in computer-aided design/manufacture of teeth restorations. The Functionally Generated Path (FGP), produced as a surface which envelops the actual occlusal surface of the moving opponent jaw, can be used for compact representation of dynamic occlusal relations. In traditional dentistry FGP is recorded as a bite impression in a patient’s mouth. We propose an efficient computerized technique for FGP reconstruction and validate it through implementation and testing. The distance maps between occlusal surfaces of jaws, calculated for multiple projection directions and accumulated for mandibular motion, provide information for FGP computation. Rasterizing graphics hardware is used for fast calculation of the distance maps. Real-world data are used: the scanned shape of teeth and the measured motion of the lower jaw. We show applications of FGP to analysis of the occlusion relations and occlusal surface design for restorations.
CAD/CAM techniques are increasingly used in dentistry for the design and fabrication of teeth estorations. Important concerns are the correction of articulation problems that existed before treatment and the prevention of treatment-generated problems. These require interactive evaluation of the occlusal surfaces of teeth during mastication. Traditional techniques based on the use of casts with mechanical articulators require manual adjustment of occlusal surfaces, which becomes impractical when hard restoration materials like porcelain are used; they are also time and labor consuming and provide little visual information. We present new visual tools and a related user interface for global articulation simulation, developed for the Intelligent Dental Care System project. The aim of the simulation is visual representation of characteristics relevant to the chewing process. The simulation is based on the construction of distance maps, which are visual representations of the distributions of the distances of points in a tooth to the opposite jaw. We use rasterizing graphics hardware for fast calculation of the distance maps. Distance maps are used for collision detection and for the derivation of various characteristics showing the distribution of load on the teeth and the chewing capability of the teeth. Such characteristics can be calculated for particular positions of the jaws; cumulative characteristics are used to describe the properties of jaw movement. This information may be used for interactive design of the occlusal surfaces of restorations and for jaw articulation diagnosis. We also demonstrate elements of a user interface that exploit metaphors familiar to dentists from everyday practice.
CAD/CAM techniques are increasingly used in dentistry for the design and fabrication of teeth restorations. Important concerns are the correction of articulation problems that existed beforetreatment and the prevention of treatment-generated problems. These require interactive evaluation of the occlusal surfaces of teeth during mastication. Traditional techniques based on the use of casts with mechanical articulators require manual adjustment of occlusal surfaces, which becomes impractical when hard restoration materials like porcelain are used; they are also time and labor consuming and provide little visual information. We present new visual tools and a related user interface for global articulation simulation, developed for the Intelligent Dental Care System project. The aim of the simulation is visual representation of characteristics relevant to the chewing process. The simulation is based on the construction of distance maps, which are visual representations of the distributions of the distances of points in a tooth to the opposite jaw. We use rasterizing graphics hardware for fast calculation of the distance maps. Distance maps are used for collision detection and for the derivation of various characteristics showing the distribution of load on the teeth and the chewing capability of the teeth. Such characteristics can be calculated for particular positions of the jaws; cumulative characteristics are used to describe the properties of jaw movement. This information may be used for interactive design of the occlusal surfaces of restorations and for jaw articulation diagnosis. We also demonstrate elements of a user interface that exploit metaphors familiar to dentists from everyday practice.
In today’s market research mechanisms multi modal technologies are significant tools to perform flexible and price efficient studies for not only consumer products but also consumer goods. Current appraisal mechanisms in combination with applied computer graphics can improve the assessment of a product’s launch in the very early design phase or an innovation process. The combination of online questionnaires, Virtual Reality (VR) applications and a database management system offers a powerful tool to let a consumer judge products as well as innovated goods even without having produced a single article. In this paper we present an approach of consumer good studies consisting of common as well as interactive VR product presentations and online questionnaires bases on a bidirectional database management solution to configure and manage numerous studies, virtual sets, goods and participants in an effective way to support the estimation of the received data. Non-programmers can create their test environment including a VR scenario very quickly without any effort. Within the extensive knowledge of consumer goods, marketing instruments can be defined to shorten and improve the rollout process in the early product stages.
Acquiring human motion data from video images plays an important role in the field of computer vision. Ground truth tracking systems require markers to create high quality motion data. But in many applications it is desired to work without markers. In recent years affordable hardware for markerless tracking systems was made available at a consumer level. Efficient depth camera systems based on Time-of-Flight sensors and structured light systems have made it possible to record motion data in real time. However, the gap between the quality of marker-based and markerless systems is high. The error sources of a markerless motion tracking pipeline are discussed and a model-based filter is proposed, which adapts depending on spatial location. The proposed method is then proven to be more robust and accurate than the unfiltered data stream and can be used to visually enhance the presence of an actor within a virtual environment in live broadcast productions.
Einfach benutzbare VR-Anwendungen erfordern andere Interaktionstechniken als konventionelle Desktop-Anwendungen mit Maus, Tastatur und Desktop-Metapher zur Verfügung stellen. Da solche Ansätze in Konzeption und Realisierung deutlicher komplexer sind, müssen diese mit Sorgfalt ausgewählt werden. Folgt man der Argumentation, dass VR eine natürliche Interaktion mit virtuellen Objekten ermöglicht, so führt dies fast zwangsläufig zu zweihändigen Interaktionstechniken für virtuelle Umgebungen, da Benutzer in realen Umgebungen gewohnt sind, fast ausschlieï‚lich zweihändig zu agieren. In diesem Beitrag geben wir eine Übersicht über den Stand der Technik im Bereich zweihändiger Interaktion, leiten Anforderungen an eine Entwicklung zweihändiger Interaktionstechniken in VR ab und beschreiben einen eigenen Ansatz. Dabei geht es um die zweihändige Interaktion bei der Simulation flexibler biegeschlaffer Bauteile (z. B. Schlauchverbindungen).
Mobile live video streaming is becoming an increasingly popular form of interaction both in social media and remote collaboration scenarios. However, in most cases the streamed video does not take mobile devices' spatial data into account (e.g., the viewers do not know the spatial orientation of a streamer), or use such data only in specific scenarios (e.g., to navigate around a spherical video stream).
We present a system that exploits mobile rotational tracking and photospherical imagery to allow users to share their environment with remotely connected peers “on the go.” We surveyed related interfaces and developed a unique groupware application that shares a mixed reality space with spatially-oriented live video feeds. Users can collaborate through realtime audio, video, and drawings in a virtual space. The developed system was tested in a preliminary user study, which confirmed an increase in spatial and situational awareness among viewers as well as reduction in cognitive workload. Believing that our system provides a novel style of collaboration in mixed reality environments, we discuss future applications and extensions of our prototype.
Live video streaming is becoming increasingly popular as a form of interaction in social applications. One of its main advantages is an ability to immediately create and connect a community of remote users on the spot. In this paper we discuss how this feature can be used for crowdsourced completion of simple visual search tasks (such as finding specific objects in libraries and stores, or navigating around live events) and social interactions through mobile mixed reality telepresence interfaces. We present a prototype application that allows users to create a mixed reality space with a photospherical imagery as a background and interact with other connected users through viewpoint, audio, and video sharing, as well as realtime annotations in mixed reality space. Believing in the novelty of our system, we conducted a short series of interviews with industry professionals on the possible applications of our system. We discuss proposed use-cases for user evaluation, as well as outline future extensions of our system.
Mixed reality telepresence is becoming an increasingly popular form of interaction in social and collaborative applications. We are interested in how created virtual spaces can be archived, mapped, shared, and reused among different applications. Therefore, we propose a decentralized blockchain-based peer-to-peer model of distribution, with virtual spaces represented as blocks. We demonstrate the integration of our system in a collaborative mixed reality application and discuss the benefits and limitations of our approach.
Neue Formen der wissenschaftlichen Kommunikation basieren auf Fortschritten in den Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien. Das dadurch mögliche kollaborative wissenschaftliche Arbeiten liefert Ergebnisse, die in vielfältigen Formaten, als Text, Simulationsdaten oder multimediale Elemente vorliegen. Daraus ergeben sich besondere Anforderungen an Publikations- und Kommunikatonsinfrastrukturen, wie Interoperabilität, Repräsentation, Verteilung und Archivierung derartiger komplexer digitaler Objekte. Mit der Initiative Digital Peer Publishing existiert eine Infrastruktur für das Publizieren in elektronischen Zeitschriften. Dieses Publikationsformat erlaubt neben einem schnellen Wissenstransfer eine umfassende Repräsentation wissenschaftlicher Ergebnisse. Das Journal of Virtual Reality and Broadcasting als Teil dieser Initiative zeigt am Beispiel des elektronischen Publikationsprozesses den Stand der Wissensvernetzung in seiner Community, sowie aktuelle Entwicklungen um die Erweiterung innovativer Funktionen.
Information Retrieval and Database Architecture for Conventional Japanese Character Dictionaries
(1997)
The cycle of abstraction-reconstruction which occurs as a fundamental principle in the development of culture and in cognitive processes is described and analyzed. This approach leads to recognition of boundary conditions for and directions of probable development of cognitive tools. It is shown how the transition from a conventional Japanese-English character dictionary to a multi-dimensional language database is an instance of such an abstraction-reconstruction cycle. The different phases of the design of a multi-dimensional language database based upon different computer software technologies are properly placed in this cycle. The methods used include the use of UNIX software tools, classical database methods as-well-as the use of search engines based upon full text search in this process. Several directions of application and extension for a multi-dimensional language database are discussed from the general point of view of an abstraction-reconstruction cycle.
A visual and spatial feedback system for orientation in virtual sets of virtual TV studios was developed and evaluated. It is based on a green proxy object, which moves around in the acting space by way of four transparent wires. A separate unit controls four winches and is connected to an engine, which renders the virtual set. A new developed plugin registers a virtual object’s position with the proxy object which imitates the virtual object’s movement on stage. This will allow actors to establish important eye contact with a virtual object and feel more comfortable in a virtual set. Furthermore, interaction with the virtual object and its proxy can be realised through a markerless actor tracking system. Several possible scenarios for user application were recorded and presented to experts in the broadcast industry, who evaluated the potential of SpiderFeedback in interviews and by questionnaires.
With the virtual environment developed here, the characteristic
sound radiation patterns of musical instruments can be experienced
in real-time. The user may freely move around a musical instrument, thereby receiving acoustic and visual feedback in real-time. The perception of auditory and visual effects is intensified by the combination of acoustic and visual elements, as well as the option of user interaction. The simulation of characteristic sound radiation patterns is based on interpolating the intensities of a multichannel recording and offers a near-natural mapping of the sound radiation patterns. Additionally, a simple filter has been developed, enabling the qualitative simulation of an instrument’s characteristic sound radiation patterns to be easily implemented within real-time 3D applications. Both methods of simulating sound radiation patterns have been evaluated for a saxophone with respect to their functionality and validity by means of spectral analysis and an auditory experiment.
The audio design for virtual environments includes simulation of acoustical room properties besides specifing sound sources and sinks and their behavior. Virtual environments supporting room reverberation not only gain realism but also provide additional information to the user about surrounding space. Catching the different sound properties by the different spaces requires partitioning the space by the properties of aural spaces. We define soundscape and aural attributes as an application and multimedia content interface. Calculated data on an abstract level is sent to spatialization backends. Part of this research was the implementation of a device driver for the Roland Sound Space Processor. This device not only directionalizes sound sources, but also controls room effects like reverberation.
This article describes the possibilities and problems that occur using the SteamVR tracking 2.0 system as a camera tracking system in a virtual studio and explains an approach for implementation and calibration within a professional studio environment. The tracking system allows for cost effective deployment. Relevant application fields are also mixed reality recording and streaming of AR and VR experiences.
Vibrotactile feedback via body-worn vibrating belts is a common means of direction signalization - e.g. for navigational tasks. Consequently such feedback devices are used to guide blind or visually impaired people but can also be used to support other wayfinding tasks - for instance, guiding actors in virtual studio productions. Recent effort has been made to simplify this task by integrating vibrotactile feedback into virtual studio applications. In this work we evaluate the accuracy of an improved direction signalization technique, utilizing a body-worn vibrotactile belt with a limited number of tactors, and compare it to other work. The results from our user study indicate that it is possible to signalize different directions accurately, even with a small number of tactors spaced by 90°.
In this paper we describe a prototypical system for live musical performance in a virtual studio environment. The performer stands in front of the studio camera and interacts with an infrared-laser-based multi-touch device. The final TV image shows the performer interacting with a virtual screen which is augmented in front of herself. To overcome the problem of the performer not seeing this virtual screen in reality, we use a special hexagonal grid to facilitate the performer's awareness of this novel Theremin-like virtual musical instrument.
Actors in virtual studio productions are faced with the challenge that they have to interact with invisible virtual objects because these elements are rendered separately and combined with the real image later in the production process. Virtual sets typically use static virtual elements or animated objects with predefined behavior so that actors can practice their performance and errors can be corrected in the post production. With the demand for inexpensive live recording and interactive TV productions, virtual objects will be dynamically rendered at arbitrary positions that cannot be predicted by the actor. Perceptive aids have to be employed to support a natural interaction with these objects. In our work we study the effect of haptic feedback for a simple form of interaction. Actors are equipped with a custom built haptic belt and get vibrotactile feedback during a small navigational task (path following). We present a prototype of a wireless vibrotactile feedback device and a small framework for evaluating haptic feedback in a virtual set environment. Results from an initial pilot study indicate that vibrotactile feedback is a suitable non-visual aid for interaction that is at least comparable to audio-visual alternatives used in virtual set productions.
A chatspace was developed that allows conversation with 3D sound using networked streaming in a shared virtual environment. The system provides an interface to advanced audio features, such as a "whisper function" for conveying a confided audio stream. This study explores the use of spatial audio to enhance a user's experience in multiuser virtual environments.