1. INTRODUCTION
such a type of Virtual Reality the human is
The Virtual Reality uses a huge number of
completely isolated from the outside world
technologies to produce a Virtual world so
and he is placed an entirely computer
that a user can interact and manipulate
generated world. The applications being
with the virtual objects in the so produced
developed for Virtual Reality are wide
Virtual Worlds. With the aid of some
range utilities. Among them the real time
specially developed gadgets like a Head
applications occupy the prominent place.
Mounted Display, Electronic Glove and
2 CLASSIFICATION OF VIRTUAL
Mechanical armatures that fit the human
REALITY
organs we can immerse the human into the
After a deep study of this emerging
Virtual world. The simulation technique is
technology, we have classified Virtual
combined with the motion of the human to
Reality into three types.
produce the output that what human
2.1
expects for. For example the person in a
SOFTWARE
Virtual world looks at a particular object
The first category of Virtual Reality that
then he has to get the feeling that he is
we consider is Virtual Reality using
actually looking at that object and he
software. Here we use many tools to
should also get the feeling of the sounds
develop the virtual worlds. The most
that come from that object. The word
commonly used tools for developing 3d
Virtual Reality is an “oxymoron”. It
worlds are VRML v1.0, VRML97, VRML
means
are
v2.0, 3d Studio max, Rhino3d, Amapi3d,
contradictory to each other side by side.
ALICE99, BLENDER and other such
Virtual
of
software. The VRMLv1.0 is the child
technologies for many people. The word
language developed from the XML family.
Virtual Reality has many contexts. The
There aren’t many differences between the
word Virtual Reality is defined as follows
later versions of VRML (VRML97 and
in the book “The Silicon Mirage”. The
VRML
most difficult thing in the Virtual Reality
paradigms are entirely different from
is to produce the interaction between
VRMLv1.0 to VRMLv2.0. There are
Virtual world and the human but not the
many companies dedicated to develop the
production of the Virtual world. The type
tools for creating virtual worlds, such as
of Virtual Reality in which the human is
Parallel Graphics Co., and Trapezium Co.,.
actually immersed into the Virtual world is
Also
using
Reality
two
is
words
a
that
collection
called the immersive Virtual Reality. In
VIRTUAL
v2.0).
there
are
REALITY
The
many
USING
programming
concepts
of
developing the virtual worlds using the
As we have mentioned earlier VRML is a
software.
language born from the family of XML.
They are :
VRML
2.1.1 RENDERING
Language. VRML v2.0 is more advanced
In this we are conscious about the
compared to the version 2.0.Here we are
rendering techniques. Here we use the
presenting one simple program in each of
technique of wire framing. A sample
the versions. For developing the virtual
output and its wire frame model are shown
worlds using VRML we need a plug-in for
below. After developing the wire frame
the
model what we have to do is simply to
Navigator. With the help of this only we
apply the texture to it. This is called
can interact with the virtual world. More
texturing. The texture applied can be a
information regarding the browser plugins,
photograph or any predefined textures
parsers and editors is included at
such as metal, rock, wood and cement
www.vrml.org/vrml/.
flooring
2.2
is
Virtual
Internet
Reality
Explorer
VIRTUAL
or
REALITY
Modeling
Netscape
USING
HARDWARE
2.2.1
MANIPULATION
AND
CONTROL DEVICES
It is a common thing that is three axes X,
Y, Z. In order to track the motion of an
object in the virtual world we need to track
the motion of the particular object in all
the three axes. These calculations may
cause some latency. The latency is the
major problem in any Virtual Reality
2.1.2 PROGRAMMING
systems. The simplest hardware for Virtual
The other tool available for developing the
Reality is a Mouse, Track ball and a
virtual worlds is by programming. There
Joystick. These are the conventional
are many programming languages by
hardware used for Virtual Reality using 2d
which we can develop the virtual worlds.
systems. Creative programming can make
The best one we prefer is by using VRML
them useful for 3d and 6d controls. Also
v2.0. Prior to this language, people used to
there are a number of 3dand 6d mice,
develop the virtual worlds using the
Track balls and joysticks. These have
traditional programming language, JAVA.
some extra buttons for controlling not only
the XY transformations, but also the Z
determine the strengths and angles of
transformations of the pointer, its rotation
deflections in the fields.
also. One other most commonly used
2.2.3 STEREO VISION
motion-tracking device is an Electronic
Stereo vision is a technique where two
Glove. An electronic glove is different
different images are developed one for
from a normal glove in the sense that it has
each eye. The two images developed may
a number of sensors. There are a number
vary a little bit or may completely be the
of sensors that can be used. The optical
same. The Head mounted displays having
fiber sensors are used for tracking the
two LCD’s are for each eye is commonly
motion of fingers and the magnetic sensors
required. Here the images are to be
are used for the tracking of rest of the
computed from a particular distances and
arms.
angles at each moment. There are number
2.2.2 POSITION TRACKING
of techniques for producing the two
There are many tools available for tracking
images. The two images can be placed side
the position of the object in the Virtual
by side and the viewer may be asked to
world. Some of them are as described
cross his eyes against each other. Using
below. Mechanical armatures are the most
two differently polarized filters; we can
commonly used ones. They help in
project the images. There is another
providing very accurate and fast results.
technique for producing the two images,
Some of them seem like a table lamp while
i.e., by placing two different LCD’s before
some others look as exoskeletons that are
each eye and producing the image. Thus
outfitted to objects in the Virtual world.
by
The main disadvantage using them is that
perspective times the user can be made to
they are cumbersome. Ultrasonic sensors
think the depth of the image. The serious
are also most commonly used tools. Here a
health hazard by this stereo vision is that
set of emitters as well as receivers is used
the two eyes can be affected very
to note the time lags between the known
adversely.
relationships and the results. Though these
are more effective, the main disadvantages
are the time lags and echoes that come
from the surroundings. Magnetic sensors
use a coil to note the deflections produced
in the fields due to the change in the
position of the object. These are used to
shutting
down
each
shutter
at
2.3MAPPINGAND STITCHING
3.1HEADMOUNTEDDISPLAY
There is also software for producing the
The Head mounted display consists of two
virtual
as
miniature display screens that produce the
PHOTOMODELER. The technology used
stereo scopic images and an optical
to develop a 3D photo is stitching. For
position tracking system that tracks the
producing a 3D photo of a node several
orientation of the humans head in the
photos are taken and they are stitched
Virtual world and that produces the
together. The user gets a sense that he is in
impulse to the image generating large
the middle and he is seeing the 3d photo
projection Areas to get more immersive
by revolving around himself. QUICK
feeling. The characteristics of the IVR can
TIME is used to see these photos. You can
be summarized as follows. Using a Head
see one suchmodel at
mounted
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/multimedia_
capabilities
zone/3ds/index.shtml
around, fly through in the 3d Virtual world
3
3D
MORE
photos
such
ABOUT
IMMERSIVE
display
like
can
walk
increase
through,
the
look
Computer. The image generating computer
VIRTUAL REALITY
produces
1) An immersive Virtual Reality adds
corresponding to the orientation of the user
special
head in the Virtual world. This is the basic
gadgets
like
Head
mounted
the
respective
view
displays, Boom, Multiple
device used in the IVR. As a result the
2) Stereo scopic viewing adds enhanced
user can see in the direction that he wants
features like deep peeping through the
and he can walk through the Virtual world.
Virtual world.
3) Eliminating the real world and placing
3.2 BOOM AND CAVE
the human in a computer generated world
To over come the intrusiveness with the
is one of the enhancements.
HMD the Boom and Cave are used. These
4) The convincing factor about IVR is the
are also extensively used in the IVR.
auditory, haptic, touch and other non-
Screens
visual senses.
generating apparatus are fixed in a box,
5) Interactions with the objects in the
which is attached to a multi link arm. The
Virtual world are controlled by a data
user peeps into the Virtual world through
glove, head mounted display and other
two holes, and controls his motions with
gadgets.
the arms.
and
stereo
scopic
image
The Cave is an interesting topic in IVR. A
Defense Department to enable diverse
cave consists of a cube shaped room. The
simulators to be interconnected into a vast
stereo scopic images are projected on to
network .The soldiers can be trained to the
the walls and the floor of the room with
war by developing a Virtual world that
the help of a number of projectors. The
looks exactly the war field. This helps
head tracking system worn by the leading
them in knowing how to deal in war fields.
user controls the view of the Virtual world.
Distributed
Several users may sit on the Virtual world
protocol has been developed by the
at a time.
Orlando
Interactive
Institute
of
System
Training
(DIS)
and
Simulation, which is the future of Virtual
Reality in war strategies.
4.2 VIRTUAL REALITY IN COCKPIT
SIMULATION
The next interesting step in Virtual Reality
is cockpit simulation. This is used in
training the pilots. With the help of Virtual
Reality the entire cockpit is simulated. The
pilot is placed in the thus developed
4. REAL TIME APPLICATIONS
Virtual world and the computer guides him
4.1 VIRTUAL REALITY IN WAR
STRATEGIES
is piloting an actual flight. This helps him
SIMNET is the first war related Virtual
Reality
application.
by giving the maps and the feeling that he
This
project
standardization being pushed by the USA
is
in dealing with the critical conditions that
may arise while he is piloting an actual
flight. The data glove plays a vital role in
Virtual Reality helps in designing the
this type of training. A variety of
virtual models of the certain objects. By
instruments along with the data glove are
building the virtual models we can see
used.
the
how the model works, what the defects
computers and the data available with the
may be and how we can overcome the
pilot are correlated to know the paths.
previous defects. These all can not be seen
4.3
The
maps
VIRTUAL
generated
by
REALITY
IN
by actually developing the model as it
includes a lot of cost and laborious time.
MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Virtual Reality is now being used to train
physicians to carry out intricate surgical
procedures
such
arthroscopies,
minimally
as
endoscopies
invasive
laparoscopies,
and
surgeries.
other
Virtual
Reality provides a view of the surgical
field
normally
blocked
during
such
procedures and enables trainees to get
much needed practice in the left-right
motion
inversion
obligatory
for
the
operation of instruments in minimally
This concept of Virtual Reality is being is
invasive surgeries. In contrast to the use of
mostly used in the designing of conceptual
cadavers which can only be dissected once
cars.
and which are becoming more difficult to
procure, it allows students to access
libraries of healthy and pathologic body
tissue 3-D images at their convenience,
and perform the same. Nano surgery is
another medical application, where the
doctors located at a distinct place guide the
robots. They guide the robots with the help
of multilink arms that we have already
seen in the case of booms.
4.4 VIRTUAL REALITY IN DES
IGNING ASPECTS
Concept cars are being designed to study
new ideas. Most of these designs are never
built. Virtual reality provides a tool for
optimized in two ways: on individual
evaluating such designs in full scale
desktops and across the Internet. VRTP
without building time consuming and
appears to be a necessary next step in the
costly physical prototypes.
deployment
4.5
VIRTUAL
REALITY
IN
of
all
encompassing
interactive internetworked 3D worlds.
AMUSEMENT PARKS
6 FUTURE OF VIRTUAL
Virtual Reality is also playing a vital role
REALITY
in the amusement parks. The conceptual
Yesterday Virtual Reality was a science
cars that we have discussed above and the
fiction fantasy. Today it is a research topic
racing games are being developed to
in laboratories and amusement parks.
attract people. With the help of electronic
Tomorrow it will certainly replace our
gloves, head-mounted displays and stereo
televisions
scopic vision racing games attract the
researches are being done to find more and
people.
more applications of Virtual Reality. In the
5
VIRTUAL
REALITY
and
computers.
Many
forth coming days the web sites developed
TRANSFERRING PROTOCOL
using Virtual Reality will replace the
The capabilities of the Virtual Reality
entire present web industry.
Modeling
7. CONCLUSIONS
Language
(VRML)
permit
building large-scale virtual environments
The ability of Virtual Reality to produce
using the Internet and the World Wide
realistic worlds of data, objects, with
Web. However the underlying network
which
support provided by the hypertext transfer
manipulate in a realistic and an intuitive
protocol (http) is insufficient for large-
manner, opens up a vast wealth of
scale virtual environments. Additional
possibilities for work-related applications.
capabilities for many-to-many peer-to-peer
The concept of Virtual Reality provides an
communications plus network monitoring
innovative mix of entertainment, education
need to be combined with the client-server
and State-of-Art. From waterbeds to
capabilities of http. To accomplish this
gyroscopes and hydraulic units, a variety
task, we present a detailed design rationale
of platforms will provide a new kind of
for the virtual reality transfer protocol
travel; into Cyberspace; into virtual worlds
(VRTP). VRTP is designed to support
where one can swim with the dolphins and
interlinked VRML worlds in the same
experience intense sensory stimulation..
manner as http was designed to support
Working in many fields like medicine,
interlinked HTML pages. VRTP will be
rocket launching, massive constructions,
the
users
can
interact
and
designing and modeling, war training and
cockpit training, it is very important to be
more precise and accurate and here Virtual
Reality provides a solution by providing a
platform which makes it possible by using
the applications of Virtual Reality.
8. REFERENCES:
[1] http://blue-c.ethz.ch
[2] M. Gross, S. Würmlin, M. Naef, E.
Lamboray, C. Spagno, A. Kunz, E. Koller
Meier,T. Svoboda, L. Van Gool, S. Lang,
K.Strehlke, A. Vande Moere, and O. Staadt:
“blue-c: A Spatially Immersive Display and 3D
Video Portal for Telepresence”. In Proceedings
of ACM SIGGRAPH 2003, pp. 819-827, 2003.
[3] S. Lang, M. Naef, M. Gross, L. Hovestadt:
“IN: SHOP: Using telepresence and immersive
VR for a new shopping experience”. In
Proceedings of Vision, Modeling, Visualization
2003, 2003. In Print.
[4]http://www.chiplace.org/chifringe/2004/6
55.pdf.
[5] http://www.activeworlds.com/
[6] S. Lang, M. Naef, M. Gross, L. Hovestadt:
“IN: SHOP: Using telepresence and immersive
VR for a new shopping experience”. In
Proceedings of Vision, Modeling, Visualization
2003,2003. In Print.