How to realize the so-called virtual reality technology (Figure)
At the Los Angeles Convention and Exhibition Center, gamers are experiencing virtual reality (VR) devices. Bright pictures/vision china
With the establishment of virtual reality technology (VR) laboratory in Alibaba, Stormwind TV released the first VR TV, Huawei announced its first generation of VR glasses products, and the VR industry also rose. It can be predicted that in the near future, the wide application of mobile Internet, big data and other information technologies will promote the further development of VR technology. So how is the so-called virtual reality technology realized?
1. Frontier disciplines of integrated application of software and hardware.
Virtual reality technology (VR) is a computer simulation system technology to create and experience a virtual world. That is to say, VR uses computers to generate a simulation environment, and uses multi-source information fusion for interactive three-dimensional dynamic visual scene and system simulation of entity behavior to immerse users in this environment. Up to now, there is no universal definition of it in the world, but it can generally be considered that it creates another unreal world that is as real, interactive and immersive as possible for human beings outside the real space by using various human-computer interaction technologies, so that human beings can roam in it, experience the most real virtual space and walk in their dreams without any restrictions.
VR has been widely used in new media, aerospace, military, engineering and other cutting-edge scientific and technological fields, and will be more widely used in our daily life as an advanced technical means. Because most of the monitors used by virtual reality in human-computer interaction are helmet-mounted enhanced portable display systems, it is one of the most promising application fields of portable display systems. Users only need to wear virtual reality equipment, such as helmets, glasses, etc., and they can feel all kinds of scenes set in the device.
VR system generally includes user control systems, such as human motion monitoring, control devices such as joystick, keyboard and mouse, and simulation feedback systems and processing systems for human senses such as vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste, as well as information display systems perceived by human beings, such as monitors, stereos and three-dimensional seats. Among them, visual and auditory control and simulation are the main development direction of VR at present, and helmet-mounted enhanced portable display system is the main product form used by users.
2. Construct a virtual space in advance in the computer.
VR is an interdisciplinary subject that relies on a large number of computer software technologies such as artificial intelligence, pattern recognition, graphics, bottom interface and new display technology, field sensor technology, force feedback system, wireless and wired communication technology. In essence, VR is the representation of the real world and the realization of dreams; From a technical point of view, it is a comprehensive application of cutting-edge technologies in the fields of software and hardware and an object-oriented comprehensive technology development.
VR enables people to experience a fantastic virtual reality while wearing a helmet-mounted enhanced portable viewing system. In fact, these virtual reality scenes use complex software technology to construct a real virtual space in the computer in advance. Every point in the space has many dimensions of information such as coordinates, colors, normals, logical relationships and so on in X, Y and Z. The computer then determines the position of people in the virtual scene through user input devices such as sensors, joysticks and mice, and finally reproduces the picture to the user’s eyes through the computer, thus creating a virtual space.
If such a series of tasks can be connected, and the operation time of the whole system is less than the visual retention time of people, users will have the feeling of roaming in the virtual reality world on the virtual image display screen of the head-mounted enhanced portable display system. VR is to create a virtual environment that makes you feel that this is reality. Entertain and attract you through this fictional reality.
3.MR— — Break through the boundary between virtual and reality
In addition to VR technology, there is also augmented reality technology, namely AR. Now there are only more than 20 authoritative companies in the world conducting research. Google’s technology is relatively mature, and its goal is to put the virtual world in the real world and interact with it on the screen. This technology was first put forward in 1990. With the improvement of the computing power of portable electronic products, it is expected that its application will be more and more extensive.
In essence, AR is the interaction between digital media and the real world. The imaging concept of AR and the immersive imaging experience of VR have created a hybrid virtual reality technology, namely MR, which is based on holographic projection reality. At the Microsoft Developer Summit held in June this year, satyanarayana nadella, CEO of Microsoft, emphasized the importance of its hybrid virtual reality technology equipment — — The correct "opening" way of Hololens is neither a VR helmet nor AR glasses. This hybrid virtual reality device holographically projects computer-generated 3D virtual objects into real space, and the wearer of Hololens can interact with 3D virtual animation in real space and trigger corresponding functions. The imaging principle of this kind of MR equipment is different from that of immersive VR equipment. It projects virtual images into real space, but the imaging effect of the projected holographic 3D images breaks through the boundary between virtual and real world.
interlinkage
Research and Application of Virtual Reality Technology
The focus of NASA’s research on this technology is the real-time simulation of space station manipulation, and they use a lot of cockpit-oriented flight simulation technology. Such as the simulation of the Hubble Space Telescope and the experimental plan of "Virtual Planet Exploration", this project enables the "Virtual Explorer" to use the virtual environment to explore distant planets, and the first goal is Mars.
The University of North Carolina is the earliest and most famous university to study virtual reality technology. Their main research includes molecular modeling, aviation driving, surgical simulation, architectural simulation and so on. On the display technology, the university has developed a parallel processing system called Pixel Plane, which helps users to build real-time dynamic display in complex scenes.
MIT was originally a pioneer in studying artificial intelligence, robotics, computer graphics and animation. These technologies are the basis of virtual reality technology. In 1985, a media laboratory was established to conduct formal research on virtual environment.
The laboratory of man-machine interface technology in Washington Technology Center of the University of Washington plays a leading role in the research of new concepts, and is also conducting research on sensory, perceptual, cognitive and motor control abilities. They introduced the research of virtual reality technology into the fields of education, design, entertainment and manufacturing. For example, Boeing’s V22 transport plane was built in the laboratory before it was put into production.
Illinois State University has developed a distributed virtual reality technology system that supports remote collaboration in vehicle design. Engineers from different countries and regions can design in real time through computer networks. In the process of designing a vehicle, various components can share a virtual environment, and can view the video transmission and corresponding positioning direction of any position of the other party. Virtual prototype is adopted in the system, which reduces the time for designing images and new products to enter the market, so that products can be estimated and tested before production, and the quality of products is greatly improved.
George Mei Sen University has developed a real-time fluid simulation system in a dynamic virtual environment. In a distributed interactive simulation system, the physical characteristics of complex fluids in the real world are simulated, including simulating ships running across the water, stirring liquids, mixing liquids of different colors, and the influence of rain on the terrain.
(Wei Yuejiang)