The system is impressive because it is very realistic and allows people with no architectural knowledge or ability to understand architects plans, giving them the chance to form a considered opinion. She said traditional drawings could be creative with the truth. But this system offers great possibilities for the whole of the Old Town in terms of giving lay people a realistic impression of proposed changes. What they always wanted to do was to be able to move around in the model, but they never had the computing power. But Dr Parsons said the vision behind the project, which is also backed by European Union cash, was much bigger.
People watch TV and use arcade games and that sets a standard.
Before long, it will be possible to have people accessing models like this from their home PCs or the Internet, moving around in them to get a realistic idea of how a proposed project will look. It will mean that we can all make decisions based on good information rather than gut reaction. The system has already been used to show the parliament site and the proposed Dynamic Earth building across the road - but much more detailed work has been done on a major landscaping project in historic Trunk's Close, which runs north from the High Street, near John Knox's House. Environmental and landscape consultancy Turnbull Jeffrey Partnership is converting its former garden into a showpiece public space and Festival Fringe venue. With the help of the firm's own computer experts, the university team has made it possible to tour the leafy oasis, although it is still a building site today.