At Iowa State, Cruz-Neira is setting up an environment based on the original CAVE, but with several advanced technological improvements. ISUs virtual environment is large enough to accommodate some extra-special effects. By connecting the vehicle controls to simulators of the actual controls, we can 'drive' a virtual prototype. It's sort of like testing an experimental car, but only having to build the drivers seat before taking it for a spin. The advantages of such fake environments are very real to scientists, both in industry and academia.
Virtual environments are good testing grounds for almost anything.
They may allow researchers and manufacturers to simulate the performance of factory robots, the effects of drugs on molecules, space shuttle maneuvers, and even the evolution of a star system or galaxy. As far as practical applications, there still are a lot of things that we do not have the computational power to do. Oliver said he likes the hands-on challenge that virtual environment technology provides. Most academic VR-related research labs are focused on pushing the envelope of technology. Check out the Center for Emerging Manufacturing Technology's homepage.