the virtual window simulator
Most virtual reality systems offer the option of viewing the space using a head mounted display or a head coupled display. These can provide a comfortable way of providing a 3D display while detecting head motion and using that to change the viewing position and angle. However, head mounted displays typically have limited resolution, can create neck and eye strain, and can create user disorientation. Head coupled displays, where the display is usually projected onto a screen and the head mount is used for 3D and orientation only, are now a focus of attention in research and in production systems. They are used in, and in fact have spurred the development of, systems like the CAVE, Immersadesk , and IWall to name just three. However, their use is limited by their high cost, fixed nature, and space requirements, and a focus of research is on making head-coupled displays more easily usable and less expensive. The VirtualWindow project is a simulation of a head-coupled display that can be used to develop software for such systems without the expense of owning one, or at least without using the very expensive space. The simulator uses two webcams to perform 3D head tracking rather than instrumenting the user, and provides a set of useful operations that enhance the development and the viewing experience.
virtual reality graphics video gameo