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Concepts and History of VR: What is VR?

• Jaron Lanier of VPL Research coined term `virtual reality'

• Qualities
  • Consistent (artificial) reality
  • Compelling illusion of involvement

    

• Components (Wickens and Baker 1995)
  • 3-D graphics
  • Dynamic display
  • Closed loop (user is active navigator)
  • Ego-referenced frame of reference
  • Multi-modal interaction

• Additional
  • Audio

    

• Additional for distributed worlds
  • Communication
  • Consistently updated world
  • Rules for software behavior
  • Rules for participants behavior
  • Persistence

• Important science fiction portrayals
  • Neuromancer, William Gibson, 1984 (coined term `cyberspace')
  • Snowcrash, Neil Stephenson, 1992

• Tele-immersion

• Variety of systems
  • Head-mounted displays
  • Surround systems
  • Booms
  • Augmented reality / wearable computing
  • Simulators
  • Semi-immersive
  • Desktop (fishtank VR)
  • Game systems
  • Internet based / browsers
  • Tele-operation / tele-robotics

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