Experiments in Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is the delivery to a human of the most convincing illusion possible that they are in another reality. The reality exists in digital electronic form in the memory of a computer.<br/>Virtual reality is a way for humans to visualise, manipulate and interact with computers. Instead of using screens and keyboards, helmets with small screens project pictures in front of users' eyes, and 'datagloves' transmit the movement of the users hand to the computer. Movement of the head may be sensed and the view on the screens appropriately modified, enabling you to 'look around' the world. The experience of being connected to all this technology should, ideally, be close to entering another world.<br/>The aim of this book, Experiments in Virtual Reality, is to introduce those with some computing experience to the equipment and software techniques behind virtual reality systems.<br/>The best systems around still cost millions, budget systems can be had for thousands. This book aims to show you how to put together a system that illustrates the principles of virtual reality, and educates in a practical way, for very little financial outlay.<br/>The book shows how simple dataglove and tracker devices may be built using very basic electronic hardware and computer software. The building of 'virtual worlds' and graphical computer environments which can be controlled using the glove and tracker, is also covered.