A
CAVE tm
is a room in which the user is presented with high-resolution
stereo-pair images projected in real-time on 3 walls and the floor.
When viewed through lightweight shutterglasses, the left/right stereo
images are presented separately to the left and right eyes
respectively, producing the illusion of 3D objects appearing both
within and beyond the walls of the CAVE. The images are presented with
reference to the users viewpoint, which is continuously updated via a
head-tracking unit; thus even as the user moves around in a CAVE the
environment displayed will always be perspective-correct.
UCL's ReaCToR system incorporates a variety of technologies to enhance
this illusion of immersion:
-
Low-latency precision head-tracking allows distortion-free and lag-free
movement through a virtual environment. Interaction with and navigation
through the environment are achieved via a separate hand-held tracking
unit.
-
Spatialised audio via 8 corner speakers allows sounds to be
appropriately "located" (i.e. to appear to emanate from a
particular object in the environment).
-
A dedicated audio-processing system also allows the simulation of
specific acoustic environments (e.g. a concert hall).
The ReaCToR system was supported with a £900,000 grant from HEFCE's Joint
Research Equipment Initiative. The installation was performed by Trimension Systems; the computing power is provided by a Silicon Graphics
Onyx2 InfiniteReality2 graphics rack system, and the audio system by Arup Acoustics.
Principal Investigators: Mel Slater, Alan Penn
& Duncan
Gillies
Laboratory Manager: David Swapp