Virtual reality is entering a new era of touch-sensitive tiles and immersive animations. Researchers in Barcelona have created a unique space at the cutting edge of digital immersion. Researchers built the experience induction machine as part of the PRESENCCIA project to understand how humans can exist in physical and virtual environments. It may look like a fun diversion, but the experience induction machine is the result of some fundamental scientific research. One of the key challenges was to create a credible virtual environment. To do those researchers had to understand how our brains construct our vision of the world. They want to move beyond the simple interface of keyboard, screen and mouse. Moving to Austria, researchers are controlling a virtual reality system using brain-computer interfaces.
These types of systems could one day help people with disabilities. Graz researchers are also developing similar tools. Once the sensors are in place the user concentrates on an icon they want as it lights up. For the brain computer interface electrodes are attached to the head to be able to measure brain currents. The task of the person then is to watch the icons flashing in a random sequence and the brain will react to the icon which I want and that response the computer can recognise, and that way we can control external devices. Each time the icon flashes the brain reacts, and the computer monitors that reaction and then carries out the command. When we interact with a virtual world on a human scale then on some level we believe it to be real. The researchers believe that these systems are the future of human computer interaction, and an important step away from current technology.
More information:
www.presenccia.org/
http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/21/where-the-virtual-world-and-reality-meet/
More information:
www.presenccia.org/
http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/21/where-the-virtual-world-and-reality-meet/