VR Water Flow Simulation

A research team from Tohoku University has harnessed the power of deep reinforcement learning to replicate the flow of water when disturbed. Replicating this agitated liquid motion, as it is known, allowed them to recreate water flow in real time based on only a small amount of data from real water. The technology opens up the possibility for virtual reality interactions involving water. Crucial to the breakthrough was creating both a flow measurement technique and a flow reconstruction method that replicated agitated liquid motion.

To collect flow data, they placed buoys embedded with special magnetic markers on water. The movement of each buoy could then be tracked using a magnetic motion capture system. Yet this was only half of the process. The crucial step involved finding an innovative solution to recover the detailed water motion from the movement of a few buoys. Researchers used a computer to simulate calm liquid. Then, they made each buoy act like a force that pushes the simulated liquid, making it flow like real liquid. The computer then refines the way of pushing via deep reinforcement learning.

More information:

https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/let_it_flow_recreating_water_flow_for_virtual_reality.html

XR4ED Presented at AI in Education Panel

The Vice-Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy organized today a Conference on "Artificial Intelligence as a factor creating a development perspective". The purpose of the conference was to boost the activity of the research community in the field of Artificial Intelligence and, at the same time, to exploit the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence by the wider public and private sectors.

The keynote speaker at the Conference was Professor Chrysostomos Nikias who discussed the perspective opened by Artificial Intelligence and the challenges that accompany it. In the special panel about AI in Education, I presented an overview of the XR4ED EU project together with the latest results from CYENS - Centre of Excellence.

More information:

https://www.dmrid.gov.cy/dmrid/research.nsf/All/641436FA07815FD2C2258A32003F5AE9?OpenDocument

Immersive VR Comfort Zone Expended

Near-eye displays are emerging as the future of portable devices, providing individuals with immersive virtual reality experiences. The primary objectives in developing these displays are to create immersive experiences and ensure visual comfort. While a larger field of view (FOV) enhances immersion in virtual reality, addressing the Vergence-Accommodation-Conflict (VAC) is crucial for comfortable vision. Researchers have explored innovative approaches to tackle these challenges. A significant breakthrough in near-eye displays is the integration of light field technology. However, earlier light field displays in VR were limited by their small size and low resolution, resulting in constrained viewing angles and screen window effects.

Recently successfully overcame these limitations by utilizing a 3.1-inch 3k3k LC display. Nevertheless, the transition to high-resolution VR LCD displays presented material and process challenges that demanded attention. Their research highlights the importance of employing high-resolution liquid crystal displays (LCDs) to address light field resolution issues. Researchers propose strategies to enhance LCD resolution, including aperture and contrast ratios through specialized pixel designs and driving techniques. Additionally, they explore novel applications of light field technology beyond its use in VR displays, namely, in vision correction for VR systems. Finally, they address visual correction within the realm of light field VR by introducing a ray tracing-based graphical process called ‘corrected eye box mapping’.

More information:

https://spie.org/news/expanding-the-vr-immersion-comfort-zone?SSO=1