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Development of a low-cost virtual reality workstation for training and educationVirtual Reality (VR) is a set of breakthrough technologies that allow a human being to enter and fully experience a 3-dimensional, computer simulated environment. A true virtual reality experience meets three criteria: (1) it involves 3-dimensional computer graphics; (2) it includes real-time feedback and response to user actions; and (3) it must provide a sense of immersion. Good examples of a virtual reality simulator are the flight simulators used by all branches of the military to train pilots for combat in high performance jet fighters. The fidelity of such simulators is extremely high -- but so is the price tag, typically millions of dollars. Virtual reality teaching and training methods are manifestly effective, but the high cost of VR technology has limited its practical application to fields with big budgets, such as military combat simulation, commercial pilot training, and certain projects within the space program. However, in the last year there has been a revolution in the cost of VR technology. The speed of inexpensive personal computers has increased dramatically, especially with the introduction of the Pentium processor and the PCI bus for IBM-compatibles, and the cost of high-quality virtual reality peripherals has plummeted. The result is that many public schools, colleges, and universities can afford a PC-based workstation capable of running immersive virtual reality applications. My goal this summer was to assemble and evaluate such a system.
Document ID
19960025465
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Phillips, James A. (California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Research Reports: 1995 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program
Subject Category
Social Sciences (General)
Accession Number
96N27502
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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IDRelationTitle19960025428Collected WorksResearch Reports: 1995 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program
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