Virtual Reality Technology

Virtual reality (VR) uses simulations to emulate aspects of the real world. In VR, human senses such as touch are replicated electronically. Its applications are limitless with VR being used to train surgeons, simulate military battles, pilot airplanes, as well as a host of entertainment industry possibilities.

A groundbreaking Virtual Reality textbook is now even better

Virtual reality is a very powerful and compelling computer application by which humans interact with computer-generated environments in a way that mimics real life and engages various senses. Although its most widely known application is in the entertainment industry, the real promise of virtual reality lies in such fields as medicine, engineering, oil exploration, and the military, to name just a few. Through virtual reality, scientists can triple the rate of oil discovery, pilots can dogfight numerically superior "bandits," and surgeons can improve their skills on virtual (rather than real) patients.

This Second Edition of the first comprehensive technical book on virtual reality provides updated and expanded coverage of the technology such as:
* Input and output interfaces including touch and force feedback
* Computing architecture (with emphasis on the rendering pipeline and task distribution)
* Object modeling (including physical and behavioral aspects)
* Programming for virtual reality (WorldToolKit, Java 3D, GHOST, and PeopleShop)
* An in-depth look at human factors issues, user performance, and sensorial conflict aspects of VR
* Traditional and emerging VR applications

The new edition of Virtual Reality Technology is specifically designed for use as a textbook. Thus, it includes definitions, review questions, and a CD-ROM with video clips that reinforce the topics covered. The CD-ROM also contains a Laboratory Manual with homework and programming assignments in VRML and Java 3D, as follows:
* Introduction to VRML and Java 3D
* Sensor and Event Processing
* VRML and JavaScript
* Scene Hierarchy, Geometry, and Texture
* VRML PROTO and Glove Devices
* Viewpoint Control, Sound, and Haptic Effects

The Second Edition will serve as a state-of-the-art resource for both undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, computer science, and other disciplines.

A groundbreaking Virtual Reality textbook is now even better

Virtual reality is a very powerful and compelling computer application by which humans can interface and interact with computer-generated environments in a way that mimics real life and engages all the senses. Although its most widely known application is in the entertainment industry, the real promise of virtual reality lies in such fields as medicine, engineering, oil exploration and the military, to name just a few. Through virtual reality scientists can triple the rate of oil discovery, pilots can dogfight numerically-superior "bandits," and surgeons can improve their skills on virtual (rather than real) patients.

This Second Edition of the first comprehensive technical book on the subject of virtual reality provides updated and expanded coverage of the technology--where it originated, how it has evolved, and where it is going. The authors cover all of the latest innovations and applications that are making virtual reality more important than ever before, including:
* Coverage on input and output interfaces including touch and force feedback
* Computing architecture (with emphasis on the rendering pipeline and task distribution)
* Object modeling (including physical and behavioral aspects)
* Programming for virtual reality
* An in-depth look at human factors issues, user performance, and
* sensorial conflict aspects of VR
* Traditional and emerging VR applications
The new edition of Virtual Reality Technology is specifically designed for use as a textbook. Thus it includes definitions, review questions, and a Laboratory Manual with homework and programming assignments. The accompanying CD-ROM also contains video clips that reinforce the topics covered in the textbook. The Second Edition will serve as a state-of-the-art resource for both graduate and undergraduate students in engineering, computer science, and other disciplines.

GRIGORE C. BURDEA is a professor at Rutgers-the State University of New Jersey, and author of the book Force and Touch Feedback for Virtual Reality, also published by Wiley.

PHILIPPE COIFFET is a Director of Research at CNRS (French National Scientific Research Center) and Member of the National Academy of Technologies of France. He authored 20 books on Robotics and VR translated into several languages.