Mixed reality research takes a first hesitant step

Considering how much impact our gadgets already have on our day-to-day lives, we not sure we don't already live in a mixed reality environment, but researchers at the University of Illinois have created what they say is the first true mixed reality system based on a pendulum and its virtual counterpart. Both the real pendulum and the simulation mimic each others' movements exactly -- adjusting the motor affects the simulation and adjusting the parameters of the simulation affects the motor -- blurring the line between the real and the virtual. That sounds simple, sure, but it's the first successful system of its kind -- as researcher Alfred Hubler put it, "[The pendulums] suddenly noticed each other, synchronized their motions, and danced together indefinitely." Seeing as simply creating a mixed-reality pendulum took super-fast processors, we doubt we're any closer to the Matrix -- unless it's a Matrix inside another Matrix. We need to go lie down.

[Zach @ Mar 11th 2008 7:34PM]

after reading that, i need to go lie down too.
that confused the SHIT out of me the first time i read it..i should really read instead of skimming over every other word :( i blame it on daylight not-so-saving-sleep time.

[webon @ Mar 12th 2008 4:56AM]

Its not the daylight

I imagine that right now you feel a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole, hm?...you know something, what you know you can't explain - but you feel it.

[Neebs @ Mar 11th 2008 7:45PM]

Whoa. *blinks*

I'll take the blue pill.

[Wesburl @ Mar 11th 2008 7:49PM]

Naturally, I will be taking both the red and blue pill simultaneously...

[Neebs @ Mar 11th 2008 7:52PM]

You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. You take both at the same time, you'll just die inside and outside the Matrix.

[bob @ Mar 11th 2008 11:37PM]

What if I take half of each? Will I just go into a coma?

OK...a Matrix, inside of a Matrix...inside a Matrix.

Wouldn't the two inside Matrices cancel each other out?

[Ayman @ Mar 12th 2008 3:12AM]

Is the Matrix powered by the PS3 consoles of the world (:P)

[dBs @ Mar 11th 2008 7:45PM]

13th Floor anyone?

[UKNigel @ Mar 11th 2008 11:53PM]

Heck yes! More relevant than the Matrix in this particular situation, I believe.

[hoshq @ Mar 11th 2008 7:54PM]

This hardly qualifies as the "first step." More like the 800,000th step on a long, long road.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoshq/

[LondonConsultant @ Mar 11th 2008 7:58PM]

I was confused at first. Then I realised there is no pendulum.

[yoyodude64 @ Mar 11th 2008 8:02PM]

there is no spoon...

dammit what am i supposed to eat my frosted flakes with now?

[andres @ Mar 11th 2008 8:40PM]

@ yoyo
use a pendulum to eat them of course

[Paulmichael @ Mar 11th 2008 8:10PM]

Whoa, maybe one day the cake really will be a lie?

Mixing The Matrix with Portal will be the day I achieve a true nerdgasm. I hope it's within 60 or so years, because that's around when I should be near my deathbed dammit...

[Reader @ Mar 12th 2008 12:59AM]

We'll nerdgasm together.


...that sounds really creepy.

[Ian @ Mar 11th 2008 8:28PM]

so wait the real pendulum and the fake one synced up? what the hell? i dont understand

[uclatommy @ Mar 11th 2008 8:34PM]

You people clearly did not understand the matrix. This is more like an upsidedown force feedback joystick on steroids. Basically, the simulation can control the pensulum or you can control the simulation by moving the pendulum.

Its not like someone is wiring a computer directly to their brains.

[bobdole @ Mar 11th 2008 8:48PM]

Bob Dole says the correct term is "augmented reality." No need to go sh**ting on the terminology which has been used for 20+ years ya d**n whipper snappers. BOB DOLE!

[bob @ Mar 11th 2008 11:39PM]

I know only one other person who uses the term whipper snapper.



...Oldbag

[SiliconDoc @ Mar 11th 2008 9:08PM]

"so wait the real pendulum and the fake one synced up? what the hell? i dont understand"
Uhhh, yeah dude, you do understand, but the part you forgot to add was, the idiot collegiates programmed it as such, so it's like turning on a freaking LED with your computer, and when you smash it and it breaks, the os feeder line voltage changes. Jeezus people are suckers for nothing nowadays.
Yeah, when the virtual pendulum slowed down, the real one does too... ummm... yeah, yank the GD wires hooked to the computer out of the top of your GD cuckoo moron college clock of worthless dorkisms, and of course, you'll be hanging on the thread your whole $500,000 grant project is anyway...
OMG are people STUPID.
Save me from the mass stupidity !

[Jack @ Mar 11th 2008 9:14PM]

"OMG are people STUPID.
Save me from the mass stupidity !"

I declare u king!!!

[Joe P @ Mar 11th 2008 11:59PM]

Alrighty, it's painfully obvious that you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about, your convoluted and poorly formed sentences are pretty much evidence of that, so let me attempt to break this down for you a little more:

The difference between the computer mimicking the pendulum and actually becoming a mixed reality is similar to (though not the same as) the difference between a mirror and a webcam. With a webcam you can look at yourself and wave, but there will always be a slight delay because the image your computer is transmitting back isn't exactly synced to the reality that you inhabit. However when you look in the mirror there is no delay, when you wave your hand your reflection will instantly wave back at you. This can lead one to wonder if there is in fact another reality on the other side of the mirror.

As I said, this is similar to a mixed reality. The computer is not simply copying the pendulum, it IS the pendulum, perfectly mirrored in a virtual space. Environmental factors that effect the pendulum in our reality also effect the pendulum in a virtual reality. It isn't simply a case of monkey see, monkey do, the pendulum has actually become its own virtual entity, independent yet somehow intimately connected with the pendulum in our reality.

I can't really go into a better example without some advanced math, so I hope that sufficed, and I hope that it helped clear up a little confusion. As to you SiliconDoc, the next time you feel like posting, don't.

[SiliconDoc @ Mar 12th 2008 12:28AM]

No, there is no confusion except in your own mind there, bumblebrain. There IS a delay in your mirrored image showing you that tiny tuft of Alfalfa nerd hair, since there is in fact a speed of light issue, mr. "I'm no scientist nor virtual reality person but I tried to play one on the internet".
No matter how many times you intend to explain your Gibbons neurofraud in terms that please you, the reality of scientific FACTS will blow your bs out of the water into the condition of mistruths it exists in. A real pendulum and virtual pendulum still exist under the laws of science established, and unless your little kookball college crowd actually produced a time machine, they won't be "synched up without a delay". Maybe you should note the part of the article that claims " very powerful computers were needed" - which indicates to those of us with the intellect to notice, that the DELAYS in mimmicing the movements applied to the actual object or the virtual simulation were minimized by computing power.
BTW there mickey, there isn't a math class I've ever taken that I didn't recieve and A+ in ahead of schedule. You're talking to MENSA darlin', all your wordsmithing stupidity won't fly.
Next time you try to sound authentic, hope someone like me doesn't read your lies.
Furthermore, go blow down your vehicles air intake, then come back and tell us how the onboard computer responded to your input, mimicking the hotair input first as data inside it's silicon, then as output at the exhaust...a virtual pollutive match, better than the fraudulent claim the article outlines, or that you have incorrectly and haphazardly supported.

[Joe P @ Mar 12th 2008 12:50AM]

I would argue, but the good people of Engadget have made my point for me by using the lovely rating system. Have a wonderful day.

[Richy @ Mar 12th 2008 5:29AM]

Is someone a bit bitter because they couldn't get into college?

[Mike10010100 @ Mar 12th 2008 6:26AM]

@SiliconDoc

"A real pendulum and virtual pendulum still exist under the laws of
science established, and unless your little kookball college crowd
actually produced a time machine, they won't be "synched up without a
delay". Maybe you should note the part of the article that claims "
very powerful computers were needed" - which indicates to those of us
with the intellect to notice, that the DELAYS in mimmicing the
movements applied to the actual object or the virtual simulation were
minimized by computing power."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!!

*sniff*
(Thank you Joe P for making this guy look like a fool. I'll take it
from here)

Ok, now seriously. How hard do you think it would be for them to, oh
gosh, i don't know, make a PREDICTION of the real pendulum's path and
position, and then sync the virtual pendulum to the real one's
position using sensors?

The only time there would be any sort of a delay is when someone
deliberately put their hand in front of the swinging pendulum; the
computer would then have to quickly calculate the new trajectory.

But, seriously, how big of a delay would a custom-built supercomputer
deliver, especially since we as humans can't see the "delay due to the
speed of light" in close quarters.

Seriously man, think. If you're going to act condescendingly to
everyone you meet, you will soon die a friendless person.

[SiliconDoc @ Mar 12th 2008 11:09AM]

Mike, you won't take anything over for Joey, because you're just as dense. Simply because you cannot see the delay, does not mean it is non-existent. Would you like an exact answer to your ignorantly incorrect premise- concerniing a certain amount of time you immediately declare to be zero because you "feel" like it ? You're an IDIOT.
You don't have any information whatsoever, read the link I provided, instead of fudging facts in favor of lying then pretending it's ok and correct to do so, to play mr. cool fool on the internet.
Idiots acting in the same manner are wetting their pants right now over global warming, because " how much does it really matter" to be accurate ?
Whatever, go spank it with Neo, maybe you and you're smart aleck e-buddycan go conquer Mr. Smith together, and claim to the world you killed him, and you'll both believe yourselves.
Do us all a favor and stay OUT of the USA's scientific projects.

[Mike10010100 @ Mar 12th 2008 6:33PM]

Are you claiming that you can perceive the delay due to the speed of light?

I congratulate you sir.

On another note, for those who can't see the delay, it will SEEM as though they are in sync perfectly.

Man you are anal-retentive.

[Mike10010100 @ Mar 12th 2008 6:49PM]

After reading some of your other comments, you seem to be hung up on the fact that they are calling it "mixed reality." On looking this up in the dictionary, I was not very surprised to see that it is just another word for "virtual reality."

They do seem to be in perfect sync because our eyes cannot distinguish the delay due to the speed of light.

Basically, I'm saying the same thing that you are, but with 1/25th the amount of derogatory comments on others.

Here's the thing, though. We've been able for a long time to make physical controllers that control virtual objects. This is the first foray into making software that manipulates complex interactions, such as the swinging of a pendulum, and then takes that data, puts it back into the simulation, and so on.

Please take a chill pill and try not to insult people. "Step lightly and carry a big stick"

[SiliconDoc @ Mar 12th 2008 8:03PM]

Oh good gawd, the complex swinging of a pendulum. Back and forth....
Another no brainer trying to make the whole thing sound like some miracle.
Hey, can any of you internet geniuses even tell the rest of us if the virtual pendulum was depicted as a 3 dimensional object on a computer screen ?
Perhaps there was just a chart that showed it's varying swing rate.
" This is the first foray into making software that manipulates complex interactions, such as the swinging of a pendulum".... by the big blabbering fool.
YES, I'm certain the engineers watching the Stealth Fighter retire would agree with you... NOT.
Gosh how many know it alls that get the very basics incorrect do we have here ?
By what authority, mikey00, does your insane statement issue? Wait, let me answer that " YOUR INCORRECT IMAGINATION ".
You're not saying anywhere near the same thing I said, nor will you ever, hopefully. You chimed in to pick away, and lost miserably at it.
Now, almost as you said initially in your infantile, make fun of another poster, directly and specifically jubilant teen way, thanks for making a fool of yourself, with the help of - noone else.
Tell you what mikey, you take a chill pill and delete your intial "hahaha thanks for making this guy into a total fool" BEFORE YOU START DEMANDING I TAKE A CHILL PILL, BOY.
Now, if you were correct, which you are not, or if you could have even followed the discussion, acknowledging your Joey P's falsehoods and incorrect statements, I'd merely add on to your comments or expand up on them. But since you decided to take a militant and opposing smart aleck stance to begin with, besides being incorrect, coupled with hammering on me, you got what you needed.
Now, tell me again how the virtual pendulum is the same thing as the real one, like your buddy Joe said, before you ignorantly agreed with him ?
Oh, no, of course, you'll just "chill".

[Mike10010100 @ Mar 13th 2008 6:12AM]

"Now, tell me again how the virtual pendulum is the same thing as the real one, like your buddy Joe said, before you ignorantly agreed with him ?"

It's like you can't comprehend anything more than what proves your point. Never in any of my replies have i said they were the same thing. My point is that they are invariably linked, and that a small change to one will affect the other.

Just letting you know, it hardly makes you sound credible when you constantly change subjects, either about global warming or the fact that everyone except you is an idiot.

Also just going to relay Jay's comment a little further down directed at you (since you didn't reply to it, i'm assuming you haven't read it):

I don't mean to offend anyone who has tried to get into MENSA and failed, but it's really not that hard to become a member. It seems to me it's mostly for people that are so insecure about their intelligence that they want something to brag about. When really, they're the ones who are dumb enough to pay money for nothing but a superficial title. I've never met a MENSA member (to my knowledge) that I respected as a person.

Moving on, I don't really think your comment about the delay of light is at all relevant, the idea (as far as I can tell) is that the program is something like a virtual extension/counterpart of the real pendulum. And what math classes have you taken? I hope you don't think that math ends after calculus and never even learned what a delta-epsilon proof is.

Also, this is the first I heard of this research and it makes me proud to be an engineering student at the University of Illinois. I'm struggling right now just to build a game of Duck Hunt from TTL logic and an FPGA board. I wish I could say I completely understood this research, but I'm sure it's very complicated if it's a first and requires supercomputers.

Enjoy

[MikeG @ Mar 11th 2008 9:05PM]

So they've created a physics 'engine' that behaves as real life, well, at least as pendulumns are concerned.
Well woop-de-doo, I wouldn't be surprised if this didn't get the nobel prize or an award of any kind.

[oshean @ Mar 11th 2008 9:15PM]

You know what this means, right?
Unreal Tournament becomes Real Tournament!

[bob @ Mar 11th 2008 11:41PM]

Semireal tournament?

[mattwier @ Mar 11th 2008 9:48PM]

Yah but if you blend one pendulum, does the other blend as well?

[andres @ Mar 11th 2008 10:40PM]

if one pendulum plays doom, does the other also?

[andres @ Mar 11th 2008 10:40PM]

i for one welcome our pendulum overloards

[MMalecky @ Mar 11th 2008 10:48PM]

And by seeing what all three of you did there, I think we've covered everything.

[jbodar @ Mar 11th 2008 11:02PM]

Listen, and understand! That pendulum is out there! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.

NOW everything's covered.

[andres @ Mar 11th 2008 11:26PM]

after the pendulum is done swinging, we will have cake

[Mace Moneta @ Mar 12th 2008 1:51AM]

Since I'm actually a pendulum, I'm getting a kick out of these replies.

[francoiswiid @ Mar 12th 2008 3:41AM]

All Your Pendulums Are Belong To Us...

[Barbaric @ Mar 12th 2008 1:23PM]

and I see what you all have done there... incomplete...until now...
This pendulum is pwned by Apple..
*iPhone*
output: complete Engadget post now


sorry, I couldn't help myself. don't hate me, i just found out this reply is 1377...I'm such a n00b

[sully @ Mar 11th 2008 10:20PM]

This is very cool, but I'm actually very surprised this hasn't been done a while ago. I would have thought we reached this level of technology years ago.

Unless this is just a processor speed issue.

[SiliconDoc @ Mar 12th 2008 3:04AM]

Well sully, we did reach this years ago.
Jack and joe sat down in their mommie's basement(not that there's anything wrong with that) and grabbed their wii sticks and starting jerking them around. As the drool flew about, they noticed mario beat down uncle mario on the tube. At the same virtual instant, Joe swung at Jack for beating down his uncle mario, and they both made the virtual gamesound that was coming from the TV.
Just then big sis walked in, cuffed Joe on the back of the melon,(mario jerked in the game at the same instant!) then walked to the tube shut it off blank. A blank stare immediately came across Jack and Joes faces.
So you see, we have had this sort of miraculous symmetry between the virtual and the real, for quite some time.

[J @ Mar 11th 2008 10:33PM]

Can we get a video or something?

[SiliconDoc @ Mar 12th 2008 12:38AM]

No, sorry J, no video allowed, since the enourmous mess of wires stuck into the University's cuckoo-clock will ruin the e-lie that has all the morons baffled with e-chubby exited idiocy. Just think in terms that dreamers and liars can comprehend: "... pendulum has actually become its own virtual entity, independent yet somehow intimately connected with the pendulum in our reality."
THINK: " SOMEHOW INTIMATELY CONNECTED " while the e-chubby relieves all the thinking problems and makes it all fun-time fantasy.
Then you can spend a few years asking yourself which pendulum marks the stroke of midnight first, if noone hears the virtual pendulum. Of course we have a few posters here, who no doubt will claim, the unknowing and uneducated just don't get it, and since they in fact do, they "hear" the virtual pendulum just fine, since they are "imtimately connected to it". ( It's the e-chubby stupidity problem again)

[SiliconDoc @ Mar 12th 2008 1:17AM]

Hey J, I didn't want to leave you frigid. Howsa 'bout a picture of chubby and his modified frying pan ? lol
" To get the two pendulums to communicate, the physicists fed data about the real pendulum to the virtual one, and transferred information from the virtual pendulum to a motor that influenced the motion of the real pendulum. "
( THAT'S THE " somehow intimately connected" thing the internet smart aleck Joe P couldn't dream up if he tried - it was all in his head - the overbloated, ego-centric, easily decieved, virtually beyond incorrect head - look for more e-phenomena and psychic computer power commentary from that one )
Hey, how about that chubby...
http://www.engr.uiuc.edu/news/archive/index.php?xId=071508640728
I'm not sure if he's smiling because he's embarrased or because he's proud. Looks like embarrassed, honestly.
BTW - Don't buy the linked articles comment on "defying the friction forces" or I'll have to law down the scientific law again.

[Kizorblade @ Mar 12th 2008 3:44AM]

The pendulum is a lie.

[Jay @ Mar 12th 2008 5:10AM]

I don't mean to offend anyone who has tried to get into MENSA and failed, but it's really not that hard to become a member. It seems to me it's mostly for people that are so insecure about their intelligence that they want something to brag about. When really, they're the ones who are dumb enough to pay money for nothing but a superficial title. I've never met a MENSA member (to my knowledge) that I respected as a person.

Moving on, I don't really think your comment about the delay of light is at all relevant, the idea (as far as I can tell) is that the program is something like a virtual extension/counterpart of the real pendulum. And what math classes have you taken? I hope you don't think that math ends after calculus and never even learned what a delta-epsilon proof is.

Also, this is the first I heard of this research and it makes me proud to be an engineering student at the University of Illinois. I'm struggling right now just to build a game of Duck Hunt from TTL logic and an FPGA board. I wish I could say I completely understood this research, but I'm sure it's very complicated if it's a first and requires supercomputers.