UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 26th 2010 6:28AM
posted July 26th 2010 6:28AM
Off the shelf 3D HDTVs may still be a bit expensive from a consumer's point of view, but they're a downright bargain compared to the usual high-end virtual reality gear. This gave some researchers at UC San Diego a bright idea: they've paired a $2,300 Samsung 3D TV with a half-silvered mirror and a touch-feedback controller for a haptic-enabled heads-up virtual reality system (or HUVR) that costs just $7,000 (without head tracking). What's more, they say their system actually outperforms the PARIS HUVR system developed twelve years ago (and still in use), which cost a full $100,000. Head on past the break for a quick video of the rig in action.
[Thanks, Chase]
[Thanks, Chase]
Now THAT'S impressive.
@SolidSnake
Agreed. That's freaking awesome. We're this much closer to affordable 3D pr0n.
@SolidSnake
Why do I always feel like pictures similar to this will be laughed at by our great grandchildren one day?
@SolidSnake : Until it falls on your head. :)
@BrandonHarris If Ray Kurzweil is right, I can laugh too *fingers crossed*
@SolidSnake
we've been doing that for years now in my university (Universidad de los Andes[1], Bogotá - Colombia). it's been applied to cultural heritage [2],[3].
[1] http://www.uniandes.edu.co
[2] http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1643928.1643945
[3] http://www.elespectador.com/impreso/vivir/articuloimpreso42762-tocando-oro-virtual
@SolidSnake
I love "contraptions" like this.
I really want one of those controller things 0_o
I don't really understand what this rig does.
Some kind of training tool right?
@wesley anthony
If you mean what he is using for input, it's actually a game controller. It was designed to maneuver in 3D while providing the user with as much feedback as possible. In the case of games, the most common use was to give guns the feel of having actual weight. Out side of games, it's been used in several recent medical applications. The device is called the Novint Falcon.
You can learn more here: http://home.novint.com/
Note: I only know about it, because I happened to be at the first GDC at which they unveiled the technology...I've been noticing it sneaking into the news everywhere recently!
@KobaltKode
Awesome, thank you for that!
Now the only good use of 3D
@Nicholas Vi Britannia Japan has 3D porn. nuff said
http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/25/panasonics-consumer-grade-3d-camcorder-leaks-out-the-hdc-sdt75
Now with 3D camera for consumers, 3D porn age isn't very far off
That's kind of cool.
It reminds me of the old "Time Traveler" arcade game that was somewhat popular back in the early nineties.
At least something good can come out of the latest batch consumer exploiting products being marketed at the moment!
I'm always sad that it's true, but it's not really much of a surprise that a 12-year-old system that cost $100K can be replaced by a $7K consumer device.
Another way to look at it is that they have a 12-year-old bit of technology that's still useful - in IT these days there's not much that stays useful for that long, no matter how much it cost originally.
@IOOIIIOIIO It's the way the world works; Stop getting hung up on the past. I read that sentence and thought: We can replace a 100 thousand dollar system with something substantially cheaper. Our 100 thousand dollar systems must be god like compared to theirs. I wonder what the future holds *wonders off in world of possibilities*.
I thought that guy had crazy "futurific" shoulder pads at first, but after watching the vid, I can see it's just an ill-fitting fleece vest.
That's more useful than it would ever be in a home theater.
This is marvellous.. and the Queen looks like she's really enjoying this!
Impressive. But... whyyyyyy?
Holy crap, all of those items are off the shelf!!! The "joystick" he is using is the Novint Falcon, with a Samsung 3D TV.
Go UCSD! :)
@schnoid Tritons!
Glad the bagel douche hasn't heard about this.
Nothing beats a good HMD with headtracking for 3D, only weird thing is: why the hell aren't there any cheap HMD's with high resolution displays... I love to see an old forte VFX-1 being upgraded with 1280x720 displays or even freakingly 1920x1080, how awesome would that be.. Even at a lower resolution a real HMD with headtracking is a much different/immersive/better experience as playing on a fullhd 3D monitor/tv.
Can I get a salad with that anti-sneeze guard?
Is that Beethoven??
@rcc
Einstein, to be precise.