Engadget

Military deploys VR NeuroTracker game to train special ops forces (video)

Sarah Silbert — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:42:00 EST

We've seen virtual reality used to simulate the experience of being in space, to train engineers and even to help patients regain mobility, so it's no surprise that the military is recognizing VR's potential, too. The US Special Operations Command recently announced that it will employ NeuroTracker -- a system currently used to train athletes in the NFL and NHL -- to assess and improve commandos' response times and perceptive capabilities.

The VR setup tasks commandos with following the movements of four different balls projected on a 3D screen, the catch being that four "decoy" objects are also bouncing around. NeuroTracker assesses how well an individual can keep track of the designated targets, and also helps determine how he or she would be able to predict trajectories in the field. Once a user has completed the first game, several variations come into play, including a version that speeds up the balls' movements and one that pits two players against each other. CogniSens, the company behind NeuroTracker, says the game develops perceptive abilities just like a workout develops muscles; there's even a high-intensity gameplay option that combines the mental challenge with physical conditioning exercises.

Continue reading Military deploys VR NeuroTracker game to train special ops forces (video)

Military deploys VR NeuroTracker game to train special ops forces (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 05:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Epson Moverio BT-100 3D goggles now shipping in the U.S. for $699

Sharif Sakr — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:50:00 EST

Any Americans out there wanna buy a wacky head-mounted 3D display? Then Epson's Moverio BT-100 micro-projection headset ought to be right at the top of the your not-so-long list of options. It's just started shipping in the States for $699, including its Android-powered trackpad controller that streams and navigates content on the perceived '80-inch' transparent viewing window. You could even pair the Moverio with a Parrot AR.Drone and discover what it feels like to be an Apache pilot strafing your neighbor's rabbit.

Continue reading Epson Moverio BT-100 3D goggles now shipping in the U.S. for $699

Epson Moverio BT-100 3D goggles now shipping in the U.S. for $699 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video)

Zach Honig — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:06:00 EST

The Carl Zeiss Cinemizer OLED has been a long time in the making -- we first heard about the video glasses at Macworld in 2008 -- but the company has yet to push the head-mounted display past the prototype phase. We stumbled upon Zeiss' booth here at CeBIT, where we found a version of the glasses that look mighty similar to the mock-up we saw in marketing materials from 2010, but are now equipped with a pair of head-tracking modules to expand the yet-to-be released marvel's practicality. With head-tracking now on board, the Cinemizer can theoretically appeal to gamers, architects, even educators, who can use the glasses in the classroom.

We took a look at an Inreal CAD app demo that lets the wearer navigate a yet-unbuilt house, walking through virtual rooms (a joystick is used for forward motion, so you won't be accidentally walking into physical walls) as you judge paint colors, furniture placement and try to convince your significant other that there really is room for a 65-inch HDTV. The tracking modules are located behind the ear rests on each side of the OLED glasses, which have seen a slight boost in resolution since we last heard about them, jumping from VGA to 870 x 500 pixels in each OLED panel. Tracking was responsive and accurate -- the experience of walking around a room felt almost lifelike. What's even more exciting than the device's performance is that we may finally see these hit stores in 2012, with a tentative summer ship date. And, while still a pricey addition to your display collection, the Cinemizer lands on the inexpensive end of the Zeiss product scale, ringing up at €649 (about $850), plus another €100 for the tracking hardware. Jump past the break to see it in action.

Gallery: Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on

Continue reading Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video)

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony's HMZ-T1 headset gets a DIY VR upgrade (video)

Donald Melanson — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:55:00 EST

Sony's new HMZ-T1 headset may look like the virtual reality headset you always dreamed of back in the 1990s, but it's not -- at least, not out of the box. It's simply a wearable 3D display, with none of the head-tracking capabilities necessary for a truly immersive experience. Of course, that little drawback isn't going to stop the more DIY-minded individuals among us, one of whom has now paired the headset with a TrackIR 5 head-tracking device and demonstrated the results on YouTube. Check out some VR-ified World of Warcraft and Skyrim after the break.

Continue reading Sony's HMZ-T1 headset gets a DIY VR upgrade (video)

Sony's HMZ-T1 headset gets a DIY VR upgrade (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Telesar V robot brings new meaning to escapism (video)

Sharif Sakr — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:13:00 EST

The esoteric art of telepresence is all about that sweetest of dreams: being somewhere you'd rather be. So far, though, it's hardly teleported much beyond our head movements and kisses. What we really need is a fully-fledged avatar that can also feed sensory information back to us -- and that's exactly what the Telesar V claims to be. The user dons a pair of VR goggles that control the robot's head and see through its eyes. A pair of gloves not only control the Telesar's hands, but also transmit force and temperature data back from its sensors. Drag yourself away from that violent BF3 simulator and check out the smoochiness after the break. (And yes, the inventor's surname is just about perfect.)

Continue reading Telesar V robot brings new meaning to escapism (video)

Telesar V robot brings new meaning to escapism (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hey yo, T(ether) technology tracks rap gestures in 3D

Sharif Sakr — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:11:00 EST

T(ether) is a bit like that amazing Reality Fighters game we saw on the PS Vita, except it's more tranquil and it works slightly differently. The tablet-based technology uses motion capture cameras to track users' heads and the orientation of the device itself, building a 1:1 spatial connection between real and virtual coordinates and allowing "intuitive interaction with volumetric data." As you'll see in the clip after the break, this equates to some pretty neat tricks. And, if you throw in multiple users wearing motion-tracked gloves, things get even more Eastside.

Continue reading Hey yo, T(ether) technology tracks rap gestures in 3D

Hey yo, T(ether) technology tracks rap gestures in 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony London Studio chief talks 3D lessons, promises VR headsets

Joseph Volpe — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:07:00 EST

Haven't settled in to 3D PS3 gaming just yet? Too bad because Sony's ready to leapfrog that industry buzzword with another once-vaunted, immersive tech of yore -- virtual reality. Announced ahead of Sony London Studio chief Mick Hocking's Develop conference "3D post-mortem speech," comes word the Japanese electronics giant is underway with R&D testing for a head mounted display. Shown off at CES earlier this year, the unit incorporates twin-OLED screens that put you closer to the game, fried eyeballs and all. If any of this sounds familiar, that's because it's all very 1995. Still, Hocking seems pretty optimistic about the company's lessons learned dipping its toes into three-dimensional waters, and has even created a so-called "3D 10 Commandments" to ensure quality product output. Hit the source below for the UK division head's full 3D musings.

Sony London Studio chief talks 3D lessons, promises VR headsets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Crescent's Immersive Digital Entertainment VR: it's like a Virtual Boy that you wear

Darren Murph — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:03:00 EST

From what we've gathered in the video just below the break, the graphical capabilities aren't terribly impressive on Crescent's Immersive Digital Entertainment VR system, but really -- who cares? It's a motion gaming solution... that you wear. On your head. When placed in the proper scenario, it gives gamers a full 360 degree space to interact in, with an array of HD motion capture cameras making the virtual reality that much less virtual (and in turn, that much more reality). Hard to say if this thing will ever have a life in the commercial realm, but yeah, we'd buy one.

Continue reading Crescent's Immersive Digital Entertainment VR: it's like a Virtual Boy that you wear

Crescent's Immersive Digital Entertainment VR: it's like a Virtual Boy that you wear originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Canon 18-55mm lens torn open to expose visuals of Image Stabilization (video)

Joe Pollicino — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:06:00 EST

Hey there, snap-shooter. If you've ever used a Canon DSLR with an 18-55mm lens, you may be horrified to know that the image above is its exposed lens elements. Don't worry, though, it's for science! Recently, Preston Scott from Camera Technica used a laser to show how unsteady your hands are when taking a photograph; now he's back to detail how lenses with Image Stabilization compensate to help in achieving crisper images. IS isn't exactly new technology, but seeing how the glass' internal springs, accelerometers, and gyroscopes react to movement is mesmerizing. Not surprisingly, he also found that photos taken with IS deactivated were usually less sharp. You'll find a steady video of the action past the break, as well a detailed breakdown by hitting the source link below.

Continue reading Canon 18-55mm lens torn open to expose visuals of Image Stabilization (video)

Canon 18-55mm lens torn open to expose visuals of Image Stabilization (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Replicating Reality demos 3D virtual reality system powered by pixel-rich microdisplays

Michael Gorman — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:32:00 EST

Kopin's a company known for diminutive displays destined for duty as electronic view finders in camcorders and digicams. At E3 this year, the company's subsidiary Forth Dimensions Displays has unveiled a new use for its teeny tiny screens -- virtual reality. Called Replicating Reality, it uses two .8-inch 1280 x 1024 LCD panels and head tracking to place you in a 3D virtual world. We got to test the system through a racing game, and found that it works pretty darn well. Graphics were of console quality, with nary a hint of image distortion from the system's magnification lenses and pixel pitch was imperceptible to our eyes. Basically, there was no indication that the screens our gaze was fixed upon were less than an inch across. The sharp picture combined with the system's head tracking -- which let us look around while taking turns and weaving through traffic -- to create quite an immersive experience. Of course, it still looked like a game, but there's a pixel packed 2048 x 1536 panel in the works that the company claims can deliver visuals nigh-indistinguishable from the real world. We were told that prototypes of these QXGA screens will be ready in ten months, and they'll be suitable for public consumption in a year. So, the real question is: will your eyeballs be prepared to handle such prodigious pixel density by then?

Gallery: Replicating Reality VR demo system

Replicating Reality demos 3D virtual reality system powered by pixel-rich microdisplays originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gaming gets immersive thanks to union of pico projector and eye tracking camera (video)

Sharif Sakr — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:31:00 EST

Although in the earliest stages of development, this virtual reality gaming rig already looks pretty intriguing. Engineered by clever kids at the University of Texas at Austin, it hot-wires an eye tracking camera to a motorised pico projector with the result that the player literally can't take their eyes off the screen. Wherever they look, that is where their view of the gaming world is projected. The rig makes most sense in a first-person shooter, although the students have also tried it in a flight simulator where the player uses their head to roll and pitch the aircraft. Yes, it looks rather similar to the Microvision PicoP laser projection gun we wielded at CES, but there's a key difference: the player does not need to hold anything or have anything attached to their body. This unencumbered Kinect-esque approach could potentially allow a greater sense of freedom -- except that, for it to work, the player is forced to sit directly in front of the eye tracker. Find a way to fix this, dear Longhorns, and you could be onto something. Video after the break.

Continue reading Gaming gets immersive thanks to union of pico projector and eye tracking camera (video)

Gaming gets immersive thanks to union of pico projector and eye tracking camera (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

German students make life-sized VR Fruit Ninja, declare war on digital produce (video)

Michael Gorman — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:27:00 EST

Do you enjoy the produce-slashing action that Fruit Ninja affords, but feel constrained by the meager display capabilities of handheld devices? Well, some German students from FH Wedel University of Applied Sciences have created a VR version of the game to make your dreams of having more massive melons fly at your face come true. Using a CAVE four-walled virtual environment to display the hurtling fruit and a modified Wiimote to do the slicing and dicing, players can exorcise their cantaloupe and kumquat demons in a life-sized fruit cleaving frenzy -- with none of the Gallagher-style mess. See it in action after the break, just be sure to don your Kikou first.

Continue reading German students make life-sized VR Fruit Ninja, declare war on digital produce (video)

German students make life-sized VR Fruit Ninja, declare war on digital produce (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lockheed Martin's CHIL blends motion capture with VR, creates zombie engineers (video)

Tim Stevens — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:46:00 EST

Computer-aided design is a great way to build products, but does it let you bust a funky move while wearing some crazy glasses and gloves? Heck no. You need Lockheed Martin's CHIL for that. It's the Collaborative Human Immersive Laboratory, virtual reality goggles and gloves combined with motion capture enabling teams of engineers to work together in a virtual space. You can see it in action below, used first for installing polygonal munitions into a rendered version of one of the company's F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, then for doing a little VR tai chi. A Lockheed rep promises that this enables the team to ensure the plane can be more easily and affordably maintained, but we just see this as high-tech training tool for the company's world-renowned synchronized dance teams.

Continue reading Lockheed Martin's CHIL blends motion capture with VR, creates zombie engineers (video)

Lockheed Martin's CHIL blends motion capture with VR, creates zombie engineers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wii Remote Plus joins Kinect and Vuzix shades for 2011's weirdest VR shooter yet (video)

Ross Miller — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:19:00 EST

The natural evolution to Nao_u's impressive Kinect- and Vuzix-infused already impressive virtual reality simulator? Guns, of course. A Wii Remote Plus has been added to his project, joining Microsoft's sensor and VR920 LCD glasses for a VR shooting game that involves, well, lobbing paintballs out of a P90 rifle towards flying disembodied anime characters. Make no mistake, it's a great technical demo chock full of aesthetic eccentricities. Full details via the developer's diary, video after the break.

Continue reading Wii Remote Plus joins Kinect and Vuzix shades for 2011's weirdest VR shooter yet (video)

Wii Remote Plus joins Kinect and Vuzix shades for 2011's weirdest VR shooter yet (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video)

Sean Hollister — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:53:00 EST

It was only a matter of time before Microsoft's continually-hacked Kinect became embroiled in a VR simulation of some sort, and while we're not riding light cycles quite yet, enterprising developer Nao_u has managed to put himself in the shoes (and short skirt) of a Japanese virtual pop icon. Mapping his every move onto the virtual skeleton of Vocaloid's Miku Hatsune probably won't impress you much at this stage of the game, but there's the little matter of what Nao_u did next: he hooked up a pair of Vuzix VR920 LCD glasses to see through the digital diva's eyes, too. Find the terribly cutesy video after the break, and fast-forward to 4:30 to watch Nao attempt to walk a narrow beam set atop a virtual skyscraper.

Continue reading Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video)

Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vuzix Wrap 920AR dev bundle available 'nowish' with clear AR glasses 18 months away

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:46:00 EST

When we got our hands on the Vuzix Wrap 920AR at CES we saw a promising piece of gear without too many practical applications. And where do things stand, nearly a year later? Available now (aside from a "30 to 45 day delay" on all orders) the headset is strictly developers only. According to Pocket-lint, the company is only eighteen months away from clear AR glasses with heads-up displays -- and, believe us, we'd love to see that -- but in the meantime, your hard earned $2,000 will get you the glasses, a Vuzix VR Manager license, and access to the Vuzix SDK. So, who's going to be the first to pitch us a system for Augmented Reality comment moderation? We'd love to some new and novel ways to "downrank" a few of our favorite commenters, if you get our drift.

Vuzix Wrap 920AR dev bundle available 'nowish' with clear AR glasses 18 months away originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system

Donald Melanson — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:28:00 EST

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]

Continue reading UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system

UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Inhabitat's Week in Green: salad spinners, diapers, and solutions to the Deepwater catastrophe

Inhabitat — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:42:00 EST

The Week in Green is a new item from our friends at Inhabitat, recapping the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us.

This week renewable energy received a giant jolt forward as Google unveiled plans to invest $40 million in North Dakota wind farms. Solar power is also having a moment in the sun as MIT unveiled the world's first solar cells printed on paper - we can't wait to see a post-it version that we can stick to our walls! Meanwhile a team of Swiss researchers are harnessing rays of light for an entirely different purpose -- they've figured out a way to create rain clouds by shooting laser beams into the sky.

With the Deepwater Horizon oil spill still saturating the sea weeks after the leak sprung, we also looked at an array of innovative solutions for cleaning up the catastrophe. The first step to stemming the spill's damage is predicting its spread, which is why scientists are harnessing advanced virtual reality models to aid in cleanup efforts. We also took a look at the BP's first massive oil containment dome, which the company plans to lower 5,000 feet below the sea to plug up the leak.

This week we also looked at several ingenious inventions that find incredible new uses for everyday items. Two students at Rice University have transformed a simple salad spinner into a centrifuge that can save lives by diagnosing diseases, and a Japanese company called Super Faith has invented a machine that can transform used adult diapers into an energy source.

Finally, we were dazzled by two high-tech garments that harness LEDs to light up the night. Katy Perry recently took to the red carpet wearing a shimmering gown studded with thousands of blinking rainbow lights, and we were impressed by this LED-laden coat that keeps bicyclists safe when they hit the streets at night.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: salad spinners, diapers, and solutions to the Deepwater catastrophe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 03:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DIY VR rig makes neck pain an un-virtual reality

Donald Melanson — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:18:00 EST

Sure, there's plenty of practical VR options available these days (DIY and otherwise), but there's also something to be said for rigs that stick to virtual reality's cumbersome, unwieldy roots. Sharing that sentiment is DIYer Gavan Woolery, who combined an Acer GD235HZ 3D monitor, a pair of shutter glasses, and a TrackIR 5 head-tracking system to build this rig that manages to make the helmet from Videodrome look comfortable. Of course, Woolery is completely up front that the rig is "not in any way designed to be practical," but it does seem to work remarkably well, and it's reasonably inexpensive to build yourself if you're so inclined -- at least compared to other dedicated VR rigs. Head on past the break to check it out in action, and hit up the source link below for the complete details.

Continue reading DIY VR rig makes neck pain an un-virtual reality

DIY VR rig makes neck pain an un-virtual reality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Virtusphere's virtual reality hamster ball put to the test

Paul Miller — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:26:00 EST

For eons we've wondered what it would be like to walk around in a bona fide Virtusphere, and at GDC last week we finally got our chance. The large plastic cage can turn and roll in any direction, and once replete with a wireless head-mounted display and fake gun, we were ready to take on some polygonal alien baddies. Getting into the cage is surprisingly easy, but unfortunately once we had a screen strapped to our head our well-honed sense of balance was right out the window, and we found ourselves staggering around a bit as we got used to the motion of the cage. The real military versions have a motion sensing gun controller, but we had to do all our aiming with our head, which didn't help. After a minute or so we got used to the "momentum" involved in moving the cage, which felt pretty great, but we'd say our favorite part about the experience was just being able to turn in place to confront baddies -- there's something about a few well placed steps that really blows away a left or right tug on our 360 controller's analog stick. At the end of the day the sheer size, cost, and ultra-dated graphics has us hardly pining for one of these in our living rooms, but with a bit more work on the gaming end (and a working gun pointer) we could see this as the arcade experience to beat. Check out a video of our harrowing experience (from outside and inside) after the break.

Gallery: Virtusphere virtual reality hamster ball put to the test

Continue reading Virtusphere's virtual reality hamster ball put to the test

Virtusphere's virtual reality hamster ball put to the test originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple applies for head tracking patent, Johnny Chung Lee says 'you're welcome'

Vlad Savov — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:22:00 EST

Pablo Picasso is quoted as saying, "good artists copy and great artists steal." Good thing the quoter was Steve Jobs then, because the latest Apple patent application to go public looks very much like something Johnny Chung Lee pieced together with a Wiimote way back in 2007. Filed for in June 2008, the new patent is for a system tracking the location of the user's head and responding to his movements in a fashion that should generate a realistic three-dimensional viewing experience sans those pesky glasses. We've got video of Johnny's setup after the break, and as he himself describes it, the idea behind a "desktop VR" is to unbound imagery from the screen surface and to make your monitor or TV act like a window unto whatever is being displayed. That means Apple will need a new branding scheme should this application turn into a real product -- iWindow just might be the least likely product name in the history of consumer electronics.

Continue reading Apple applies for head tracking patent, Johnny Chung Lee says 'you're welcome'

Apple applies for head tracking patent, Johnny Chung Lee says 'you're welcome' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DIYer concocts homegrown View-Master, relies on HTC Magic and Google Street View (video)

Darren Murph — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST

It's been far, far too long since we broke out the View-Master from the admittedly dusty toy chest, but now we're guessing it'll be at least a score before we get the urge again. Why, you ask? The View-Master 2009. These homegrown virtual reality goggles are surprisingly impressive despite their ragged look, and by utilizing some form of cardboard enclosure, an HTC Magic and Google Street View, the designer was able to mimic that "immersive" environment we've grown to know and never forget. Don't believe us? Have a look at the vid just past the break, and hang in there 'til the end if you're scouting a how-to guide.

Continue reading DIYer concocts homegrown View-Master, relies on HTC Magic and Google Street View (video)

Filed under: Displays, Wearables

DIYer concocts homegrown View-Master, relies on HTC Magic and Google Street View (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video)

Vlad Savov — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST

Want to know just how prevalent technology has become in our lives? Now even lab mice get Quake-derived virtual reality playgrounds to navigate instead of their old school wooden mazes. In all honesty, this appears a significant and praiseworthy advancement, as the Princeton team have succeeded in mapping brain activity right down to the cellular level, with real-time tracking of single neurons now possible. The Orwellian-looking setup above is necessary in order to keep the mouse's head immobile, and thus capable of being studied, while the animal moves around and its brain performs motion-related tasks. Go past the break to see a schematic of the scanner and a quite unmissable video of it in action.

[Via Switched]

Continue reading Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video)

Filed under: Science

Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

$500 Acceleglove promises to finally bring Rad Racer to life

Donald Melanson — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:16:00 EST

Data gloves may have come a long way since the days of the Power Glove, but they've also tended to get pretty expensive as more and more tech found their way into 'em. The folks at AnthroTronix look to be doing their small part to change that with their new Acceleglove, however, which packs a not too crazy price tag of $500 and, according to the company, all the features you'd expect to find on a $5,000 glove. Chief among those features are accelerometers on each finger, which can track precise gestures like pinching and, as you can see in the video after the break, are more than up to all-important the task of controlling a robotic arm. Best of all, the glove comes complete with an open source SDK to let you get as much out of the glove as you're willing to put into it.

[Via OhGizmo!]

Continue reading $500 Acceleglove promises to finally bring Rad Racer to life

Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables

$500 Acceleglove promises to finally bring Rad Racer to life originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia interface patent fits like an AR-enhancing glove

Ross Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:37:00 EST

Okay, you know the drill by now: just because it's in a patent doesn't mean it's happening anytime soon, if ever. With that said, we'd love to see what Nokia had in mind when they concocted this one. As Unwired View recently unearthed, the Finnish phone maker has drawn up a design doc / patent application for comfortable, stretchable material that fits over your skin and is used for device interaction. Gestures and stretches are computed and signaled into nearby computers, phones, or interestingly enough "near-eye displays" -- sounds like we're getting into a bit of virtual / augmented reality territory here -- and they are also tailored to provide feedback via vibration. Again, don't hold your breath on seeing this come to fruition any point in the near (or even long) future, but still, we know what you're thinking: Nokia's gonna have to think of a ton of kooky color descriptions to accentuate any future lineup of input wristbands / fingerbands.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Filed under: Handsets, Nokia

Nokia interface patent fits like an AR-enhancing glove originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia interface patent fits like an AR-enhancing glove

Ross Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:37:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia interface patent fits like an AR-enhancing glove originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Researchers learning to make VR more realistic, uncomfortable

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:27:00 EST

Researcher Mel Slater (a computer scientist who divides his time between ICREA in Barcelona and University College, London) and his stalwart band of cybernauts are currently studying people when immersed in virtual environments, hoping to gain insight into why we respond to fake stimuli as if it's real. In one experiment, test subjects enter a "virtual bar" in which patrons schmooze, booze, and do the Frug. At a point during the virtual carousing, a fire breaks out. "We have had people literally run out of the VR room, even though they know that what they are witnessing is not real," says Slater. "They take their cues from the other characters." Other studies include a recreation of the classic Milgram Experiment of the 1960s (where the subject is ordered to give an electric shock to a "student" when they answer a question incorrectly) and a phobia study that introduces subjects to virtual heights. The researchers hope to gain insight into how the brain functions, eventually creating more intense and realistic virtual experiences, with applications in healthcare, training, social research and entertainment. What's next? According to Slater, the group is currently developing a project that is designed to help shy men overcome their fear of women (at the very least, it'll help you meet that Second Life avatar of your dreams). If this is your kinda thing, check out the video after the break. [Warning: the first several seconds of the video are audio only.]

Continue reading Video: Researchers learning to make VR more realistic, uncomfortable

Filed under: Displays, Science

Video: Researchers learning to make VR more realistic, uncomfortable originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 May 2009 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Canon gets all 'Steve Zissou' with its Mixed Reality Aquarium

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:17:00 EST

In some ways, augmented reality is an elegant solution to the main problem with VR: while there are some areas where insane levels of immersion are required, this stuff ain't cheap -- relegating solutions like CirculaFloor to academics, the military, and the extremely well-heeled. But how about those who just want to see wild graphics while they, you know, "party?" Canon's Mixed Reality Aquarium headset transforms any area you inhabit into a giant fishbowl. Not the sort of thing that you'll want to do more than once, probably -- although, to the company's credit, this is more of a research project than an actual product. How about an option to swim with Daryl Hannah from Splash? That would be pure gadget gold. That said, this does make for a fun video -- which we've graciously provided for you, after the break.

[Via Oh Gizmo!]

Continue reading Canon gets all 'Steve Zissou' with its Mixed Reality Aquarium

Filed under: Displays

Canon gets all 'Steve Zissou' with its Mixed Reality Aquarium originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 May 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Marco Tempest's Augmented Reality card trick makes David Copperfield look positively ludditic

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:18:00 EST

Illusionist and augmented reality artiste Marco Tempest has put together a video preview of his newest act, called (aptly enough) "Augmented Reality Magic 1.0," and has been kind enough to share it with us. In the video, Tempest uses AR to demonstrate what's going on in his fertile imagination as he performs a card trick -- cards levitate, Jokers dance, and the birthday cake? Well, you'll just have to see for yourself. The most impressive part is that the whole thing goes down in real time, and utilizes C++ with OpenFrameworks, OpenCV, ARToolkitPlus, MacCam, "and other Open Source goodies." Nothing's done in post-production. Are you prepared to have your mind blown? Video after the break.

[Via Make]

Continue reading Marco Tempest's Augmented Reality card trick makes David Copperfield look positively ludditic

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Marco Tempest's Augmented Reality card trick makes David Copperfield look positively ludditic originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AlloSphere three story virtual environment not available for birthday parties, Bat Mitzvahs

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:33:00 EST

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara are developing an immense, wholly immersive VR environment that would allow groups of researchers the opportunity to explore their data aurally and visually on a scale never before seen. The AlloSphere is a three story metal sphere housed in an echo-free chamber, large enough that twenty researchers can stand on a bridge and take a walk through an atom, for instance, or a human brain. The project relies on a supercomputer for generating real-time, high-res 3D video and audio streams from a mountain of scientific data, and currently the team is hard at work building the bad boy's computing platform and interactive display. The project leader JoAnn Kuchera-Morin has yet to state whether or not the sense of smell would be incorporated into the finished product, but we sure hope not -- that would be rather distracting, don't you think? Check it out on video after the break.

[Via TED]

Continue reading AlloSphere three story virtual environment not available for birthday parties, Bat Mitzvahs

Filed under: Displays, Science

AlloSphere three story virtual environment not available for birthday parties, Bat Mitzvahs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

VR headset offers the sights, sounds, and smells of cyberspace - and tastes, and hot air

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:06:00 EST

In an effort to bring the other three senses up to par with sight and sound in the virtual landscape, researchers in the UK have developed a headset that not only offers a stereoscopic display and four speaker surround sound, but throws in smells, tastes, and a fan for heating your grill up (or cooling it down) for good measure. The Virtual Cocoon doesn't look too terribly comfortable (this thing would be burdensome without the required tubes for the user's mouth and nose), but Professor Alan Chalmers of Warwick University doesn't seem to think this is a problem. If anything, the team is betting that you're going to welcome the opportunity to smell your co-workers when telecommuting, or your fellow cybernauts when running around Second Life. The device, which will have an estimated cost of £1,500 (around $2,100), should be ready for production within five years. More pics after the break.

Continue reading VR headset offers the sights, sounds, and smells of cyberspace - and tastes, and hot air

Filed under: Wearables

VR headset offers the sights, sounds, and smells of cyberspace - and tastes, and hot air originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

CirculaFloor robot floor tiles keep you moving in virtual reality

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:19:00 EST

One of the big problems facing VR is the issue of mobility -- how do you allow users unrestricted movement in virtual reality, while keeping them relatively static in real reality? Omni-directional treadmills have been tried in the past, and now researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan have developed something called CirculaFloor. The system uses four robotic tiles that constantly shift position, ensuring that there's always a tile in the direction you're headed. Additionally, the entire assembly moves slowly backwards, giving one the impression of movement while they're actually standing relatively still. The tiles also incorporate lifts, for simulating staircases and the like. While this research is promising, there's still plenty of work to be done -- for instance, the tiles still move awful slowly, and while they seem sturdy enough for a leisurely stroll, a Left 4 Dead implementation is not likely to happen any time soon. Video after the break.

[Via Tech Digest]

Continue reading CirculaFloor robot floor tiles keep you moving in virtual reality

Filed under: Robots

CirculaFloor robot floor tiles keep you moving in virtual reality originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

MITRE develops hemispheric camera for visual telepresence

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:23:00 EST

You have no idea how many times we've caught ourselves piloting prototype unmanned weapons platforms through hostile urban environments and thought, "this route is too complex, and this vision system too cumbersome to use -- there has got to be a better way." Well, it looks like the folks at MITRE have heard our call and replied with something called the Immersive Vision System. Currently in development, the heart of the thing is a hemispherical camera -- actually a number of stationary cameras that creates a video image that covers all 360 degrees horizontally and a none-too-shabby 270 degrees vertically. Placed on a robot, unmanned vehicle or armored troop carrier, the pilot wears a head mounted display with a tracking sensor that allows him to move his head naturally, adjusting the point of view accordingly -- no need for periscopes, joysticks, or any other non-intuitive control interfaces. Of course, we've merely scratched the surface of this whole "visual telepresence" jazz here -- for some action footage, be sure you check out the video after the break.

Continue reading MITRE develops hemispheric camera for visual telepresence

Filed under: Displays

MITRE develops hemispheric camera for visual telepresence originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Omni-directional treadmill allows individuals to sashay through virtual cities

Darren Murph — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:32:00 EST

Though not the first omni-directional treadmill we've ever seen, this version crafted for the EU-funded CyberWalk Project is entirely more interesting. The 6- x 6-meter device features an active walking area of 4.5- x 4.5-meters, and later this month, individuals anxious to prance through a virtual city will be able to strap on a head-mounted display, lace up their LA Lights and indulge in escapism. Aside from giving curious persons the ability to walk through a recreated version of ancient Pompeii, the device could also be used to meander through buildings not yet created or give firefighters a way to train without placing them in harm's way. Now, if only there was an option to dissolve into pixels and teleport to locales you find particularly intriguing, we'd be sold.

[Via Slashdot]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Omni-directional treadmill allows individuals to sashay through virtual cities originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mixed reality research takes a first hesitant step

Nilay Patel — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:26:00 EST

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.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Mixed reality research takes a first hesitant step originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

PlayStation Eye hacked for desktop VR use

Donald Melanson — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:21:00 EST

The Wiimote may be spurring on the majority of desktop VR hackery these days, but at least one enterprising developer seems to be aiming to change that, and he's now showing that you can do more or less the same thing with a PlayStation Eye. As with the Wiimote, you need a pair of homemade IR-equipped glasses, but you'll also need to perform a couple of minor modifications to the PS Eye itself. That all-important detail consists simply of a homemade lens cap that houses some exposed and developed film, which lets the camera receive only the infrared signals from the glasses. Pair that with some custom-made software (now available for the taking), and you'll be giving unsuspecting visitors motion sickness in no time. Head on over after the break for a peek at the setup in action.

Continue reading PlayStation Eye hacked for desktop VR use

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

PlayStation Eye hacked for desktop VR use originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video games better than drugs?

Paul Miller — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:19:00 EST

This isn't the first time we've seen video games and VR in particular applied to medicine, but this is certainly the boldest claim we've heard yet. According some research done on chronic pain sufferers up at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada, test subjects who were playing VR games were more comfortable than participants who were on pain meds alone. That might sound like a no brainer, but the researchers are saying that video games apparently have the potential of providing a safe, partial alternative to addictive medicine, boring counseling and lame-sauce physical therapy. Sounds like a miracle cure, but who are we to argue with Canada's finest?

[Via DailyTech]

Filed under: Gaming

Video games better than drugs? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

DIY head-tracker takes Wiimote hacking to dizzying new heights

Donald Melanson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:44:00 EST

DIY virtuoso Johnny Chung Lee has already more than proven himself with his Wiimote whiteboard and finger-tracking hacks (to say nothing of the famous $14 steadycam), but he now looks to have vaulted himself into a whole new league with his latest project, which uses a Wiimote for a full-on VR head-tracking system. As with his other recent hacks, the Wiimote and a sensor bar substitute swap their usual positions, with a pair of IR-equipped safety glasses stylishly getting the job done in this case. Toss in some custom-made software (available at the link below) and you've got a setup that's sure to make anyone's jaw drop. Whatever you do, be sure to hit up the video after the break (and watch 'till the end), as the image above certainly doesn't do it justice.

[Via Hack a Day]

Continue reading DIY head-tracker takes Wiimote hacking to dizzying new heights

Filed under: Gaming

DIY head-tracker takes Wiimote hacking to dizzying new heights originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Brown University demonstrates Drawing on Air system

Darren Murph — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:57:00 EST

It's been a tick since we've heard any news on the 3D drawing front, but a number of computer scientists from Brown University are putting the art back in the proverbial foreground with its Drawing on Air installation. Put simply, users can slip on a virtual reality mask, grab a stylus and tracking device, and go to town. The system uses "drawing guidelines, force feedback, and two-handed interaction" to assist artists in drawing more precisely, and once movements are made, the patterns are transferred to a computer for use in 3D modeling and design programs. Unfortunately, such a system can't currently be priced at points which John and / or Jane Doe would be happy with, but the researchers did state that commercialization wasn't "too far away" and that prices should decrease from "thousands of dollars to hundreds of dollars in the next few years."

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Brown University demonstrates Drawing on Air system originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Multiple Sclerosis patients walk faster thanks to VR technology

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 06:08:00 EST

Using virtual reality technology coupled with sensors, scientists at Technion, Israel's Institute of Technology have developed a system to enable people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis to walk more effectively. The virtual reality tech takes the form of a small screen attached to glasses which projects a moving, virtual ground computed using sensors that measure the user's eye and body movements. This "virtual floor" apparently improves the walking ability of MS sufferers, and helps them to remain stable. The device even improves walking performance after it has been taken off, so patients won't have to look completely awesome with their goggles on 24/7.

[Via TFOT]

Filed under: Wearables

Multiple Sclerosis patients walk faster thanks to VR technology originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Sep 2007 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments