Implementation of VR systems: a comparison between the early adoption of CAD and current uptake of VR

Use of new technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), is important to corporations, yet understanding of their successful implementation is insuf. ciently developed. In this paper a case study is used to analyse the introduction of VR use in a British housebuilding company. Although the implementation was not successful in the manner initially anticipated, the study provides insight into the process of change, the constraints that inhibit implementation and the relationship between new technology and work organization. Comparison is made with the early use of CAD and similarities and differences between empirical . ndings of the case study and the previous literature are discussed.

A longitudinal study of perceptual grouping by proximity, luminance and shape in infants at two, four and six months

Grouping by luminance and shape similarity has previously been demonstrated in neonates and at 4 months, respectively. By contrast, grouping by proximity has hitherto not been investigated in infancy. This is also the first study to chart the developmental emergence of perceptual grouping longitudinally. Sixty-one infants were presented with a matrix of local stimuli grouped horizontally or vertically by luminance, shape or proximity at 2, 4, and 6 months. Infants were exposed to each set of stimuli for three presentation durations. Grouping was demonstrated for luminance similarity at the earliest testing age, 2 months, by shape similarity at 4 months, but was not observed for grouping by proximity. Grouping by shape similarity showed a distinctive pattern of grouping ability across exposure durations, which reflected familiarity preferences followed by novelty preferences. This remained stable across age. No link was found between the emergence of perceptual grouping ability and the exposure duration required to elicit grouping. We conclude by stressing the importance of longitudinal studies of infant development in furthering our understanding of human cognition, rather than relying on assumptions from the adult endstate.

Case Study: Interacting with Volumetric Medical Datasets in Networked CAVE Environments

Virtual Reality (VR) is widely used in visualizing medical datasets. This interest has emerged due to the usefulness of its techniques and features. Such features include immersion, collaboration, and interactivity. In a medical visualization context, immersion is important, because it allows users to interact directly and closelywith detailed structures in medical datasets. Collaboration on the other hand is beneficial, because it gives medical practitioners the chance to share their expertise and offer feedback and advice in a more effective and intuitive approach. Interactivity is crucial in medical visualization and simulation systems, because responsiveand instantaneous actions are key attributes in applications, such as surgical simulations. In this paper we present a case study that investigates the use of VR in a collaborative networked CAVE environment from a medical volumetric visualization perspective. The study will present a networked CAVE application, which has been built to visualize and interact with volumetric datasets. We will summarize the advantages of such an application and the potential benefits of our system. We also will describe the aspects related to this application area and the relevant issues of such implementations.

Students' assessment of immersive virtual reality as a pedagogic medium

Over the past few years a number of research studies, mainly involving desktop-based or head-mounted Virtual Reality (VR) systems, have been undertaken to determine what VR can contribute to the education process. In our study we have used the findings from a number of these studies to help in formulating a new study into the perceived merits and limitations of using VR in general, and immersive CAVE-like systems in particular, as an education tool. We conducted our study with a group of final year undergraduate students who were registered on a module that described VR in terms of the scientific issues, application areas, and strengths and weaknesses of the technology.

A data forest: multi-dimensional visualization

As Terabyte datasets become the norm, the focus has shifted away from our ability to produce and store ever larger amounts of data, onto its utilization. It is becoming increasingly difficult to gain meaningful insights into the data produced. Also many forms of the data we are currently producing cannot easily fit into traditional visualization methods. This paper presents a new and novel visualization technique based on the concept of a Data Forest. Our Data Forest has been designed to be used with vir tual reality (VR) as its presentation method. VR is a natural medium for investigating large datasets. Our approach can easily be adapted to be used in a variety of different ways, from a stand alone single user environment to large multi-user collaborative environments. A test application is presented using multi-dimensional data to demonstrate the concepts involved.

Data forest: a collaborative version

As we increase our ability to produce and store ever larger amounts of data, it is becoming increasingly difficult to understand what the data is trying to tell us. Not all the data we are currently producing can easily fit into traditional visualization methods. This paper presents a new and novel visualization technique based on the concept of a Data Forest. Our Data Forest has been developed to be utilised by virtual reality (VR) systems. VR is a natural information medium. This approach can easily be adapted to be used in collaborative environments. A test application has been developed to demonstrate the concepts involved and a collaborative version tested.

Generic control interface for networked haptic virtual environments

As Virtual Reality pushes the boundaries of the human computer interface new ways of interaction are emerging. One such technology is the integration of haptic interfaces (force-feedback devices) into virtual environments. This modality offers an improved sense of immersion to that achieved when relying only on audio and visual modalities. The paper introduces some of the technical obstacles such as latency and network traffic that need to be overcome for maintaining a high degree of immersion during haptic tasks. The paper describes the advantages of integrating haptic feedback into systems, and presents some of the technical issues inherent in a networked haptic virtual environment. A generic control interface has been developed to seamlessly mesh with existing networked VR development libraries.

Virtual reality Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) exposure therapy results with active duty Iraq war combatants

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is reported to be caused by traumatic events that are outside the range of usual human experience including (but not limited to) military combat, violent personal assault, being kidnapped or taken hostage and terrorist attacks. Initial data suggests that at least 1 out of 6 Iraq War veterans are exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Virtual Reality (VR) delivered exposure therapy for PTSD has been used with reports of positive outcomes. The aim of the current paper is to present the rationale and brief description of a Virtual Iraq PTSD VR therapy application and present initial findings from its use with PTSD patients. Thus far, Virtual Iraq consists of a series of customizable virtual scenarios designed to represent relevant Middle Eastern VR contexts for exposure therapy, including a city and desert road convoy environment. User-centered design feedback needed to iteratively evolve the system was gathered from returning Iraq War veterans in the USA and from a system deployed in Iraq and tested by an Army Combat Stress Control Team. Results from an open clinical trial at San Diego Naval Medical Center of the first 18 treatment completers indicate that 14 no longer meet PTSD diagnostic criteria at post-treatment, with only one not maintaining treatment gains at 3 month follow-up. Clinical tests are also currently underway at Ft. Lewis, Emory University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and 10 other sites. Other sites are preparing to use the application for a variety of PTSD and VR research purposes.

Immersive open surgery simulation

Realistic medical simulation has great potential for augmenting or complimenting traditional medical training or surgery planning, and Virtual Reality (VR) is a key enabling technology for delivering this goal. Although, medical simulators are now widely used in medical institutions, the majority of them are still reliant on desktop monitor displays, and many are restricted in their modelling capability to minimally invasive or endoscopic surgery scenarios. Whilst useful, such models lack the realism and interaction of the operating theatre. In this paper, we describe how we are advancing the technology by simulating open surgery procedures in an Immersive Projection Display CAVE environment thereby enabling medical practitioners to interact with their virtual patients in a more realistic manner.

Immersive co-operative psychological virtual environments (ICPVE)

Virtual Reality (VR) has been used in a variety of forms to assist in the treatment of a wide range of psychological illness. VR can also fulfil the need that psychologists have for safe environments in which to conduct experiments. Currently the main barrier against using this technology is the complexity in developing applications. This paper presents two different co-operative psychological applications which have been developed using a single framework. These applications require different levels of co-operation between the users and clients, ranging from full psychologist involvement to their minimal intervention. This paper will also discuss our approach to developing these different environments and our experiences to date in utilising these environments.

A Gentle/S approach to robot assisted neuro-rehabilitation

Movement disorders (MD) include a group of neurological disorders that involve neuromotor systems. MD can result in several abnormalities ranging from an inability to move, to severe constant and excessive movements. Strokes are a leading cause of disability affecting largely the older people worldwide. Traditional treatments rely on the use of physiotherapy that is partially based on theories and also heavily reliant on the therapists training and past experience. The lack of evidence to prove that one treatment is more effective than any other makes the rehabilitation of stroke patients a difficult task. UL motor re-learning and recovery levels tend to improve with intensive physiotherapy delivery. The need for conclusive evidence supporting one method over the other and the need to stimulate the stroke patient clearly suggest that traditional methods lack high motivational content, as well as objective standardised analytical methods for evaluating a patient's performance and assessment of therapy effectiveness. Despite all the advances in machine mediated therapies, there is still a need to improve therapy tools. This chapter describes a new approach to robot assisted neuro-rehabilitation for upper limb rehabilitation. Gentle/S introduces a new approach on the integration of appropriate haptic technologies to high quality virtual environments, so as to deliver challenging and meaningful therapies to people with upper limb impairment in consequence of a stroke. The described approach can enhance traditional therapy tools, provide therapy "on demand" and can present accurate objective measurements of a patient's progression. Our recent studies suggest the use of tele-presence and VR-based systems can potentially motivate patients to exercise for longer periods of time. Two identical prototypes have undergone extended clinical trials in the UK and Ireland with a cohort of 30 stroke subjects. From the lessons learnt with the Gentle/S approach, it is clear also that high quality therapy devices of this nature have a role in future delivery of stroke rehabilitation, and machine mediated therapies should be available to patient and his/her clinical team from initial hospital admission, through to long term placement in the patient's home following hospital discharge.

Upper limb robot mediated stroke therapy - GENTLE/s approach

Stroke is a leading cause of disability in particular affecting older people. Although the causes of stroke are well known and it is possible to reduce these risks, there is still a need to improve rehabilitation techniques. Early studies in the literature suggest that early intensive therapies can enhance a patient's recovery. According to physiotherapy literature, attention and motivation are key factors for motor relearning following stroke. Machine mediated therapy offers the potential to improve the outcome of stroke patients engaged on rehabilitation for upper limb motor impairment. Haptic interfaces are a particular group of robots that are attractive due to their ability to safely interact with humans. They can enhance traditional therapy tools, provide therapy "on demand" and can present accurate objective measurements of a patient's progression. Our recent studies suggest the use of tele-presence and VR-based systems can potentially motivate patients to exercise for longer periods of time. The creation of human-like trajectories is essential for retraining upper limb movements of people that have lost manipulation functions following stroke. By coupling models for human arm movement with haptic interfaces and VR technology it is possible to create a new class of robot mediated neuro rehabilitation tools. This paper provides an overview on different approaches to robot mediated therapy and describes a system based on haptics and virtual reality visualisation techniques, where particular emphasis is given to different control strategies for interaction derived from minimum jerk theory and the aid of virtual and mixed reality based exercises.

Identifying likely successful users of virtual reality systems

This paper suggests a method for identifying individuals who are most suited to using virtual reality (VR) systems. The aim is to help both an individual or employer to decide where that individual's skills and abilities would be best deployed. By considering a potential user's competence and temperament, a graphical representation is introduced that may then be used to crudely delineate a high-aptitude participant against those with lesser capabilities. By introducing standard tests for competence and a standard classifier for temperament, and by further weighting each measure with respect to the technology currently available and the application, a detailed representation of the effectiveness of different users is developed.