Local multiplayer immersion affected by 3D stereoscopy

In this paper, we describe an experimental study, which evaluates how 3D stereoscopy affects player immersion in a possibly very distracting local multiplayer game. The game “Nicely Dicely” was specifically developed for this purpose, with 3D stereoscopy in mind, right from the beginning. Groups of participants were competitively playing the game in non-3D monoscopic and 3D stereoscopic presentations via a 3D compatible projector and corresponding active shutter glasses. In the following, we elaborate on the game and our quantitative and qualitative hybrid experiment design and methodology. An analysis of the resulting data will show that, indeed 3D stereoscopy significantly increases spatial presence, involvement and player immersion, even in a local multiplayer situation. Furthermore, some guiding insights relating the game’s design will be illustrated

Interactive natural user interfaces

For many years, science fiction entertainment has showcased holographic technology and futuristic user interfaces that have stimulated the world\u27s imagination. Movies such as Star Wars and Minority Report portray characters interacting with free-floating 3D displays and manipulating virtual objects as though they were tangible. While these futuristic concepts are intriguing, it\u27s difficult to locate a commercial, interactive holographic video solution in an everyday electronics store. As used in this work, it should be noted that the term holography refers to artificially created, free-floating objects whereas the traditional term refers to the recording and reconstruction of 3D image data from 2D mediums. This research addresses the need for a feasible technological solution that allows users to work with projected, interactive and touch-sensitive 3D virtual environments. This research will aim to construct an interactive holographic user interface system by consolidating existing commodity hardware and interaction algorithms. In addition, this work studies the best design practices for human-centric factors related to 3D user interfaces. The problem of 3D user interfaces has been well-researched. When portrayed in science fiction, futuristic user interfaces usually consist of a holographic display, interaction controls and feedback mechanisms. In reality, holographic displays are usually represented by volumetric or multi-parallax technology. In this work, a novel holographic display is presented which leverages a mini-projector to produce a free-floating image onto a fog-like surface. The holographic user interface system will consist of a display component: to project a free-floating image; a tracking component: to allow the user to interact with the 3D display via gestures; and a software component: which drives the complete hardware system. After examining this research, readers will be well-informed on how to build an intuitive, eye-catching holographic user interface system for various application arenas

GPS-MIV: The General Purpose System for Multi-display Interactive Visualization

The new age of information has created opportunities for inventions like the internet. These inventions allow us access to tremendous quantities of data. But, with the increase in information there is need to make sense of such vast quantities of information by manipulating that information to reveal hidden patterns to aid in making sense of it. Data visualization systems provide the tools to reveal patterns and filter information, aiding the processes of insight and decision making. The purpose of this thesis is to develop and test a data visualization system, The General Purpose System for Multi-display Interactive Visualization (GPS-MIV). GPS-MIV is a software system allowing the user to visualize data graphically and interact with it. At the core of the system is a graphics system that displays different computer generated scenes from multiple perspectives and with multiple views. Additionally, GSP-MIV provides interaction for the user to explore the scene

Interfaces baseadas em gestos e movimento

Dissertação de Mestrado em Engenharia InformáticaEsta tese estuda novas formas de interacção pessoa-máquina, baseadas em sensores de infravermelhos. O objectivo foi criar uma interface que tornasse a interacção com o computador mais natural e divertida, utilizando gestos e movimentos que são usados intuitivamente no dia-a-dia. Foi necessário o desenho e implementação de um sistema flexível e modular, que permite detectar as posições e movimentos das mãos e cabeça do utilizador. Adicionalmente, esta interface tambem permite a utilização de botões e fornece feedback háptico ao utilizador. Foram encontrados vários problemas durante a realização do hardware, que levaram à utilização de novas abordagens e à construcção e teste de vários protótipos Paralelamente à construção dos protótipos do hardware, foi implementada uma biblioteca que permite detectar a posição das mãos e cabeça cabeça do utilizador, num espaço tridimensional. Esta biblioteca trata de toda a comunicação com o hardware, fornecendo funções e callbacks simples ao programador das aplicações. Foram desenvolvidas quatro aplicações que permitiram testar e demonstrar as várias funcionalidades desta interface em diferentes cenários. Uma destas aplicações foi um jogo, que foi demonstrado publicamente durante o dia aberto da FCT/UNL, tendo sido experimentado e avaliado por um grande número de utilizadores

Immersive user interface for first person view games

This study aimed to investigate the immersion of user interfaces that bring first person games using virtual reality based on the concepts established by the Diegesis theory. To conclude, a table has been created with identified elements of the games that bring more or less immersion to the player. Through the data collected, a questionnaire was developed to obtain information from developers, designers and players, in relation to the more immersive elements, and others with less immersive elements of the interfaces and concluding that the Diegetic and Spatial Interfaces are the most immersive for first-person games in virtual reality, and less immersive were the Meta and Non-Diegetic interfaces. Through this information, it is possible that there is a strong influence in the creation of games interfaces, after all we all want to be immersed when playing digital games.Este trabalho se propôs a investigar a imersão que as interfaces de usuário trazem a jogos de primeira pessoa que utilizam a realidade virtual, baseada nos conceitos estabelecidos pela teoria da Diegese. Por fim, foi criado uma tabela com interfaces identificadas dos jogos que trazem mais ou menos imersão ao jogador. Através dos dados coletados foi desenvolvido um questionário para obter informações de desenvolvedores, designers e jogadores, em relação com os elementos mais imersivos, e outros com elementos menos imersivos, e concluímos que as interfaces Diegetic e Spatial são as mais imersivas para os jogos em primeira pessoa na realidade virtual, e menos imersivas são as interfaces Meta e Non-Diegetic. Através dessa informação, é possível que exista uma influência forte na criação de interfaces de jogos, afinal todos queremos ficar imersos enquanto jogamos

Haptic Interaction in 3D Stereoscopic User Interfaces

Haptic feedback is an area of technology that utilizes the sense of touch, by providing tactile interaction. It has been integrated into gaming consoles and mobile devices, and has been researched for its potential in programs that range from medical training simulations to collaborative workspaces. 3D stereo display is another growing facet of technology that is reexamining the possibilities of the user experience. The zSpace system is a computing hardware platform that simulates realistic, holographic, 3D stereoscopic vision. Using this system, this research project aimed to study how haptic feedback can enhance the user interface and understanding of 3D virtual space, by applying and exploring the effects of different types of haptic interaction in two zSpace applications. User experience in haptic and non-haptic versions of these programs was evaluated through a comparative analysis of various measures including observation, performance, presence, and workload

Natural User Interfaces (NUI): review

The article summarizes and systematizes knowledge concerning natural user interfaces. The most important facts related to this problem have been supplemented with examples of possible practical use of such type of human-computer communication. Moreover, the article contains descriptions of three most popular controllers: Microsoft Kinect, Nintendo Wii and Sony Move

Immersive and Collaborative Data Visualization Using Virtual Reality Platforms

Effective data visualization is a key part of the discovery process in the era of big data. It is the bridge between the quantitative content of the data and human intuition, and thus an essential component of the scientific path from data into knowledge and understanding. Visualization is also essential in the data mining process, directing the choice of the applicable algorithms, and in helping to identify and remove bad data from the analysis. However, a high complexity or a high dimensionality of modern data sets represents a critical obstacle. How do we visualize interesting structures and patterns that may exist in hyper-dimensional data spaces? A better understanding of how we can perceive and interact with multi dimensional information poses some deep questions in the field of cognition technology and human computer interaction. To this effect, we are exploring the use of immersive virtual reality platforms for scientific data visualization, both as software and inexpensive commodity hardware. These potentially powerful and innovative tools for multi dimensional data visualization can also provide an easy and natural path to a collaborative data visualization and exploration, where scientists can interact with their data and their colleagues in the same visual space. Immersion provides benefits beyond the traditional desktop visualization tools: it leads to a demonstrably better perception of a datascape geometry, more intuitive data understanding, and a better retention of the perceived relationships in the data.Comment: 6 pages, refereed proceedings of 2014 IEEE International Conference on Big Data, page 609, ISBN 978-1-4799-5665-