Thanks to the good folks at WATG‘s Wimberly Labs, we got a tour today of some truly remarkable visualization and collaboration technology, including EON Reality‘s immersive 3D room.
The cave (or iCube, as we’re told they would prefer we call it) is comprised of three white walls and a floor, all about 10′ x 10′ in size. Onto each surface is projected a high-resolution, stereoscopic image. A viewer stands in the room wearing polarized 3D glasses — like you might use in a 3D movie — with small markers that stick out a bit from the frames.
The markers are illuminated by IR LED floodlights located on the perimeter of the room, and IR-sensitive cameras use those positions to determine the precise location of each eye within the room. From those positions, stereo images for each projector are calculated and rendered on the fly, and the result is absolutely amazing.
We had heard about this technology before, but seeing is believing. Of course to get the real experience you need to physically be in the space, but you might enjoy living vicariously through David’s experience (click here to see the vid in HD instead):
WATG’s incredible hotel and resort work provide a superb example of the power of this tool. Why not let a client walk through their new resort before ground has even been broken? Take them into one of these and they’ll never settle for blueprints and a miniature model again.
Part of what makes this experience so wonderful is the lack of heavy, complicated headgear. The viewer is free to walk around, and the environment responds to their every move. There’s no training required or cumbersome technology to stand in the way of the content. But the effect doesn’t come cheap: you’ll need over half a million dollars and a lot of space to pull this off.
Now, how can we do something similar for pennies on the dollar?
Jo
16/04/2009 at 8:48 am // PermalinkTruly amazing. I love seeing what you guys/girls are up to.
PS. Are the padded slippers included in the price?
Gentry
16/04/2009 at 1:59 pm // Permalinki certainly hope so…
Jim Balding
16/04/2009 at 3:42 pm // PermalinkI think you get one pair of small, one medium and one large. I think David needed the XXL’s. That was a great session, we need to get this experience in a portable solution!!!
Chen Luo
17/04/2009 at 6:54 pm // PermalinkVery cool! Posted on CGDigg:
http://www.cgdigg.com/story.php?title=amazing-3d-immersion-technology
Bill Allen
19/04/2009 at 8:11 pm // PermalinkThis looks cool but it reminds me of that 360 theater in Disney World … that gave me motion sickness so bad as a youngster I had to crawl out on my hands and knees. i can’t imagine what this would do to me. :\
Brian
20/04/2009 at 1:20 am // Permalinkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQw1tsgrJOs
I can’t think of a way to combine these two techs and preserve the rear-projection on the floor, but I’m hoping someone else can!!!
Gentry
20/04/2009 at 10:01 am // Permalinkactually, the floor is projected on from the ceiling (a translucent screen would be a bit dangerous to stand on), so this, if white, could work pretty well. we were thinking the same thing while at Eon. in fact, since the cameras know precisely where your head is at all times, the floor could adjust itself extremely accurately… could be amazing.
Simon Mainwaring
20/04/2009 at 3:58 pm // PermalinkFLYING HUMANS, POWERED BY COLLABORATION
Who hasn’t wanted to fly? Swim (safely) with sharks? Race against Formula One drivers? Whatever your fantasy, the iCube’s 3D immersion technology shows that a breathtaking simulation isn’t far way. It’s the result of a powerful collaboration between IDEO and EON Reality with serious implications for business and recreation.
The technology is deceptively simple. You wear polarized 3-D glasses (just like in the cinema) with small markers that stick out from the frames to tell infrared cameras the precise position of your eyes. From those positions, stereo images for each projector are calculated and rendered in real time to amazing effect.
Like any technology, it won’t be before there’s a version in our homes that costs less with greater sophistication. Instead of arcade rooms in the homes of the rich and famous, we’ll have immersion cubes where we play inside video games, travel overseas without packing, and test drive products as many times as we want. It simply requires three blank walls, a little equipment and almost no training.
How could a real world sales pitch compete with such a fully immersive experience? Not only does it bring a product and brand to life in a visceral way that wasn’t possible before, but the very sales experience has a halo effect on the product. Maybe, one day soon, the “try” will be even more exciting than the “buy”?
What implications does it have for bricks and mortar stores when product immersions take place right in your home? Perhaps accompanied by a virtual sales assistant that can execute the transaction then and there? What about the travel industry, airlines and cruise ships? What percentage of shopping would become virtually (sorry) unnecessary? And what cost will we incur in terms of our needs for direct human contact in our lives? Or if not us, then for the next generation that grows up knowing little else?
The power of technology can be equally inspiring and sobering. Part of the wonder of flying is its impossibility. Its simulation comes at a hefty price if it ushers in an age where technology claims even more of our human contact. In a world of virtual Second Life, Facebook friends and Twitter conversations, there’s something to be said for the minimum level of human contact to generate empathy, compassion and concern for each other. One needs only to look at how technology has increasingly dehumanized war and its effects on veterans, or rehab centers for teenage video game addicts around the globe, to know that a life overrun by simulation is often less worth living. As with all things, it’s a balance. One, I suspect, we may find, yet again, by overstepping.
Serg
23/04/2009 at 2:55 am // Permalinkanother good one to combine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvkubXHilk0
Maximus
25/04/2009 at 7:39 am // PermalinkОхуенно!
Scoot
08/05/2009 at 7:22 pm // PermalinkWhy not just go for a real walk and get some fresh air? Is there that much of a need to escape reality? Serious you want a friggin surreal experience, eat some mushrooms and go for a walk through the forest. I think you can simulate flying with that as well.
ethan
09/05/2009 at 2:59 pm // Permalinkhonestly, were can i purchase this / the software to make a map of my own? i would love to experiment with this. think of the possibilities with games such as swat or police games.
beaux
07/11/2009 at 10:30 pm // Permalinkmissing something important – a treadmill-like device that turns as you turn (sensory on shoulders to detect turn) so you can walk and move through world
Леонид
27/12/2009 at 1:05 pm // PermalinkКакие положительные результаты
R K
01/03/2010 at 8:19 am // Permalink*yawn*
Silicon Graphics has been doing this 15 years ago. They called it ‘CAVE’.
Too bad they never truly build a business around it ..
kumar
02/07/2010 at 7:49 am // PermalinkDear sir,
My name is n.kumar ,am from tirunelvely(south side of tamilnadu .india).I am from poor family. Am working as a carpander.
I invented one mechanical device. It is used for cinema Industry to make glass free 3d cinema in big screen. It is a world first 3d concept now I published all the details in my website.www.natural3dbigscreen.com .
In my family situation am not able to exposing in my concept.Due to financial problem .So am going to sell my concept in any foreign contry. So can you help for me how can I cantact who and where.
Please guide me what can I do?
Thanyou and Anticipation.
AND
Here I have to explain same this to you.
In my concept consists of moving action. It is used to create BIGSCREEN 3D CINEMA(glassfree).
Lenticular method is used for only two or three picture to make a 3d effect. Already I know in this method we cannot make a 100% 3d effect.
In my concept speed is more than 6000 fps .One more advantage of my concerting we can project in front and back side of the screen.
Now a days the OSIRIS3D trying in this same concept. But still now they did not find . I am verymuch confident to say ,the OSIRIS3D dream is going to possible in my invention.
In my mechanical device only one high speed projector is enough for centralized the screen.
In the projector speed above is 6000 fps . the distance of the frame 0.1 degree .So the glassfree 3d picture display in the screen.
Do you want more clarification see my websit now.www.natural3dbigscreen.com
IT Rush
30/04/2011 at 6:43 am // PermalinkDefinitely. I’d love to hear more features coming in full 3D.
cell phone tracker team
28/05/2011 at 2:21 pm // Permalinkcool and all, but the real realm of 3D immersion doesn’t actually exist in this kind of stuff. It’ll be when we can just hook our brains into a computer a la Matrix.
junnay
17/09/2012 at 12:50 am // PermalinkThat was a great session, we need to get this experience in a portable solution!!!