X-rooms

ABSTRACT

This paper describes X-Rooms&153;, a PC-based immersive visualization environment with integrated spatial audio, video and graphics. The concept is similar to the original CAVE© [1], but it uses a novel web-based visualization system running on top of a PC-cluster with Windows XP installed. Compared to other common installations based on expensive high-end unix graphics systems, costs are reduced by up to one magnitude (depending on the installation setup) using of the shelf PC and projector equipment. Using the developed external API X-Rooms systems can be deployed in the same application domain as conventional CAVE systems; in addition several new areas are open for less expensive systems. Processing VRML the X-Rooms system is a high end visualization platform for interaction with online 3D web content. Furthermore, the X-Rooms content can be driven by the web.

REFERENCES

• 1: Carolina Cruz-Neira , Daniel J. Sandin , Thomas A. DeFanti, Surround-screen projection-based virtual reality: the design and implementation of the CAVE, Proceedings of the 20th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques, p.135-142, September 1993 [doi>10.1145/166117.166134]
• 2: Carlos Jensen, Larry Hodges, Jarrell Pair, The NAVE: Design and Implementation of a Non-Expensive Immersive Virtual Environment, Proceedings of SIGGRAPH 2000: Sketches and Application, New Orleans, LA.
• 3: Mark R. Mine , Frederick P. Brooks, Jr. , Carlo H. Sequin, Moving objects in space: exploiting proprioception in virtual-environment interaction, Proceedings of the 24th annual conference on Computer graphics and interactive techniques, p.19-26, August 1997 [doi>10.1145/258734.258747]
• 4: Herbert R~sseler, Ivo Haulsen, Experiencing Fire Simulation Results by Using Virtual-Reality Technology, 16th IMACS World Congress 2000 on Scientific Computation, Applied Mathematics and Simulation, Session 180.5.
• 5: Johannes Behr , Marc Alexa, Volume visualization in VRML, Proceedings of the sixth international conference on 3D Web technology, p.23-27, February 2001, Paderbon, Germany [doi>10.1145/363361.363370]

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.1 Hardware architecture
          Subjects: Input devices

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: User interfaces

  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.1 Multimedia Information Systems
          Subjects: Artificial, augmented, and virtual realities

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.2 Graphics Systems
          Subjects: Distributed/network graphics
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
          Subjects: Interaction techniques
      I.3.7 Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism
          Subjects: Virtual reality

Keywords:
PC CAVE, VRML enhancements, distributed system, user interaction, virtual reality, web applications