Virtual reality input devices

A central part of all collaborative systems is the communication between participating users. Any VR application reacts mainly on user input that is derived from a number of sensors. The types of input are more versatile than input from desktop PC devices like mouse or keyboard. This is easily seen in the higher number of degrees of freedom for tjqjical VR devices and the essential requirement on Virtual Reality applications to demultiplex user input from different modalities at the same time. However, the occurrence of user input can be represented by events that have to be handled whenever the user triggers a sensoric device for a specific modality. As such, a number of events, or in a very simple case, the complete stream of events can be used as input for distributed VR applications, once they are transmitted over a network interface. 

A near-reality perception (immersion) in a virtual environment is used to plan and investigate work sequences and activities. Immersion is achieved by 3D representation of information in real time by integrating several human senses, with the user perceiving himself or herself as part of the scene. The interaction differs from the input devices used so far in that direct intervention in the 3D space is possible (Durlach 1997). The goal is to adapt the work environment to human responses and physical capabilities. Simulation of the work environment and human interaction with work surroundings is necessary to produce a near-reality perception. Ergonomic investigations can be conducted with subjects without a physical test setup. 

TIP Evaluation local model The second input variable in the device evaluation model is the variable specifying the TIP (Threat Image Projection) system effectiveness. In reality this variable is an output of another local model with TIP number (xj and TIP frequency xf being the fuzzy input variables. The TIP system used for projection of virtual threat images is one of the... 

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