First Virtual Reality Technology To Stimulate All Five Senses
For decades, Virtual Reality has held out the hope that, one day, we might be able visit all kinds of places and periods as ‘virtual’ tourists. Well, folks, that day has arrived! The first virtual reality headset that can stimulate all five senses has been developed.
To date, though, Virtual Reality devices have not been able to stimulate simultaneously all five senses with a high degree of realism. However, researchers on the project are still working out other engineering problems, like how specific smells can be reproduced (which is, in itself, a worldwide scientific conundrum that’s spawned many not-so-portable prototypes).
Moreover, the scientists from the Universities of York and Warwick now believe they have been able to pinpoint the necessary expertise to make this possible, in a project called ‘Towards Real Virtuality’.
‘Real Virtuality’ is a term coined by the project team to highlight their aim of providing a ‘real’ experience in which all senses are stimulated in such a way that the user has a fully immersive perceptual experience, during which s/he cannot tell whether or not it is real.
Teams at York and Warwick now aim to collaborate with experts at the Universities of Bangor, Bradford and Brighton and develop the ‘Virtual Cocoon‘ – a new Real Virtuality device that can stimulate all five senses much more realistically than any other current or prospective device.
Their main objective will be to optimize the way all five senses interact, as in real life. The team also aim to make the Virtual Cocoon much lighter, more comfortable and less expensive than existing devices, as a result of the improved computing and electronics they develop.
For users, the ‘Virtual Cocoon’ will consist of a headset incorporating specially developed electronics and computing capabilities. The Cocoon will be as a portable VR device that can work for both entertainment and learning, taking viewers from their couch to the African savanna or made them walk along a street in Roman Pompeii or visit the Pyramids of Egypt. It’s obvious that the helmet contains a unique, semi-circular screen that will fill the entirety of your vision. It could also help unlock the full potential benefits of Real Virtuality in fields such as business and environmental protection.
Still, there has been considerable public debate on health & safety as well as on ethical issues surrounding Real Virtuality, since this kind of technology fundamentally involves immersing users in virtual environments that separate them from the real world.
A mock-up of the Virtual Cocoon has been on display at ‘Pioneers 09′, an EPSRC showcase event that was held at London’s Olympia Conference Centre yesterday, on March 4.
Professor David Howard of the University of York, lead scientist on the initiative, said to the press: “Virtual Reality projects have typically only focused on one or two of the five senses – usually sight and hearing. We’re not aware of any other research group anywhere else in the world doing what we plan to do. Smell will be generated electronically via a new technique being pioneered by Alan Chalmers and his team at Warwick, which will deliver a pre-determined smell recipe on-demand. Taste and smell are closely linked but we intend to provide a texture sensation relating to something being in the mouth. Tactile devices will provide touch.”
The Professor added: “In addition to the technical development of the Virtual Cocoon, we aim to closely evaluate the full, far-reaching economic and other implications of more widespread application of Real Virtuality technologies for society as a whole.”
If all goes according to plan, the Virtual Cocoon will be on the market in three years for about $2,000.
Sources: esciencenews.com; sciencedaily.com; alphagalileo.org;