of VR systems:
Desktop VR:
Also known as fishbowl VR, it uses a standard computer monitor to portray the 3-D space. It requires you to wear shutter glasses, which produce a stereoscopic view of the images on the screen. You make mouse movements to define new viewpoints, which are instantly recalculated t
o provide new perspectives, giving only a crude sense of motion and space.
Immersive VR:
Immersive systems involve the use of a head-mounted display (HMD) such as a data helmet or goggles to deliver stereo images that provide depth information and thus the impression of physical space. You also use a computerized sensing glove to point to, grab, and move virtual objects in the VR space.
Augmented reality systems:
In such a system, you see the real world, either directly around you (i.e., real reality) or from a different site (i.e., telepresence). Artificial images are then superimposed to provide objects of the real world with additional information (e.g., descriptions) or by presenting objects invisible to the human eye (e.g., hidden pipelines).
Projection systems or CAVEs:
At the top of the VR food chain are projection systems, also known as computer-assisted virtual environments (CAVEs). You sit in a room that's equipped with several projection surfaces. By the use o
f shutter glasses, CAVEs create a highly convincing 3-D space for one or several users. Users can see their bodies, helping to avoid dizziness and loss of bearing. Unlike HMDs, CAVEs allow for permanent communication between group members.
A fully equipped CAVE can cost over a million dollars, and few are in operation today. There are only three CAVEs in Germany.
Different Types of VR Systems
