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In virtual reality (VR) studies, where object distance plays a role of an independent variable, unknown egocentric distance perception values can affect the interpretation of the collected data. It is known that the perceived egocentric distance in VR is often underestimated, which may affect other judgments that implicitly depend on it. In order to prepare later experiments on the effect of distance on audiovisual (a)synchrony perception, this study quantifies the egocentric distance perception in a virtual indoor environment using two methods: verbal judgment (VJ) and position adjustment (PA). For the VJ method, participants verbally estimated the distance between their own position and a cardboard box position at a distance between a nominal 5 m and 30 m, with increments of 5 m. For the PA method, participants were asked to position a cardboard box to an instructed distance of a nominal 5 m to 13 m, with increments of 1 m. Both methods (VJ and PA) showed significant and substantial levels of underestimation, where simulated distance was underestimated on average by 38.5%. Our study suggests taking these findings into account when treating distance as an independent parameter in experiments conducted in purely simulated virtual spaces which do not exist physically in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While virtual reality (VR) programs are not new, only in recent years have libraries made these systems available for their patrons. Along with the VR systems, more and more programs are being released. These programs range from educational to entertainment. This paper discusses a project created at Mississippi State University Libraries to catalog their purchased VR programs and make them searchable to students and researchers via the OPAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) exhibit a range of socio-communicative and behavioral deficits which leads to difficulties holding meaningful relationships and vocational opportunities. Unfortunately, it is oftentimes difficult for this population to transfer learned skills from controlled intervention contexts into the real-world. As a result, interest in using virtual reality (VR) to create naturalistic training contexts has grown. Research has provided evidence to support the benefits of using VR-based training for people with ASD. However, the emergence of commercially available head-mounted displays (HMD), and their association with cybersickness, has led many to wonder if people with ASD would continue to find VR as being acceptable if they were to be immersed within these devices. Further, people with ASD often have sensory integration disorders making the continued use of VR a potential ethical concern. This research examined the extent that adults with ASD from a day program felt symptoms of cybersickness while undergoing sessions of a VR-training program. The nature of learner experiences while using HMD were also explored. Research questions were addressed through multi-method procedures that utilized quantitative and qualitative data. Despite the presence of some cybersickness symptoms, participants found the experiences to be positive and acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID19 has disrupted many higher education's learning experiences, including those related to work integrated learning. This included the cancelling of the annual electrical engineering field trip to a local electrical substation. Field trips provides students an opportunity to connect their classroom learning with industry relevant engaging experiences. While virtual reality (VR) alternatives to electrical substations have been implemented and researched, the focus has been on the innovation and not on the educational benefits. The impact on learning is not well documented and understood. To address this gap an experimental study is conducted on fifty electrical engineering students at the University of Wollongong to determine if a VR replica of an electrical substation can provide an equal or better learning and student experience compared to traditional methods. A successful finding would provide confidence to implement such alternatives for situations that include: addressing COVID disruptions; for students that miss the field trip; and for providers that don't have the funds or resources to visit a substation. It was found that the VR substation simulation provided a comparable student experience and stronger cognitive learning benefits than traditional methods. Further research is needed to explore learning impact beyond the cognitive domain.

To assess the translational and rotational tracking performance of the Oculus Rift S using controlled robotic motion and a gold-standard motion tracking system. An Oculus Rift S headset and controller were each placed in an industrial robot arm and had Vicon passive markers placed on them. The robotic arm was then translated in three perpendicular directions and performed three orthogonal rotations about three orthogonal axes while the spatial position of the headset and controller were recorded by Vicon motion capture cameras as well as Unity. Positional data was analyzed to determine the difference in tracking between Unity and Vicon to establish the accuracy of the Rift S' tracking capabilities. It was determined that the translational accuracy of the system was 1.66 ± 0.74 mm for the head-mounted display and 4.36 ± 2.91 mm for the controller, and the rotational accuracy of the system was 0.34 ± 0.38° for the HMD and 1.13 ± 1.23° for the controller. The high level of accuracy and precision combined with the low cost of the Oculus Rift S and its use of inside-out tracking make it a viable candidate for clinicians looking to incorporate virtual reality. The Oculus Rift S can report the position and orientation of the user's headmounted display and controllers during gameplay. The Oculus Rift S provides a more portable VR system which does not require external sensors to track motion, allowing it to be used in a variety of rehabilitation scenarios while still providing adequate motion tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, Pepperdine Libraries acquired two virtual reality artworks by filmmaker and artist Paisley Smith: Homestay and Unceded Territories. To bring awareness to these pieces, Pepperdine Libraries added these works to the library catalog, creating bibliographic records for both films. There were many challenges and considerations in cataloging virtual reality art, including factors such as the nature of the work, the limits found in Resource Description and Access (RDA) and MARC, and providing access to these works. This paper discusses these topics, as well as provides recommendations for potential future standards for cataloging virtual works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A usability study of a Virtual Reality Sterile Urinary Catheter Insertion Game (VR SUCIG) was conducted to understand user needs in regards to this game. Background: Learning and retention of psychomotor skills in health care is essential to safe clinical practice. Bauman suggests games are most useful when they are part of a layered-learning approach; in other words, they support various forms of learning and serve as cognitive aids (Bauman et al., 2014). Intervention: The VR Sterile Urinary Catheter Insertion Game (VRSUCIG) was created by nurses and a computer gaming developer to provide nursing students with a cost-effective way to practice sterile catheter insertion skills in a systematic, evidence-based manner. A usability study and user reaction survey were conducted to gain a deep understanding of user's needs. Methods: Three hundred nursing students, from 9 US nursing schools participated. Participants played the VR SUCIG and completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) and a User Reaction Survey (URS). Results: The SUS for the 2nd generation of the VR SUCIG was 57, or medium usability. The URS demonstrated the game motivated them to keep practicing. The VR SUCIG promoted repetitive practice of the skill and visually accentuated the concept of sterility. Conclusions. User reactions indicate that nursing students were eager and excited to utilize this technology. Usability scores indicate further refinement of technology is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faculty and nursing professionals participated in a usability study of a second-generation Virtual Reality Sterile Urinary Catheter Insertion Game (VR SUCIG). Background: Faculty are key decision makers in acquiring technologies that lead to learning and retention of psychomotor skills in nursing. Methods: Fourty-six nursing faculty and professionals from 8 US and 1 Australian nursing school participated. Participants played the VR SUCIG and completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) and a User Reaction Survey. Results: The SUS for the second generation of the VR SUCIG was 47, or low-medium usability. User reactions were mixed. Participants stated the game was fun, challenging, and engaging, but were frustrated with technical issues, and did not enjoy learning to function in the virtual environment. Conclusions. Nursing faculty and professionals had mixed reactions to the VR SUCIG. Further game refinement is needed. • The overall faculty/professional usability score was in the low-middle range. • Older participants usability score was lower than younger participants. • Eighty-four percent of participants stated headgear did not bother them. • Seventy-nine percent of participants thought there were elements of challenge in the game. • Seventy-seven percent of participants thought practicing this way was fun. • A number of participants voiced frustration with having to learn to use the technology and with technical glitches in the game itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two teaching methodologies are presented and compared in this study: on the one hand, semi-guided tours in immersive virtual reality and, on the other, viewing video renderings of 3D environments. The two techniques are contrasted through 3D modeling of a fifteenth-century Spanish town called Briviesca, in an immersive environment, viewed with Oculus Rift. The suitability of virtual reality for teaching is assessed through questions on historical knowledge and urban layout. The understanding of the undergraduate students is evaluated, through questionnaires, after the viewing sessions. The responses of the students underline the effectiveness of the two methodologies: Video screenings received higher scores for historical ideas and the virtual tour was the most effective method at conveying knowledge learnt while viewing. Additionally, two user movements for controlling the virtual reality environment were tested: (1) gamepad locomotion and (2) roomscale movements combined with teleporting. The clear advantage of the second option was the total lack of motion sickness effects. However, the natural tendency using teleporting was to move very quickly through the city areas with no singular buildings and to spend more time in front of these types of buildings. They therefore missed visual information related to the first areas while retaining more information related to those buildings. Finally, the spatial location of singular buildings was clearly better acquired with the virtual tour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The gold standard treatments in amblyopia are penalizing therapies, such as patching or blurring vision with atropine that are aimed at forcing the use of the amblyopic eye. However, in the last years, new therapies are being developed and validated, such as dichoptic visual training, aimed at stimulating the amblyopic eye and eliminating the interocular supression. Purpose To evaluate the effect of dichoptic visual training using a virtual reality head mounted display in a sample of anisometropic amblyopic adults and to evaluate the potential usefulness of this option of treatment. Methods A total of 17 subjects (10 men, 7 women) with a mean age of 31.2 years (range, 17–69 year) and anisometropic amblyopia were enrolled. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and stereoacuity (Stereo Randot graded circle test) changes were evaluated after 8 sessions (40 min per session) of dichoptic training with the computer game Diplopia Game (Vivid Vision) run in the Oculus Rift OC DK2 virtual reality head mounted display (Oculus VR). Results Mean BCVA in amblyopic eye improved significantly from a logMAR value of 0.58 ± 0.35 before training to a post-training value of 0.43 ± 0.38 (p

Immersive Virtual Reality course is, in addition to Basics of Virtual Reality, one of the two courses in applied 3D visualisation offered at the Faculty of Digital Production at the Educons University in Sremska Kamenica, Serbia. The purpose of this course is two-fold: to provide students with a profound understanding of the fundamentals of Virtual Reality and to gain practical experience. The students attending this course learnt about the latest technology of Virtual Reality using the virtual reality headset - Oculus Rift. This paper presents the structure of the Immersive Virtual Reality course, which provides the students of technical orientation with a connection to the state of the art visualisation aspect of digital production. The outcome of the course is the final project, done by each individual student, which involves the implementation of a VR system that students are able to use. The results achieved in the course are displayed and analysed in this paper.

Artykuł dotyczy porównania dwóch typów okularów do wirtualnej rzeczywistości – z wbudowanym ekranem oraz różnych konstrukcji okularów, z wyjmowanym ekranem, którym najczęściej jest smartfon. Opracowano scenariusze badawczo – testowe, których celem było porównanie tych technologii w zakresie jakoĞci wyĞwietlanego obrazu, ergonomii urządzeń oraz wygody ich użytkowania.

Background: A key concern for people with chronic pain is experiencing increased pain and/or re-injury. Consequently, individuals with chronic pain can develop a maladaptive fear of movement that leads to adverse functional consequences. A primary goal of chronic pain rehabilitation is re-engagement in feared movements through exposure. This is often challenging since safe movement can be uncomfortable. Virtual environments provide a promising opportunity to safely and gradually expose Veterans to movements that are avoided in the real world. The current study will utilize multiple virtual reality (VR) applications (APPs) of varying the intensity levels ranging from passive distraction from pain to active exposure to feared movement. The primary aims of this pilot are to examine VR as an adjunctive nonpharmacological intervention to assist with the adoption and implementation of skills to decrease fear of movement and increase overall functioning among Veterans with chronic pain. Second, to build a hierarchy of VR APPs to assist in gradual exposure to feared movements. Methods: This study will be conducted in the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program (CPRP) at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, a unique inpatient program within the VA system. Participants will include up to 20 Veterans who receive a VR intervention as part of their physical therapy. A rating form containing qualitative and quantitative experiences will be administered following each VR session to assess feasibility and to provide descriptive information for the proposed hierarchy. Effect sizes will be calculated from intake and discharge measures for the primary outcome fear of movement and secondary pain and functional outcomes. Discussion: This study will inform the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial examining the clinical utility of using VR to reduce fear of movement and increase function among Veterans with chronic pain. VR has the advantage of being easily implemented both within VA healthcare settings as well as in Veterans' own residences, where engagement in ongoing self-management approaches is often most challenging. Presumably, VR that is matched to patient needs, progresses in intensity, immerses Veterans in the applications, and is perceived positively by Veterans, will result in positive functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physiotherapy is a rehabilitation specialty that helps alleviate physical impairments and promotes patient's mobility and quality of life. It consists of equipment and personnel to provide mechanically forced movements and various exercises that help retain and enhance motor movements in patients suffering from physical injuries or ailments like Parkinson's disease, Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Stroke, etc. This paper proposes an entertaining way to perform routine exercises, which do not require physical intervention, by packaging them into a Virtual Reality (VR) game environment for such patients to enhance joint and muscle mobility while also providing continuous monitoring of vital signs using Bio-sensors. The game provides various degrees of muscle exercises and Microsoft Kinect (Optical Sensor) is used to track patient's skeletal movements. Prompt measures are also provided if the data from Bio-sensors (mounted on patient's body and connected wirelessly to the processing unit) starts to deviate from medically accepted normal ranges. We have developed the prototype using Unity 3D alongwith the VR headset Oculus Rift. The proposed prototype has immense significance in the field of rehabilitation and improving quality of daily life activities for the elderly. While experimenting with the prototype it was found that the used Bio-sensors provided an error no greater than one unit of measurement, which is negligible for the purpose of physiotherapy exercise monitoring considering the span of the normal range values. Moreover, the Kinect provided an error of just 5 mm during skeletal measurements thereby engendering robust deployment of the proposed unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery rates for facial palsy are usually excellent; however, regularly patients present with problems with their fine facial movements that affect their emotional expressions. To discover the viability and ease of using an Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electromyography (EMG) combined Virtual Reality (VR) gaming system – the 'Oculus Rift' device in the evaluation and rehabilitation of facial palsy. Single case study. A young 23-year-old female with facial palsy. Most of the patient's facial features were re-established within the recovery time frame, except for her right forehead and eyebrow movements. A 10 day exercise program (Day 2–11) with an immersive virtual reality device, which randomly shoots virtually animated white balls in an unpredictable and testing pattern. EEG and EMG patterns corresponding to the facial upper quadrant were taken at baseline, post-intervention, and at follow up. EMG and EEG investigation revealed a progressive improvement in the muscle activation in response to the impulsive and unpredictable activities in the virtual environment provided through the immersive VR device. The case report found a positive relationship between VR, facial upper quadrant EMG activation and EEG pattern changes following the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contemporary popularity of virtual reality devices such as the Oculus Rift has links not just with earlier eras of virtual reality technology, but with recurrent discourse surrounding the moving image and spectatorship. The articulation of the Oculus Rift in public through YouTube 'reaction' videos and media moments such as the Oculus Rift Time magazine cover of 2015 links contemporary virtual reality to early cinema discourses of credulous spectatorship, strenuous spectatorship and the cinema of attractions. Through these comparisons, this article argues that the 'image' of contemporary virtual reality technology is not that of a simulated exotic paradise enabled by the apparatus, but the apparatus itself, the body of its user and that body's gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tracking head motion in a simple, portable and accurate manner during performance of postural tasks in a virtual reality environment could have important implications for investigating normal and pathological head kinematics. We investigated concurrent validity of head tracking of two Head Mounted Displays (HMDs), Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, vs. a gold-standard motion capture system (Qualisys). Head kinematics of N = 20 healthy young adults was quantified during static and dynamic postural tasks. While wearing the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, participants observed moving stars (static tasks) or a flying ball (dynamic task). Head kinematics were recorded simultaneously by the Rift or Vive and Qualisys camera system. We calculated head directional path, acceleration in 6 directions and volume of translation movement. Intra-Class Correlations (ICC) and 95% Limits of agreement were calculated. Most ICC values were around 0.9 with several at 0.99 indicating excellent agreement between the HMDs and Qualisys. Weaker agreement was observed for vertical displacement during a static task and moderate agreement was observed pitch and yaw displacement during a dynamic task. A negative bias of a small magnitude (indicating more movement in VR) was observed for most variables in static tasks, while a positive bias was observed for most variables in the dynamic task (indicating less movement in VR). Our results generally support the concurrent validity of Oculus Rift and HTC Vive head tracking during static and dynamic standing tasks in healthy young adults. Specific task- and direction-dependent differences should be considered when planning measurement studies using these novel tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driver’s gaze information can be crucial in driving research because of its relation to driver attention. Particularly, the inclusion of gaze data in driving simulators broadens the scope of research studies as they can relate drivers’ gaze patterns to their features and performance. In this paper, we present two gaze region estimation modules integrated in a driving simulator. One uses the 3D Kinect device and another uses the virtual reality Oculus Rift device. The modules are able to detect the region, out of seven in which the driving scene was divided, where a driver is gazing at in every route processed frame. Four methods were implemented and compared for gaze estimation, which learn the relation between gaze displacement and head movement. Two are simpler and based on points that try to capture this relation and two are based on classifiers such as MLP and SVM. Experiments were carried out with 12 users that drove on the same scenario twice, each one with a different visualization display, first with a big screen and later with Oculus Rift. On the whole, Oculus Rift outperformed Kinect as the best hardware for gaze estimation. The Oculus-based gaze region estimation method with the highest performance achieved an accuracy of 97.94%. The information provided by the Oculus Rift module enriches the driving simulator data and makes it possible a multimodal driving performance analysis apart from the immersion and realism obtained with the virtual reality experience provided by Oculus.

Controlled manipulation of single molecules is an important step towards the fabrication of single molecule devices and nanoscale molecular machines. Currently, scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is the only technique that facilitates direct imaging and manipulations of nanometer-sized molecular compounds on surfaces. The technique of hand-controlled manipulation (HCM) introduced recently in Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1926–1932 simplifies the identification of successful manipulation protocols in situations when the interaction pattern of the manipulated molecule with its environment is not fully known. Here we present a further technical development that substantially improves the effectiveness of HCM. By adding Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles to our HCM set-up we provide the experimentalist with 3D visual feedback that displays the currently executed trajectory and the position of the SPM tip during manipulation in real time, while simultaneously plotting the experimentally measured frequency shift (Δf) of the non-contact atomic force microscope (NC-AFM) tuning fork sensor as well as the magnitude of the electric current (I) flowing between the tip and the surface. The advantages of the set-up are demonstrated by applying it to the model problem of the extraction of an individual PTCDA molecule from its hydrogen-bonded monolayer grown on Ag(111) surface.

Nowadays, the communication gap between humans and computers might be reduced due to multimodal sensors available in the market. Therefore, it is important to know the specifications of these sensors and how they are being used in order to create human computer interfaces, which tackle complex tasks. The purpose of this paper is to review recent research regarding the up-to-date application areas of the following sensors: (1) Emotiv sensor, which identifies emotions, facial expressions, thoughts, and head movements from users through electroencephalography signals, (2) Leap motion controller, which recognizes hand and arm movements via vision techniques, (3) Myo armband, which identifies hand and arm movements using electromyography signals and inertial sensors, and (4) Oculus rift, which provides immersion into virtual reality to users. The application areas discussed in this manuscript go from assistive technology to virtual tours. Finally, a brief discussion regarding advantages and shortcomings of each sensor is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The contribution of visual information to standing balance in patients with vestibular dysfunction varies between patients. Sensitive tools to detect kinematic response to visual perturbation are needed to individualize treatment. OBJECTIVE: Using the Oculus Rift headset and sensors, we developed a novel virtual reality (VR) test of head stability (HST) in response to visual perturbation. During the test, head movements were tracked in six degrees-of-freedom. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the sensitivity of the VR_HST to differences between patients with vestibular dysfunction and controls. METHODS: Seventeen patients and 16 controls performed static balance tasks with eyes closed (feet together or tandem on floor and foam) and observing 'moving stars' (amplitude 32 mm, frequency 0.2 Hz) via the Oculus (tandem). Directional Path and Root Mean Square Velocity were calculated for postural and head oscillations. RESULTS: Postural sway differed significantly between groups when standing on foam with feet together and on floor while observing the 'moving stars' task. Head oscillations were larger among patients, primarily in pitch, yaw, and roll rotation. CONCLUSIONS: The VR_HST was found to be sensitive to differences between small and diverse groups. Its clinical utility should be studied in larger samples of patients with vestibular dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) surgery using Oculus Rift and Leap Motion devices is a multi-sensory, holistic surgical training experience. A multimedia combination including 360° videos, three-dimensional interaction, and stereoscopic videos in VR has been developed to enable trainees to experience a realistic surgery environment. The innovation allows trainees to interact with the individual components of the maxillofacial anatomy and apply surgical instruments while watching close-up stereoscopic three-dimensional videos of the surgery. In this study, a novel training tool for Le Fort I osteotomy based on immersive virtual reality (iVR) was developed and validated. Seven consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons evaluated the application for face and content validity. Using a structured assessment process, the surgeons commented on the content of the developed training tool, its realism and usability, and the applicability of VR surgery for orthognathic surgical training. The results confirmed the clinical applicability of VR for delivering training in orthognathic surgery. Modifications were suggested to improve the user experience and interactions with the surgical instruments. This training tool is ready for testing with surgical trainees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual Reality (VR) has been shown to have significant impacts on the efficacy of rehabilitation, improving a patient's motivation and participation, as well as improving scores in functional assessments when used to enhance traditional therapy. However, movements in VR have been demonstrated to have significant differences in movement profiles whilst performing simple reaching tasks compared to their real counterparts. The lack of tactile perception in VR systems is often attributed to be one of the causes of these differences. Therefore, to investigate the degree to which the lack of haptic feedback impacts movement profiles in VR, we have reintroduced the sense of touch through vibration motors on the fingertips. Participants were required to reach to virtual targets, both with and without haptic feedback. Their movements were quantified using motion capture, and the virtual targets were rendered using the Oculus Rift. The motions to both targets were compared using a number of measures to characterize the velocity profiles. Preliminary results suggest that the reintroduction of haptic feedback improves performance based indicators in virtual reaching tasks, such as the time to complete a reach, and the stability of the reaching hand whilst touching the virtual target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bare hand interaction (BHI) allows users to use their hands and fingers to interact with digital content without any attached devices or accessories. For BHI to realize widespread adoption, interaction techniques for fundamental operations, like grasp-and-release, need to be identified and optimized. This paper presents a controlled usability evaluation of four common visual feedback techniques in grasp-and-release tasks using bare hand interaction (BHI). The techniques are ‘object coloring,’ ‘connecting line,’ ‘shadow’ and ‘object halo.’ The usability was examined in terms of task time, accuracy, errors and user satisfaction. A software test bed was developed for two interface configurations: using the Leap Motion controller alone (desktop configuration) and using the Leap with Oculus Rift (virtual reality (VR) configuration). Participants (n 32) performed four trials × five feedback techniques × two UI (user interface) configurations, i.e., a total of 1280 trials. The results can be summarized into: (a) user performance is significantly better in the VR configuration compared to the desktop; (b) coloring techniques for visual feedback (‘object coloring’ and ‘object halo’) are more usable than ‘connecting line’ regardless of UI; (c) in the VR, coloring techniques remain more usable, while in the desktop interface the ‘shadow’ technique is also usable and preferred by users, (d) the ‘connecting line’ technique often distracts users from grasp-and-release tasks on static targets. (e) Some visual feedback is always preferred by users than none in both VR and desktop. We discuss these findings in terms of design recommendations for bare hands interactions that involve grasp-and-release tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing availability of advanced but affordable technologies is providing interesting opportunities for the development of ICT applications for the social good. In particolar, the upcoming diffusion of advanced Head Mounted Displays dedicated to the consumer market has lead to a great interest in the design and production of dedicated media, like e.g. immersive movies and Virtual Reality applications. These devices use stereoscopic visualization to enhance the sense of realism and immersivity in a virtual scene. However, a correct stereoscopic visualization requires an accurate consideration of different parameters related to the production and display stages. In this paper, we analyze the stereoscopic setup of a Head Mounted Display, in order to highlight its main visualization characteristics in relation with the known issues and requirements for a correct stereoscopic visualization, and to establish some preliminary guidelines for an optimal creation of stereoscopic contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) applications have disseminated throughout several fields, with a special quest for immersion. The avatar is one of the key constituents of immersive applications, and avatar resemblance can provoke diverse emotional responses from the user. Yet a lot a virtual reality systems struggle to implement real life-like avatars. In this work, we propose a novel method for creating interactive, user-resembling avatars using available commercial hardware and software. Avatar visualization is possible with a point-cloud or a contiguous polygon surface, and avatar interactions with the virtual scenario happens through a body joint-approximation for contact. In addition, the implementation could be easily extended to other systems and its modular architecture admits improvement both on visualization and physical interactions. The code is under Apache License 2.0 and is freely available as Supplemental Information 1 in this article.

Although cadavers constitute the gold standard for teaching anatomy to medical and health science students, there are substantial financial, ethical, and supervisory constraints on their use. In addition, although anatomy remains one of the fundamental areas of medical education, universities have decreased the hours allocated to teaching gross anatomy in favor of applied clinical work. The release of virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices allows learning to occur through hands-on immersive experiences. The aim of this research was to assess whether learning structural anatomy utilizing VR or AR is as effective as tablet-based (TB) applications, and whether these modes allowed enhanced student learning, engagement and performance. Participants ( n = 59) were randomly allocated to one of the three learning modes: VR, AR, or TB and completed a lesson on skull anatomy, after which they completed an anatomical knowledge assessment. Student perceptions of each learning mode and any adverse effects experienced were recorded. No significant differences were found between mean assessment scores in VR, AR, or TB. During the lessons however, VR participants were more likely to exhibit adverse effects such as headaches (25% in VR P < 0.05), dizziness (40% in VR, P < 0.001), or blurred vision (35% in VR, P < 0.01). Both VR and AR are as valuable for teaching anatomy as tablet devices, but also promote intrinsic benefits such as increased learner immersion and engagement. These outcomes show great promise for the effective use of virtual and augmented reality as means to supplement lesson content in anatomical education. Anat Sci Educ 10: 549-559. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of people are realizing the advantages of bicycling, which has caused bicyclist safety concerns and awareness to rise accordingly. This study aims to investigate the capability of combining Virtual Reality technology and bicycle simulation for bicyclist behavior studies. An immersive interactive bicycle simulation was developed to explore how subject performance is influenced by virtual road environments through a well-controlled experiment with Oculus Rift headset. 30 people from 18-25 years old were chosen to be subjects, as they are in the highest injury rate percentile. Results showed that the existence of bike lanes influences cyclist reactions, causing earlier and more braking to occur. Road hazard simulation and "Distance to Brake to Stop" measurement can provide useful insight into individual cyclist reactions to different types of road hazards. This study has provided evidence that given the nature of cycling on roads, virtual reality technology can serve as both a safe and effective method to conduct more in-depth behavior studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gold standard treatments in amblyopia are penalizing therapies, such as patching or blurring vision with atropine that are aimed at forcing the use of the amblyopic eye. However, in the last years, new therapies are being developed and validated, such as dichoptic visual training, aimed at stimulating the amblyopic eye and eliminating the interocular supression.Purpose: To evaluate the effect of dichoptic visual training using a virtual reality head mounted display in a sample of anisometropic amblyopic adults and to evaluate the potential usefulness of this option of treatment.Methods: A total of 17 subjects (10 men, 7 women) with a mean age of 31.2 years (range, 17-69 year) and anisometropic amblyopia were enrolled. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and stereoacuity (Stereo Randot graded circle test) changes were evaluated after 8 sessions (40 min per session) of dichoptic training with the computer game Diplopia Game (Vivid Vision) run in the Oculus Rift OC DK2 virtual reality head mounted display (Oculus VR).Results: Mean BCVA in amblyopic eye improved significantly from a logMAR value of 0.58 ± 0.35 before training to a post-training value of 0.43 ± 0.38 (p < 0.01). Forty-seven percent of the participants achieved BCVA of 20/40 or better after the training as compared to 30% before the training. Mean stereoacuity changed from a value of 263.3 ± 135.1 before dichoptic training to a value of 176.7 ± 152.4 s of arc after training (p < 0.01). A total of 8 patients (47.1%) before dichoptic treatment had unmeasurable stereoacuity while this only occurred in 2 patients (11.8%) after training.Conclusions: Dichoptic training using a virtual reality head mounted display seems to be an effective option of treatment in adults with anisometropic amblyopia. Future clinical trials are needed to confirm this preliminary evidence.Trial Registration: Trial ID: ISRCTN62086471 . Date registered: 13/06/2017. Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control schemes are central to the player experience as they dictate how users interact with the game world. Since the 1990s, desktop 3D games have used a standard control scheme (often called “mouselook”) in which the mouse simultaneously rotates the camera view, aims, and steers the player’s avatar. Virtual reality games require a different approach because head-mounted displays introduce an additional input channel. To date, research has focused on the usability of hardware input devices, while control schemes have received little attention. Furthermore, VR games do not have a standard control scheme as of yet. To address this gap, we conducted a mixed-methods study that compared three types of control schemes for first-person virtual reality games and measured their effect on player experience, performance and immersion. We found that familiar control schemes that coupled control of the camera view and steering the avatar, had no dead zone (i.e., “keyhole” or area of the screen in which input is not recognized), and allowed players to use the mouse to control all in-game functions were preferred and resulted in the best performance and immersion scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research efforts, in the area of virtual reality, have mostly concentrated on the design and implementation of devices supporting user presence in immersive environments. Much can be done, however, to further improve the experience of wearing a head mounted display, in order to forget being at home while playing a computer game or navigating a virtual environment. In fact, with the widespread availability, in the near future, of head mounted displays (such as oculus rift) not only the power of gaming platforms will increase, but also the support to the construction of graphical user interfaces, which more closely resemble reality. Hence, although it may be exciting to navigate a virtual space wearing a head mounted display, user presence still depends on the functional fidelity of virtual objects. Simply said, presence perception is highly influenced by the opportunity of interacting realistically with the environment at hand. Hence, many graphical user interface (GUI) components should be re-engineered adopting a diegetic approach, as simple adaptations may result unnatural, awkward or out of place. Such fact, urges, for example, re-thinking how users receive and interact with information in virtual worlds. Along this direction of work, this contribution moves a step forward analyzing the role of diegetic interfaces. In particular, it describes the design, the implementation and the performance, to the eyes of its users, of three different diegetic interfaces, tested utilizing the oculus rift display. The results that are here presented, although referring to three specific cases, are of wider scope as they have been obtained for two GUI components that are adopted throughout many different entertainment virtual environments, namely a shell and a global control interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural Heritage is a precious resource that witnesses our past and that should be transmitted to future generations. The creation of digital 3D representation of monuments and sites have been demonstrated to be a reliable method for preservation and historical purposes. In order to preserve a high level of detail, the reconstructed point cloud will typically contain millions of points, which could result in several GB of data when stored on disk. For these reasons, a challenge for the scientific community is to find new ways to visualize and disclose 3D digital contents, obtaining a better access and communication of the Cultural Heritage information. In this paper, Virtual Reality (VR) devices are employed to provide not only a simple visualization but also an immersive experience for digitally reconstructed heritage scenarios. Oculus Rift (VR visualization headset) and Kinect (depth sensor for user interaction) are integrated in order to interact and navigate in a complex 3D or 4D (temporal) archaeological scene as well as to have access to digital media contents of several MB of size. In this way, archaeological sites or fragile environments with forbidden access due the preservation policies can also be virtually visited and inspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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High-quality immersive display technologies are becoming mainstream with the release of head-mounted displays (HMDs) such as the Oculus Rift. These devices potentially represent an affordable alternative to the more traditional, centralised CAVE-style immersive environments. One driver for the development of CAVE-style immersive environments has been collaborative sense-making. Despite this, there has been little research on the effectiveness of collaborative visualisation in CAVE-style facilities, especially with respect to abstract data visualisation tasks. Indeed, very few studies have focused on the use of these displays to explore and analyse abstract data such as networks and there have been no formal user studies investigating collaborative visualisation of abstract data in immersive environments. In this paper we present the results of the first such study. It explores the relative merits of HMD and CAVE-style immersive environments for collaborative analysis of network connectivity, a common and important task involving abstract data. We find significant differences between the two conditions in task completion time and the physical movements of the participants within the space: participants using the HMD were faster while the CAVE2 condition introduced an asymmetry in movement between collaborators. Otherwise, affordances for collaborative data analysis offered by the low-cost HMD condition were not found to be different for accuracy and communication with the CAVE2. These results are notable, given that the latest HMDs will soon be accessible (in terms of cost and potentially ubiquity) to a massive audience. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For years now, virtual reality devices have been applied in the field of vision science in an attempt to improve our understanding of perceptual principles underlying the experience of self-motion. Some of this research has been concerned with exploring factors involved in the visually-induced illusory perception of self-motion, known as vection. We examined the usefulness of the cost-effective Oculus Rift in generating vection in seated observers. This device has the capacity to display optic flow in world coordinates by compensating for tracked changes in 3D head orientation. We measured vection strength in three conditions of visual compensation for head movement: compensated, uncompensated, and inversely compensated. During presentation of optic flow, the observer was instructed to make periodic head oscillations (+/- 22 deg horizontal excursions at approximately 0.53 Hz). We found that vection was best in the compensated condition, and was weakest in the inversely compensated condition. Surprisingly, vection was always better in passive viewing conditions, compared with conditions where active head rotations were performed. These findings suggest that vection is highly dependent on interactions between visual, vestibular and proprioceptive information, and may be highly sensitive to limitations of temporal lag in visual-vestibular coupling using this system.

Modern multimedia technology used in entertainment and recuperative medicine develops increasingly more through the multitude of equipment and applications. Frequent use and misuse, especially in the field of entertainment applications may cause vision problems, adaptability to the social environment or to different actions, especially human body biomechanics problems. On the other hand, using these devices according to proper procedures in the medical field can contribute to the recovery of malfunctions of the human body biomechanics and adaptability to the environment. In the first part of paper presents some general aspects of variants of virtual reality and multimedia systems also are mentioned several options for recording and video processing. In the second paper is presented the methodology developed in this experiment, structure of systems that includes devices, sequence of procedures and manner of storage and processing of data obtained from equipment. In the final part of the paper presents the results of analysis on two subjects, users of video entertainment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent innovations in the field of virtual reality, such as the Oculus Rift head mounted display, provide an unparalleled level of immersion in the virtual world at a cost which is rapidly approaching mainstream availability. Utilising virtual reality has been shown to improve many facets of the rehabilitation process, including patient motivation and participation. These systems however, do not enable the user to receive feedback when interacting with virtual objects, which may influence the movement profile of a patient. Therefore, to investigate how a virtual environment influences movements during stance, participants were required to reach to a real and a virtual target. Their movements were quantified using a motion capture suit, and a virtual target was generated using the Oculus Rift. The motions to both targets (real and virtual) were compared using a number of measures calculated to characterize the velocity profiles. Performance based indicators such as time and variance in movement were diminished when reaching to a virtual target, and movements executed in VR recruited more muscular segments than their real counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored how a Head Mounted Display (HMD)-experienced virtual environment influences physical balance of six balance-impaired adults, 59-69 years of age, when compared to a control group of eight non-balance-impaired adults, 18-28 years of age. The setup included a Microsoft Kinect and a bespoke balance board controlling a virtual reality skiing game. Two tests were conducted: full-vision versus blindfolded and HMD versus monitor display. Results indicate that five of the six balance-impaired adults and six of the eight non-balance-impaired adults showed higher degree of postural stability while using a monitor display. The conclusions are that HMDs, used in this context, leads to postural instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital slides obtained from whole slide imaging (WSI) platforms are typically viewed in two dimensions using desktop personal computer monitors or more recently on mobile devices. To the best of our knowledge, we are not aware of any studies viewing digital pathology slides in a virtual reality (VR) environment. VR technology enables users to be artificially immersed in and interact with a computer-simulated world. Oculus Rift is among the world's first consumer-targeted VR headsets, intended primarily for enhanced gaming. Our aim was to explore the use of the Oculus Rift for examining digital pathology slides in a VR environment. Methods: An Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 (DK2) was connected to a 64-bit computer running Virtual Desktop software. Glass slides from twenty randomly selected lymph node cases (ten with benign and ten malignant diagnoses) were digitized using a WSI scanner. Three pathologists reviewed these digital slides on a 27-inch 5K display and with the Oculus Rift after a 2-week washout period. Recorded endpoints included concordance of final diagnoses and time required to examine slides. The pathologists also rated their ease of navigation, image quality, and diagnostic confidence for both modalities. Results: There was 90% diagnostic concordance when reviewing WSI using a 5K display and Oculus Rift. The time required to examine digital pathology slides on the 5K display averaged 39 s (range 10–120 s), compared to 62 s with the Oculus Rift (range 15–270 s). All pathologists confirmed that digital pathology slides were easily viewable in a VR environment. The ratings for image quality and diagnostic confidence were higher when using the 5K display. Conclusion: Using the Oculus Rift DK2 to view and navigate pathology whole slide images in a virtual environment is feasible for diagnostic purposes. However, image resolution using the Oculus Rift device was limited. Interactive VR technologies such as the Oculus Rift are novel tools that may be of use in digital pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of a powered wheelchair is often not intuitive, making training of new users a challenging and sometimes hazardous task. Collisions, due to a lack of experience can result in injury for the user and other individuals. By conducting training activities in virtual reality (VR), we can potentially improve driving skills whilst avoiding the risks inherent to the real world. However, until recently VR technology has been expensive and limited the commercial feasibility of a general training solution. We describe Wheelchair-Rift, a cost effective prototype simulator that makes use of the Oculus Rift head mounted display and the Leap Motion hand tracking device. It has been assessed for face validity by a panel of experts from a local Posture and Mobility Service. Initial results augur well for our cost-effective training solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing need to eliminate wasted time and money during factory layout design and subsequent construction. It is presently difficult for engineers to foresee if a certain layout is optimal for work and material flows. By exploiting modelling, simulation and visualisation techniques, this paper presents a tool concept called immersive WITNESS that combines the modelling strengths of Discrete Event Simulation (DES) with the 3D visualisation strengths of recent 3D low cost gaming technology to enable decision makers make informed design choices for future factories layouts. The tool enables engineers to receive immediate feedback on their design choices. Our results show that this tool has the potential to reduce rework as well as the associated costs of making physical prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall purpose of this project is to test the impact and potential benefits of Virtual Reality technology by improving the current training methods for the operation of the Mitsubishi Movemaster RV-M1 Robot. The final application aims to achieve this goal by increasing the user's interactivity with the robot's features inside a virtual environment developed using the game engine Unity and the Oculus Rift headset for the virtual visualization. By using this application, on site operation time is decreased mainly by allowing off-line programming of the equipment. It also allows universities without or with limited industrial machinery to provide their students a way to learn and practice on industrial automation and robotics simulation topics without inconvenience. The application is designed to decrease the student's learning curve by displaying a complete virtual environment where the tridimensional model of the robotic arm can be visualized and programmed according to the real model's parameters and specifications. Joint type moving sequences are compiled into a file which afterwards can be transferred to the robot for real testing and execution. The system integrates a set of joysticks that allows the user to program each of the robot's joints as well as display several features of it in the virtual environment such as animations, images and text information that simplify the instructions shown in a printed manual. In order to find an optimized, collision-free movement sequence between two points an A* shortest path algorithm is implemented using some of the built-in tools and plugins available in Unity and its Asset store. As a result of this last feature, the application can create a comparison between the user's input sequence and a computer generated sequence based on the A* algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores an approach to physical rehabilitation using state-of-the-art technologies in virtual reality and motion tracking; in particular, Oculus Rift DK2 (released in July, 2014) and Intel RealSense (released in November, 2014) are used. A game is developed which requires from the patient to perform an established set of abduction and adduction arm movements to achieve rotator cuff rehabilitation after injury. While conduct of clinical trials is outside the scope of this work, experts in physical rehabilitation working in the medical field have carried out a preliminary evaluation, showing encouraging results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost all applications of Building Physics are underscored by a desire to optimise amenity for the people that experience our designs. Despite this, the communication of Building Physics analysis is often conducted using scientific presentation methods. These media are inherently detached from the perspective of end users, leading to a disconnect between the technical analysis and the key driver. The virtualisation technologies adopted in this work are used to generate immersive environments that provide improved contextualisation of built environment design. Designers and stakeholders are able to experience Building Physics analysis from the perspective of end users, connecting the technical analysis to its key driver, occupant amenity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, new developments have led to an increasing number of virtual reality (VR)-based experiments, but little is known about their validity compared to real-world experiments. To this end, an experiment was carried out which compares responses given in a real-world environment to responses given in a VR environment. In the experiment, thirty participants rated the overall listening experience of music excerpts while sitting in a cinema and a listening booth being in a real-world environment and in a VR environment. In addition, the VR system that was used to carry out the sessions in the VR environment is presented in detail. Results indicate that there are only minor statistically significant differences between the two environments when the overall listening experience is rated. Furthermore, in the real-world environment, the ratings given in the listening booth were slightly higher than in the cinema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although 3D models are useful to preserve the information about historical artefacts, the potential of these digital contents are not fully accomplished until they are not used to interactively communicate their significance to non-specialists. Starting from this consideration, a new way to provide museum visitors with more information was investigated. The research is aimed at valorising and making more accessible the Egyptian funeral objects exhibited in the Sforza Castle in Milan. The results of the research will be used for the renewal of the current exhibition, at the Archaeological Museum in Milan, by making it more attractive. A 3D virtual interactive scenario regarding the "path of the dead", an important ritual in ancient Egypt, was realized to augment the experience and the comprehension of the public through interactivity. Four important artefacts were considered for this scope: two ushabty, a wooden sarcophagus and a heart scarab. The scenario was realized by integrating low-cost Virtual Reality technologies, as the Oculus Rift DK2 and the Leap Motion controller, and implementing a specific software by using Unity. The 3D models were implemented by adding responsive points of interest in relation to important symbols or features of the artefact. This allows highlighting single parts of the artefact in order to better identify the hieroglyphs and provide their translation. The paper describes the process for optimizing the 3D models, the implementation of the interactive scenario and the results of some test that have been carried out in the lab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virtual reality technology is currently used classifying functional types such as the observation operation type, the experimental activity type, the learning information type, the field problem-solving type, and other different types, based on the media's characteristics implementing 3D form of multi-sensory information. Using Virtual Reality, the restoration of the 'Doksu Palace' has been grafted onto J. Keller's ARCS model, suggesting a field restoration concept that reenacts the lives of the people that had been in the field with the cultural heritage and history based on a scenario based scene direction. This paper also summarizes 3 different types of implementation of the field restoration assorting multi-scene direction. Certain limitations exist, due to the fact that a completed prototype hasn't been suggested and that a detailed notion of the housing and 3D audio connection has been omitted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving adequate visualisation of designs within CAD packages remains a challenge for designers with current methods of 3D CAD visualisation requiring either a high level of technical ability, or expensive hardware and software. The recent re-emergence of consumer VR has lowered the barrier for everyday developers wanting to visualise their designs in true 3D. This paper presents the CAD Interaction Lab (CIL) which employs the Oculus Rift Head Mounted Display (HMD) and Leap Motion Controller (LMC) to provide a low cost method enabling users to use their hands to dissect a mechanic model to manipulate and inspect individual components in realistic 3D. Qualitative observations of user interactions with the CIL show that users were able to intuitively manipulate the CAD model using natural hand movements with only minimal instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topics include hackers hitting Sony with a devastating attack, a new Bluetooth version offering online connectivity that could advance the Internet of Things, the recent death of the father of the home video-game console, big e-commerce websites crashing under the weight of holiday shopping traffic, lawmakers approving a plan that could break up Google in Europe, advanced malware spying on victims for six years before being discovered, gaming companies worrying that using virtual reality could make players sick, scientists building a molecular-level flash-storage system, researchers saying that many children's apps violate users' privacy, and extensive global law-enforcement operation taking down dark websites. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Digital slides obtained from whole slide imaging (WSI) platforms are typically viewed in two dimensions using desktop personal computer monitors or more recently on mobile devices. To the best of our knowledge, we are not aware of any studies viewing digital pathology slides in a virtual reality (VR) environment. VR technology enables users to be artificially immersed in and interact with a computer-simulated world. Oculus Rift is among the world′s first consumer-targeted VR headsets, intended primarily for enhanced gaming. Our aim was to explore the use of the Oculus Rift for examining digital pathology slides in a VR environment. Methods: An Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 (DK2) was connected to a 64-bit computer running Virtual Desktop software. Glass slides from twenty randomly selected lymph node cases (ten with benign and ten malignant diagnoses) were digitized using a WSI scanner. Three pathologists reviewed these digital slides on a 27-inch 5K display and with the Oculus Rift after a 2-week washout period. Recorded endpoints included concordance of final diagnoses and time required to examine slides. The pathologists also rated their ease of navigation, image quality, and diagnostic confidence for both modalities. Results: There was 90% diagnostic concordance when reviewing WSI using a 5K display and Oculus Rift. The time required to examine digital pathology slides on the 5K display averaged 39 s (range 10-120 s), compared to 62 s with the Oculus Rift (range 15-270 s). All pathologists confirmed that digital pathology slides were easily viewable in a VR environment. The ratings for image quality and diagnostic confidence were higher when using the 5K display. Conclusion: Using the Oculus Rift DK2 to view and navigate pathology whole slide images in a virtual environment is feasible for diagnostic purposes. However, image resolution using the Oculus Rift device was limited. Interactive VR technologies such as the Oculus Rift are novel tools that may be of use in digital pathology.