Microsoft has developed a system for combining physical and virtual reality
Microsoft has shown a technology to combine the real and computer worlds. The project was named DreamWalker (which translates as "lunatic"), and its basis was a virtual reality system, visually being in which a person walks along real streets and other open places of the real world. At the same time, the digital image interacts with the physical environment to ensure the safety of the user during such movements. The DreamWalker development team claims that the system they have created is able to accurately track a person in reality. This process occurs constantly, as a result of which the technology plots a real route, guides the person and identifies obstacles on the road in time. As a result, everything should lead to the fact that a user immersed in virtuality in the physical world can still get to his destination. To ensure the greatest possible freedom of movement and the absence of binding to the same location, DreamWalker is supplemented with a whole arsenal of hardware equipment. The system includes virtual reality glasses, a backpack that acts as a computer and is equipped with an additional battery, various controllers and depth sensors, and, of course, a smartphone for determining GPS coordinates. Putting it all on himself, the user can physically walk on real roads, mentally being in the digital space.
A person can walk along a well-known and verified route, while the new VR-system, created by Microsoft, can change the visual scenery along the way. DreamWalker, according to its creators, is able to adapt to any changes in real mode. So, while driving along a familiar road, for example, to a store, the system will offer the user a walk along one of the popular tourist routes. While driving, the system constantly monitors the user. This is done for his safety, including in order to timely prevent collisions with physical obstacles or deviations from a predetermined route. At the beginning, a person sets the direction in any application with maps (in the same Google Maps). DreamWalker then determines the appropriate digital route based on the selected path. If at the moment of movement unexpected obstacles appear in the physical world, the virtual route is subject to correction. To do this, the virtual reality system uses a depth camera that records information it receives from GPS sensors. DreamWalker identifies and recognizes elements that were unexpected during the initial route definition. They can be roadblocks, holes, poles or pedestrians. The system corrects the distinction between physical and virtual environments by adding the same road signs or other people to the digital space to avoid accidental collisions in reality. In addition, the virtual route is accompanied by a special arrow that indicates the correct direction to the very end point of the journey. The Topic of Article: Microsoft has developed a system for combining physical and virtual reality. |
