Virtual Reality Technology - Hardcover

Burdea, Grigore C.; Coiffet, Philippe

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0471086320 ISBN 13: 9780471086321

Publisher: Wiley–Blackwell, 1994

Synopsis

The authors delve beneath the surface of existing virtual reality technologies and into the latest issues such as force and tactile displays. Using an engineering perspective, they describe the development of tools, the operating software and the applications for which they are intended. The text contains charts comparing the trade-offs between different techniques and the features of various products, including off-the-shelf devices.

About this title

Review

one of the best books available on the subject I would recommend this as a great reference book. The authors have done an excellent and remarkable revision and update ( Computer Animations and Virtual Worlds, December 2005)

"This comprehensive textbook describes the history of virtual reality technology from its beginnings about forty years ago, through present and future uses." (Medical Reference Services Quarterly, Fall 2004)

" a must–have book. A textbook of this caliber is a welcomed asset for researchers, universities, and others in the field." (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, April 2004)

"Listing in the "More to Explore" section of an article entitled "Virtual–Reality Therapy" (Scientific American, August 2004)

"Instructors students persons interested in knowing something about the current state of virtual reality, and practitioners, researchers, and business involved in VR, will all find this a must–have book. A textbook of this caliber is a welcomed asset..." (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Issue 32:04)

...a well written introductory book on the subject...a fascinating book on a subject that everyone in medical technology will be using more of in coming years... (Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology, January/February 2004)

...a second edition that builds on the success of the first...well written and researched...an ideal introduction to a student or researcher...Burdea and Coiffet have taken a strong book and made it even better...tailored to the needs of students and would make an outstanding textbook for an introduction to virtual reality course...a must have for any student or researcher seriously interested in virtual reality. (Presence, Vol. 12, No. 6, December 2003)

"...provides an excellent overview of the field...a fine textbook.... I would recommend highly." (Real Time Graphics, August 2003)

"...excellent....a fine addition to the bookshelves of readers..." (CyberPsychology and Behavior, Vol. 6, No. 6)

"...this second edition was well overdue, but it has to be said that it has been worth the wait...a must–have book." (Assembly Automation, Vol 24(1), 2004)

one of the best books available on the subject I would recommend this as a great reference book. The authors have done an excellent and remarkable revision and update ( Computer Animations and Virtual Worlds, December 2005)

"This comprehensive textbook describes the history of virtual reality technology from its beginnings about forty years ago, through present and future uses." (Medical Reference Services Quarterly, Fall 2004)

" a must–have book. A textbook of this caliber is a welcomed asset for researchers, universities, and others in the field." (Annals of Biomedical Engineering, April 2004)

"Listing in the "More to Explore" section of an article entitled "Virtual–Reality Therapy" (Scientific American, August 2004)

...a well written introductory book on the subject...a fascinating book on a subject that everyone in medical technology will be using more of in coming years... (Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology, January/February 2004)

...a second edition that builds on the success of the first...well written and researched...an ideal introduction to a student or researcher... (Presence, Vol. 12, No. 6, December 2003)

"...provides an excellent overview of the field...a fine textbook.... I would recommend highly." (Real Time Graphics, August 2003)

"...excellent....a fine addition to the bookshelves of readers..." (CyberPsychology and Behavior, Vol. 6, No. 6)

"...this second edition was well overdue, but it has to be said that it has been worth the wait...a must–have book." (Assembly Automation, Vol 24(1), 2004)

From the Back Cover

A groundbreaking Virtual Reality textbook is now even better

Virtual reality is a very powerful and compelling computer application by which humans interact with computer–generated environments in a way that mimics real life and engages various senses. Although its most widely known application is in the entertainment industry, the real promise of virtual reality lies in such fields as medicine, engineering, oil exploration, and the military, to name just a few. Through virtual reality, scientists can triple the rate of oil discovery, pilots can dogfight numerically superior "bandits," and surgeons can improve their skills on virtual (rather than real) patients.

This Second Edition of the first comprehensive technical book on virtual reality provides updated and expanded coverage of the technology such as:

• Input and output interfaces including touch and force feedback
• Computing architecture (with emphasis on the rendering pipeline and task distribution)
• Object modeling (including physical and behavioral aspects)
• Programming for virtual reality (WorldToolKit, Java 3D, GHOST, and PeopleShop)
• An in–depth look at human factors issues, user performance, and sensorial conflict aspects of VR
• Traditional and emerging VR applications

The new edition of Virtual Reality Technology is specifically designed for use as a textbook. Thus, it includes definitions, review questions, and a CD–ROM with video clips that reinforce the topics covered. The CD–ROM also contains a Laboratory Manual with homework and programming assignments in VRML and Java 3D, as follows:

• Introduction to VRML and Java 3D
• Sensor and Event Processing
• VRML and JavaScript
• Scene Hierarchy, Geometry, and Texture
• VRML PROTO and Glove Devices
• Viewpoint Control, Sound, and Haptic Effects

The Second Edition will serve as a state–of–the–art resource for both undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, computer science, and other disciplines.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley–Blackwell
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0471086320
• ISBN 13: 9780471086321
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 416