Virtual reality techniques are increasingly becoming indispensable in many areas. These areas include medicine, entertainment, architecture, education and manufacturing, with VR tools being used for testing and prototyping products at design stages, as well as for creating applications in finished products. This book looks at how to generate advanced virtual reality worlds. It covers principles, techniques, devices and mathematical foundations, beginning with basic definitions, and then moving on to the latest results from current research and exploring the social implications of these. The book looks at topics not normally covered in the literature. Very practical in its approach, the book is fully illustrated in colour and contains numerous examples, exercises and case studies. Careful reading of this textbook will allow students and practitioners alike to gain a practical understanding of virtual reality concepts, devices and possible applications.

Inhalt

Fundamentals.- Computer Graphics.- Computer Animation.- Virtual Worlds.- Virtual Characters.- Architecture of Virtual Reality Systems.- Mixed Realities.- Perceiving Virtual Worlds.- Vision.- Audition.- Touch.- Smell and Taste.- Applications.- Health Sciences.- Cultural Heritage.- Other VR Applications.