Vic: Computer breakthrough offers 'augmented reality'
MELBOURNE, Aug 19 AAP - Surveyors, landscapers, architects and many other professionsare likely to be revolutionised by an Australian-developed computer system which mixesreality with virtual objects.
The system, labelled augmented reality by its developers at the University of SouthAustralia, incorporates a worn computer with virtual reality glasses and a global positioningsystem (GPS).
Users can walk around outdoors and see their natural surroundings but then add newfeatures such as houses or buildings, garden plants or trees and relocate them at will.
Wayne Piekarski, the assistant director of the university's Wearable Computer Lab demonstratedin Melbourne today how users could manipulate their vision of the real world via specialmetallic gloves connected to the computer.
"Traditionally with paper maps and designs people have to look at them and map theminto their brains," he told reporters today.
"By being able to see things in the real world and edit them with the gloves beforethey are built, people can much more easily understand information."
"The applications are endless. This device could be used in surveying, mining, forestry,search and rescue and entertainment as well as building, construction and landscape design."
Mr Piekarsky's system, called Tinmith, is one of only three augmented reality systemsin the world, and the most advanced, he said.
While the current unit included a backpack, he expected it to shrink considerable wereit to be produced commercially in large numbers.
"It tricks your brain into thinking the virtual objects are really there.
"It makes real the things that were previously only fantasy in movies," he said.
AAP ra/dk/hu/
KEYWORD: REALITY
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий