Virtual Reality ReaCTor, University College London  

Virtual Reality (VR) has been playing an increasing role in research in industrial design, architecture and psychology, among other fields. In the 1990's a University of Illinois developed an Electronic Visualisation Lab.

the challenge

The "CAVE ™" is a surround-screen, projection-based virtual reality (VR) system. Since then other manufacturers and institutions have since developed similar systems. Caves can be linked to remote data sources, supercomputers, scientific instruments and other collaborative virtual reality systems via high-speed networks. In 1998 University College London (UCL) created a project under joint sponsorship of the Bartlett School of Architecture and the Computer Science Department. They purchased a VR system called a ReaCTor from a UK/US firm called Trimension.

the solution

While at Arup Acoustics, Robert Essert designed the acoustics of the environment and the immersive 3-D audio system that forms part of it. The physical installation is a 3m cube with rear projection to the front and 2 side wall screens and top projection onto the floor. The top and rear sides are open to the surrounding space. The large projectors are in the space with the cave, and use large mirrors to fold the beams.

The computers that drive the system are in a separate (noisy) machine room with appropriate air conditioning. The 3D audio system comprises the 8-channel sound capabilities of the Silicon Graphics computer, a dedicated audio DSP computer, various other sound sources, mixer, processing, periphonic 9-channel loudspeakers system, headphones and head tracked control, all interconnected by Ethernet and MIDI.

Requirements considered in the design of the UCL facility included:-

» electrical power issues;

» vibration control;

» optics require precise alignment and quiet structure;

» air conditioning load;

» sound intrusion into the cave space form surrounding spaces;

» sound emission from audio system to adjacent spaces;

» room acoustics of surrounding space;

» reflection of sound within the cave;

» projector noise;

» construction sequence, access;

» operator position(s);

» light control;

» security.

A new type of space, somewhere between a sound studio and laboratory, the Cave has a unique mix of priorities. In addition to the computer audio system design, our work included the room acoustics of the space in which the cave is situated, sound isolation and HVAC noise control.

the venue

http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/research/vr/Projects/ImmersiveVRLab/