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NEWS RELEASE

05-05-04

Contacts:
Carolina Cruz-Neira, Virtual Reality Applications Center,
(515) 294-5685
Robert Mills, IPRT Public Affairs, (515) 294-1113
Debra Gibson, News Service, (515) 294-4917

FUTURE OF VIRTUAL REALITY ON DISPLAY AT ISU INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP MAY 13-14

AMES, Iowa -- Interactive demonstrations will highlight the 8th International Immersive Projection Technology Workshop (IPT 2004) May 13-14 at Iowa State University. Organized by ISU's Virtual Reality Applications Center and the Fraunhofer Institute of Industrial Engineering, Stuttgart, Germany, IPT 2004 emphasizes new and unique work in projection-based immersive environments for virtual reality applications.

Immersive projection technologies rely on computer-generated images and sound to create environments that can be experienced as "real" to users. The technology takes on a variety of forms, from wall-length panoramic screens to room-sized virtual reality theaters. The goal is to "immerse" users in a simulated environment and, in most cases, let them interact with it. Immersive projection technology is being applied across an ever-growing range of areas, including engineering design, virtual prototyping, architecture and art as well as manufacturing simulation, robotics, flight simulation, medicine, scientific visualization and education.

"IPT 2004 will be a unique conference," said Carolina Cruz-Neira, event co-chair and associate director of VRAC. "For one, we expect a wide variety of attendees, including researchers, developers, educators, marketers, artists, technologists, end users and students." Keynote speaker for the event is Jose Encarnacao, computer science professor at TU Darmstadt, Germany, and a pioneer in graphics, interactive systems and virtual reality. Fellow speaker Geoffrey Dorn, executive director of the BP Center for Visualization at the University of Colorado, Boulder, will address the potential of virtual reality in the energy industry.

Demonstrations will include a new method that allows users to "walk" inside a virtual reality environment; in another, users will generate three-dimensional spaces by playing instruments in a virtual space. Experts from around the globe will present sessions on topics such as systems, software, application development tools and user studies, and a panel will discuss the future of computing and graphics systems for immersive projection applications.

For more information on the workshop, including registration fees, go to http://www.vrac.iastate.edu/ipt2004/.

Iowa State's VRAC is home to several state-of-the-art immersive projection systems. Its "C6" is one of the world's most advanced VR systems, consisting of a 12-by-12-by-9 foot room that immerses users with images on four walls, the ceiling and floor. The center's "C4" is a flexible system that uses a top-projected floor and rear-projected front and side walls to create an immersive, synthetic environment that supports multiple screen configurations.

VRAC focuses on developing computer interfaces that integrate virtual environments, wireless networking, pervasive computing and third-generation user interface devices to amplify the creativity and productivity of people. The center is involved in approximately $10 million in ongoing contract research with companies and government agencies. VRAC is a member of the Institute for Physical Research and Technology, a network of scientific research centers at Iowa State. For more information, visit the VRAC Web site at http://www.vrac.iastate.edu/.

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