Event: MAKS Research Seminar: Immersive Reality Technologies
Date: Wednesday 24 February 2021
Time: 12:15
Venue: Online (Zoom)
Speakers: Fabrizio Cali and Tram Nguyen
In 1965, the visionary computer scientist Ivan Edward Sutherland shared his dream of the ultimate computer display. He wrote in his essay, “the ultimate display would, of course, be a room within which the computer can control the existence of matter. A chair displayed in such a room would be good enough to sit in. Handcuffs displayed in such a room would be confining, and a bullet displayed in such a room would be fatal. With appropriate programming such a display could literally be the Wonderland into which Alice walked.” Sutherland’s seemingly magical digital-world has transformed into what we now call immersive reality. Within 45 years from its very first conception, we have witnessed an explosion in the development of computer graphic hardware and software, theories, research, and applications of immersive technologies in many disciplines of human activities.
To help the audience navigate the complex and rapidly advancing landscape of immersive technologies, we will briefly describe the virtuality - reality continuum which encompasses the concepts of virtual reality, augmented virtuality, augmented reality, and mixed reality - and how such concepts have been realised via different technologies. We will then describe the current facilities at the Immersion Lab, together with a number of showcases illustrating the Maltese landscapes, as part of a larger GIS project called SIntegraM. Finally, each speaker will present their independent PhD research in more detail. Fabrizio Calì will talk about design considerations in VR and VR Distraction Therapy. Tram Nguyen will talk about using MR technology to explore human perception of faces with an application in forensic face learning and recognition.
“It is difficult to say what is impossible; for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.” Robert H. Goddard’s quote is extremely relevant to the technological world of immersive reality. Science-fiction novelists have written about direct brain simulation of alternative virtual worlds in which actions could have real consequences.
Theorists have warned us of virtual schizophrenia which might rob us of the ability to distinguish what is real from what is not. We emphasise and explore the current and near-future practical uses of such technologies. Immersive technologies have been effectively incorporated in many areas including aviation, medicine, psychology, arts, education, archaeology, and other scientific disciplines. They promise us the possibilities to stretch our imagination, to visually explore abstract ideas, and most importantly, to carry out several types of remote work and collaboration that would be otherwise impossible.
A research webinar to be hosted by the Department of Digital Arts (through the MAKS Immersion Lab) on Wednesday, 24 February 2021 titled Introduction to Immersive Reality Technologies, will commence at 12:15.
Join via Zoom, after confirming your attendance via email.
The use of using VR as Distraction Therapy and in Forensic Face Learning and Recognition will be explored.