Angel Bachvarov

Using implicit features for enhancing the immersive object representation in multimodal virtual reality environments

We introduce a new concept of so called implicit features used to enhance the immersive representation of objects in multimodal virtual reality environments. The implicit features represent hidden object properties (i.e. magnetization, radiation, humidity, toxicity, etc.) which normally are not part of the object model cannot be perceived by the observer through his/her senses without specialized equipment in order to expand the observers sensory abilities. The proposed approach extends the underlying general scene graph structure of the Virtual Reality software system incorporating additional effects nodes for implicit features representation. It is flexible and can be easily implemented on different hardware configurations on a single computer or on a computer cluster for immersive presentation.

Extending Configuration and Validation of Customized Products by Implicit Features in Virtual Reality Environments

The virtual reality (VR) is an environment, which enables the proactive participation of the customers in defining their needs and requirements within the product development process. However, the traditional approaches for representation of physically existing objects (products) using VR show only a few of their properties (geometric, structural, and topological). The potential of VR as technology for efficient validation of still not-materialized artifacts in the early design stages is not fully exploited. In order to improve the immersion and to enable customers in configuring more aspects of the newly created customized products, as well as to validate these through “experiencing,” we propose the concept of so-called implicit features representing “hidden” product properties (i.e., magnetization, surface roughness, and humidity), which normally are not part of the object model, cannot be perceived directly, and are not exposed for configuration. Here, we discuss the implicit feature concept, their implementation, and their use for customer co-design.