Takahiro Harashima

Visual engineering system - VIGOR:Virtual environment for visual engineering and operation

We have developed a visual and interactive system bridging among systems developers, human factors engineers, human operators, and clients. The system - VIGOR(Virtual environment for visual engineering and operation) has six components; a virtual space, a virtual user, interactive operation, dynamic simulation, physical simulation, and rendering. The virtual space component has a new LOD (level of detail) method, physical locate constraints, behavioral and structural representations of objects, and adequate fonts in order to offer high quality image, high speed, and natural interaction. The virtual user works in the virtual space instead of a real human operator. We can quantitatively compare layout alternatives, measuring motions, visibility, and reach assessment using the virtual user. We have applied VIGOR to the operation room design, hospital facilities layout, social human interface design, and operation and patrol training.