VR tagged posts

Metalenses Harness AI for High-Resolution, Full-Color Imaging for Compact Optical Systems

A metalens, composed of an array of nanostructures with arbitrary rotational angles, acquires an image, which is restored to generate an output image that closely approximates the quality of the original “ground truth” image
A metalens, composed of an array of nanostructures with arbitrary rotational angles, acquires an image, which is restored to generate an output image that closely approximates the quality of the original “ground truth” image. Credit: Seo et al., doi 10.1117/1.AP.6.6.066002

Modern imaging systems, such as those used in smartphones, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) devices, are constantly evolving to become more compact, efficient, and high-performing. Traditional optical systems rely on bulky glass lenses, which have limitations like chromatic aberrations, low efficiency at multiple wavelengths, and large physical sizes. These drawbacks present challenges when designing smaller, lighter systems that still produce high-quality images.

To overcome these issues, rese...

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Machine Learning gives users ‘Superhuman’ ability to Open and Control Tools in Virtual Reality

Machine learning gives users 'superhuman' ability to open and control tools in virtual reality

Researchers have developed a virtual reality application where a range of 3D modeling tools can be opened and controlled using just the movement of a user’s hand.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, used machine learning to develop ‘HotGestures’—analogous to the hot keys used in many desktop applications.

HotGestures give users the ability to build figures and shapes in virtual reality without ever having to interact with a menu, helping them stay focused on a task without breaking their train of thought.

The idea of being able to open and control tools in virtual reality has been a movie trope for decades, but the researchers say that this is the first time such a ‘superhuman’ ability has been made possible...

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Testing Real Driverless Cars in a Virtual Environment

Testing real driverless cars in a virtual environment
Public road development of AV driving functions. Credit: Sensors (2023). DOI: 10.3390/s23115088

In an empty parking lot, a car ‘thinks’ it is on a real road.

Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed new software to aid in the development, evaluation and demonstration of safer autonomous, or driverless, vehicles.

Called the Vehicle-in-Virtual-Environment (VVE) method, it allows the testing of driverless cars in a perfectly safe environment, said Bilin Aksun-Guvenc, co-author of the study and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Ohio State.

Imagine a driverless car is placed in the middle of an empty parking lot...

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Wrist-mounted FingerTrak continuously Tracks entire Human Hand in 3D

Wrist-mounted FingerTrak continuously tracks entire human hand in 3D.
Wrist-mounted FingerTrak continuously tracks entire human hand in 3D. Credit: Cornell University

The device could be used in sign language translation, VR, mobile health, human-robot interaction and and more. The bracelet, called FingerTrak, can sense and translate into 3D the many positions of the human hand, including 20 finger joint positions, using three or four miniature, low-resolution thermal cameras that read contours on the wrist.

“This was a major discovery by our team — that by looking at your wrist contours, the technology could reconstruct in 3D, with keen accuracy, where your fingers are,” said Cheng Zhang, assistant professor of information science and director of Cornell’s new SciFi Lab, where FingerTrak was developed...

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