Published: Friday, July 17, 2009
Dome Notes
Last time we showed how to implement a multi-channel camera rig within the Unity 3D game engine, with an eye towards creating applications for dome projection systems. RENCI researcher Mike Conway has posted a C#/WPF application to allow the presentation of custom Unity content on the dome. Check it out!
| The FullDome listing on Wikipedia offers a very good overview and history of fulldome systems, starting 1500 years ago and coming forward to the present day. The article shows the links between ancient dome-ceilinged places of worship and avant-garde art “happenings” in the 1960s in the USA. Also includes links to other information, tutorials and lots of other goodies. |
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Published: Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Unity® in the RENCI Dome
Visualization researchers at the Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) conducted a game engine shoot-out last fall, with the goal of determining a single 3D platform for use in visualizations, demos, simulations and other applications. After much testing, the Unity 3D game engine was picked as being best suited to our needs.
One of our first goals was to get Unity running in our novel display systems: the Showcase Dome, the Tele-Immersion Room and the Social Computing Room. We picked the dome as the first target. After some inspired programming by viz researchers David Borland and Mike Conway, it’s up and running. What follows is a brief tutorial showing how to implement our custom DomeCamera script within Unity.
Next week we will show how to implement the Unity file in a customized WPF application so that it runs correctly on a multi-projector dome.
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Published: Friday, May 8, 2009
Field of View
May 08 2009
| “Field of View” (FOV) is an important factor in any visual presentation. The Field of View can be defined as the measure in degrees of how far you can see to the left and right without turning your head. For most people, this is about 180° horizontally. The area to the extreme left and right is perceived with our peripheral vision. Our peripheral vision has evolved in such a way that many of our most important visual cues come from the periphery of our Field of View.
Most flat screen displays (computer monitors, TV screens, movie screens, even flat printed material such as posters) can only display around 60° or so of imagery. This is because the edges of the screen form a kind of “window” through which we view the larger world. The edges of the screen cut off our FOV, like blinders. This can be a real problem in many applications such as first person shooter games where the ability to see from side to side without turning one’s head can make all the difference.
Dome displays, because they sweep out to either side of the viewer, can display a much larger FOV than traditional flat screens. Most domes will display around 180°, mimicking the natural human FOV, and some dome systems can display much more imagery–up to full wraparound “globes” that completely immerse the viewer!
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Published: Friday, April 24, 2009
A visual introduction to the RENCI Showcase Dome.
April 24, 2009
This short video combines animation and live footage to show the Dome’s basic features and some applications.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
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Published: Friday, April 24, 2009
Molecule Viewer for RENCI Showcase Dome
April 17, 2009
| A chance conversation has led to an immersive, interactive viewer for molecular data on the RENCI Showcase Dome. RENCI researcher Eric Knisley ran into Computational Scientist Chi-Duen Poon at the RENCI Engagement Site. Dr. Poon asked to see a demonstration of the Showcase Dome, which led to a conversation about the use of the system to view molecular visualization. |
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Published: Friday, March 27, 2009
Why Use a Dome for Anything?
March 27, 2009
Flying over a computer-generated landscape in a dome.
The first time I saw a dome projection system, back in the early 90s, I knew I was looking at something special. The overwhelming sense of being “inside” what I was looking at–a simple computer-generated landscape–was astonishing, and totally unlike any other image projection system I’d ever seen. There was also the fact that I was looking at what appeared to be straight lines which were projected on a curved surface. I knew right away that I wanted to know more about this amazing system.
One of my first questions was, what is this good for? Why use a dome?
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