VFX Voice - Fall 2017

VR/AR TRENDS
LEFT and RIGHT: In the “Star Wars: Where Science Meets
Imagination” exhibition at the Museum of Science, Boston, visitors
can jump to light speed in a full-size replica of the cockpit of Episode
IV’s Millennium Falcon in a multimedia ride through the universe.
And, they can meet a puppet of Jedi Master Yoda up close in the
swamps of Dagobah from Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. (Photo
credit: Dom Miguel Photography. Copyright © 2006 Museum of
Science, Boston and Lucasfilm Ltd.)
“[The VR experience] is a combination of
software, custom development of code and
algorithms, and creating a simulation engine
that determines how the fish move and
swim. ‘TheBlu’ code base lives in Unity – the
rendering engine. It’s flexible and customizable
and can achieve many different looks.
We set a series of ‘go-to’ points in the story.
Some parts are scripted, but the ocean still
needs to feel alive and random.”
—Jake Rowell, Director of ‘theBlu’
is a single projector connected to a single computer. The floor is
another computer, but the content comes from seven projectors,
so it feels like one continuous digital surface. All the environments
talk to each other over a network. When a creature flies from the
dessert to the forest, the forest knows that and makes sure the bird
shows up on the forest screen.” Design I/O used the XBox Kinect
camera, but the interaction and tracking aspects are customized.
“Most of our installations are closed source. Sometimes we’ll solve
really hard problems that would be helpful to millions of people, so
we’ll open source that part of it.”
An added attraction in “Connected Worlds” is the “Living
Library,” a 2-foot by 4-foot physical book. Look through the book,
find an interesting section and a hi-res camera mounted above will
recognize the page and prompt an interactive digital display.
The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia has embraced immersive
technology as a means of engagement and learning, with
VR and AR strategies. “We stay up on what the latest available
technologies are,” explains Susan Poulton, the Institute’s Chief
Digital Officer. “If the technology exists in the public, we want
it here.” Under her guidance the museum has VR stations with
HTC Vive and Oculus Rift headsets which transport visitors to the
depths of the sea, into outer space, or inside the human body. The
Institute also has four movable, 6-foot-tall, 10-person VR Carts
outfitted with 10 iPod touches, Samsung headsets, and access to
the museums full array of 360-degree photos and videos, including
all 26 of NASA’s VR properties. Visitors can download the app on
12 • VFXVOICE.COM FALL 2017