Event
Computer Science Seminar: Doug Bowman, "Virtual and Augmented Reality"
Friday, September 5, 2014
11:00 a.m.
2117 Computer Science Instructional Center
Designing Reality and Magic: Explorations in Virtual and Augmented Reality
Doug Bowman
Professor, Computer Science
Director, 3D Interaction Group and the Center for Human-Computer Interaction
Virginia Tech
Abstract
Recent years have seen a number of robust technologies for 3D display and 3D spatial tracking hit the market. Devices like the Oculus Rift, the Microsoft Kinect, and the Leap Motion Controller are often touted as the “natural user interfaces” of the future, and there’s a resurgence of interest in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). But what makes an interface “natural?” How “realistic” do VR and AR systems need to be? In this talk, I will argue that careful interaction design is more important than ever when designing 3D VR and AR interfaces, and that “magical” interaction can be highly effective in some cases. I will discuss the abilities and limitations of the technologies, describe the results of empirical studies addressing questions of fidelity and naturalism, and present principles for the design of effective 3D user interfaces. Case studies of both successful and unsuccessful VR and AR designs will be used to illustrate these principles. I will conclude with some reflections on the importance of realism and the continuing need for intentional design even as technologies improve.
Biography
Doug A. Bowman is Professor of Computer Science at Virginia Tech, where he directs the 3D Interaction Group and the Center for Human-Computer Interaction. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Georgia Tech. His research interests include 3D user interfaces, interaction techniques for virtual reality and augmented reality, the effects of fidelity in VR, and large high-resolution displays. He was the lead author of the book "3D User Interfaces: Theory and Practice," and was awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER grant for his work on domain-specific 3D user interfaces. He has published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. He was named a Distinguished Scientist by the ACM in 2010 and received the 2014 IEEE Visualization and Graphics Technical Committee’s Technical Achievement award in Virtual Reality
Host
Jon Froehlich, Assistant Professor
Computer Science, University of Maryland
