Judy M. Vance
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
Iowa State University
Ames, IA – U.S.A.
Current Advances in Mechanical Design and Production VI, Elsevier Science, Ltd, New York, 1996, pp. 333-348.
Abstract
Virtual reality can be seen as a logical evolution of existing human-computer interfaces. Virtual reality techniques attempt to remove the barriers of the traditional computer interface, consisting of the keyboard, monitor and mouse, and allow the user to experience the “reality” of a computer-generated scene. This computer technology holds the potential to revolutionize the way in which engineers rely on computers to help build, test, and verify designs. Some of the areas where VR can contribute to increase engineering productivity are in the areas of design, prototyping, design for maintenance and assembly, factory planning, networked design, and concurrent engineering.This paper presents a general description of the field of virtual reality followed by a discussion of the potential impact of virtual reality on the engineering profession. Several ongoing research projects in the area of virtual design are described and preliminary results are presented.
An image showing a virtual glove operating a radio mechanism.
