Virtual Dancing

Online dating... Multiplayer online gaming... Virtual exercise online... What will they think of next? Probably virtual dancing. Currently, technologies for translating full-body movement into avatar movement online are under development in laboratories. When they become commercially available in the consumer electronics market, "multiplayer" virtual dancing online is likely to be one of the first blockbuster applications. This is the long-term purpose for VirtualDanceFloor.com. Eventually, computing systems might be able to model a virtual three-dimensional model of the human body in real time by combing pictures from several video cameras in a manner similar to how the human brain puts together images from two eyes, but human perception is neither simple nor easy to duplicate. While humans have evolved to deal with objects that leave the direct line of sight, are dimly lit, or are complex, such conditions challenge optical tracking by current computing systems. With future formation, computing systems might be better able to create three-dimensional models from optical images, creating opportunities for better optical monitoring of human motion. The page on the use of haptics in virtual reality discusses additional topics.

Computer recognition of hand and facial gestures currently happens and will probably lead the formation of optical information transmission from humans to computers. Gesture recognition is built on computer processing and 3D modeling of the structure and motion by the one's hands and face. This integrates conceptual elements from anatomy, kinesiology, and human biovisual processing. Human gestures can be recorded through a computer directly through a mechanical hand device or indirectly via the optical analysis of video pictures. There is considerable potential for further formation of optical monitoring of lip, facial, eye, head, hand, and body motion. Several challenges remain. Computers cannot now monitor objects that are obscured from the line of vision by other things, insufficiently lit, or too challenging. Future development of methods to translate optical images into virtual 3D elements should open the door for much greater accuracy in optical measurement of body movement. motion and touch in virtual reality appllications also has interesting notes.

Although technology now enables people to interact virtually at a distance, people remain social creatures. They will continue to enjoy getting together in one location for virtainment experiences. Accordingly, there will always be a place for movies, even as they evolve with engaging and 3D features. Virtual reality movies ("virties") will be quite different from the crude 3D movies of the mid-20th century. Virties will feature realistic 3D images and audience interaction. Linked page characteristics of augmented reality also has useful information.

Movement and contact are very important for communication from people to computing systems. This happens through keypad strokes, mouse movements, motion-recording gloves, and other motion-tracking methods. Motion and touch are also important for communication from the setting to humans in an actual setting, but is unusual in virtual reality caused by the limitations of technology now available. Mechanical machines to track human movement can respond to movement promptly and accurately, but are often cumbersome and limit macro-scale motion. Other machines track movement by the interaction of travelling things with magnetism, but these can be inaccurate as well as slow. Other machines use ultrasound to sense the location and movement of one's body. The site on proprioceptors and mechanoreceptors may also be of interest.