Actualité
Reflets de la conférence du professeur Dascalu
Le professeur Sergiu Dascalu, de l’University of Nevada at Reno a donné une conférence à la HEG en mai dernier. Sa présentation traitait de l’utilisation d’un environnement CAVE 3D (environnement immersif 3D) pour des applications d’entrainement de personnel dans des situations critiques/dangereuses. Le professeur Dascalu est venu à Genève, dans le cadre de son année sabbatique, sur l’invitation du professeur Philippe Dugerdil avec lequel il collabore. Il commente sa recherche et dresse un bilan très positif de son passage à la HEG.
Can we imagine CAVE with a decor close to reality (exactly like computer animation movies) or it is not possible because the required computing power is too important?
Yes, as the related computer technology and image processing techniques will become more and more advanced (which is an irreversible trend), the quality of the decor’s appearance in CAVE will become even more realistic. In the other words, a user’s immersion experience in CAVE will become even more spectacular.
Would it be possible to mix real pictures with artificial sceneries in such an environment so that we could see virtual objects in a real scenery? This would open the door to new applications like training system for driving cars in critical situations. What do you think?
This technology for human-computer interaction already exists and is currently being actively researched and developed. It is called Augmented Reality and, indeed, promises great benefits for training (like the one you mentioned, where virtual obstacles placed in the real world can help car drivers learn how to deal with critical situations), education (e.g., books and encycloplaedias augmented with static or even animated 3D virtual images, similar to what we have seen in some Harry Potter movies), and practices (e.g., BMW had a project on which an auto mechanic had instructions and virtual objects superimposed on a real car engine, helping him or her visualize the steps to be taken for fixing a car engine’s problem or maintenance issue).
What are the next steps in the CAVEMANDER project ?
There are many things we plan to do in this exciting project, but I mention here only three of our more important directions of future work. First, we would like to use CAVEMANDER to build software for non-military CAVE applications, such as training for fighting wild fires or conducting search and rescue missions. Second, we plan to incorporate a real-time instructor’s intervention module, which will allow the instructor to dynamically modify a given training scenario while a trainee executes this scenario in the CAVE. Lastly, we would like to build additional tools to enhance the CAVEMANDER software engineering process, such as other process stages (e.g., software specification and software deployment) are also supported in our environment.
Now we would be pleased to get some insights about your stay at HEG.
I think the atmosphere at HEG is excellent, the combined outcome of having together passionate and highly professional researchers and teachers, capable and interested students, experienced and dedicated leadership, and very good organization and infrastructure.
Absolutely. I had the pleasure to meet many faculty members and students, I attended classes and presentations, gave a seminar talk, held discussions with peers and students, and thoroughly enjoyed working with Dr. Philippe Dugerdil and his research team. I am particularly happy to collaborate with Dr. Dugerdil because he is not only a fine researcher and teacher, but also has a great insight in many contemporary challenges and issues faced currently by the IT field.
I enjoyed practically everything, but have to indicate here my talks with Professor Dugerdil and his research team (because these talks were very instructive and substantial), and our daily coffee or tea breaks (because during them I had the opportunity to meet several other fine members of your university’s staff).
- How did you find the atmosphere at HEG?
- Was your stay beneficial to you and your research ?
- What did you enjoy most at HEG ?