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[In]expensive Immersion?
rentaghost sent us a sharky bit about a mouse feedback device that actually connects your audio output to the mouse to add vibrations. It's OS independent, too. If you're not interested in the cheaper stuff, check out Vision Station: a domend screen and 3d sound projection? Of course, the scariest version is a whole room. You thought quake gives you motion sickness now.
The article bemoans the fact that you mostly likely cannot aim accurately if there are explosions nearby because the mouse will shake too violently under some settings, I would submit that this actually improves the immersion experience.
Of course, your non-immersed opponents may have an unfair advantage, but you can be comforted by the knowledge that you'll be building up experience to apply when the time comes for each of us to pick up a blaster and destroy the alien invaders in the real world, where explosions actually affect your aim :-)
What do you mean they cut the power? How can they cut the power, man? They're animals!
I knew I should've patented my concept for a large concave screen back when we were talking about monitor technology back in '98. Well, it says in the Bible that a prophet is without honor in his own time. :o)
Being monocular (blind in rt eye) and all, this is a nice alternative to true stereo displays. Now I can finally have that 16,000 x 12,000 TrueColor desktop I've craved.
"How many light bulbs does it take to change a person?" --BMcC-->
I managed to get the wheel working pretty well in whatever kde version comes with rh7, mozilla too... no click-and-drag to scroll, but i never liked that anyhow... i have a logitech mouse (cordless, no cords to snag and kill you) and have the wheel-click set to "explore my computer" in 98. Anyone know how to set up the same kinda thing in kde? It's HELLA useful!
(I *HATE* mice without a wheel)
I have switched to an optical mouse for purely one reason: I eat so much chocolate, crisps (potato chips) and biscuits (cookies) when I'm using my machine, that traditional ball mice get all gummed up within a few days. With an optical mouse, the crumbs actually help the camera to see the direction the mouse is moving...
If immersion is properly done, the connection between your various senses will be perfect and you won't feel sick.
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It's rare that you're presented with a knob whose only two positions are Make History and Flee Your Glorious Destiny.
They even have an app to train people on finding land mines!
FYI Haptics comes from the Greek Haptesthai. meaning to grasp or touch.
cheers,
rev
Is it some kind of corny pun on it being a "true theatre" experience?
Back to the drawing boards guys - how about "large domed screen" (TM) technology?
FatPhil
Also FatPhil on SoylentNews, id 863
You know, go out and play Metal Gear Solid (Playstation) all the way through and then play with a "rumble" equiped controller. There is a huge difference. It scares the shit out of you when you are spotted and not only do you get the music jolt, but also the tactile sensation.
It would make games like HalfLife a more creepy if you felt the "ground" shake as a huge monster came stepping through the tunnels.
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Wooden armaments to battle your imaginary foes!
You get gibbed on Q3A at 2 in the morning when your mouse sends 24 volts through your sweaty fingers. You will wet yourself.
obligatory plug, blah blah blah
Let's just hope that they don't get pissed when we reverse engineer this puppy. Image: you must use our product the way it was intended.
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Wooden armaments to battle your imaginary foes!
Introducing, the MICROSOFT Force Feedback Marital Aid series of HUD devices!!! For couples who have difficulty pleasing each other we proudly bring you the Vibrating Intellimouse and Vibrating Intellimouse Pro. By using our specially designed training software (standard on all new Compaqs) you will be able to train yourself to touch your mate in all the right ways. Point, click, and drag your way to better sex. The mouse tells you when you're doing it right! Also available!!! The Microsoft CueCat Force Feedback USB dildo, powered by Direct-seX. This foxy feline is sure to make it's way into your heart... and your bed. ;-) Use the special red laser tracking system to target your mate's "favorite" bar codes.
Yeaaaah, baby!
...what the hell happened to A3D? Since Creative bought their asse[t]s, they have done nothing with the API itself. It was assumed that A3D would be integrated into Creative soundcards, but instead, Creative released "5.1" versions of their Live series two weeks ago. As far as I know, they have done nothing to the current Aureal drivers for Windows 2000 (which are now at beta build 49) and Linux (that is, if they even exist). I have tried to contact them, but that's like sending a message in a bottle; they just never seem to respond. I fear that I may have to build a better soundcard myself; I'm sure that in 6 or 7 years, Creative will still be in its position of "aloof king of soundcards."
"Ancillary does not mean you get to rule the world." --U.S. Circuit Judge Harry Edwards, speaking to the FCC's lawyer
Hen Domen is a castle near Montgomery, Wales, so I assume domend would mean constructed in a manner similar to this castle. Because it was more or less replaced in the 13th century by the more famous Montgomery Castle, I assume domend technology will not last long either.
Ok, maybe the mouse thing is cheap enough - but I can guarantee you that the VisionStation is anything but.
For one thing, the projector alone is going to set you back at least $2000 - probably more. The dome will probably run double or triple that. One thing that struck me as funny - aside from the desk, how is this thing different from the Flostation? The only differences I can see are front vs. rear projection, plus the VisionStation allows multiple people to share the same view (or nearly the same - seems like unless you looked at the exact center of the screen, things would be distorted). Actually, the FloStation allows users to share the experience, just in seperate stations, networked together. Plus, the chair is a "zero-G" chair, which allows for a comfortable position during use.
However, neither of these technologies is cheap.
And true, neither is true immersion (though the Flostation comes much closer).
True immersion is when I can look anywhere around me - turn my head, duck, look between my legs, peer around the edge of a building, etc. I have only experienced this kind of immersion once - using the Virtuality 1000/2000 machines. Almost everything in them were OTS, and while the HMD's could have been better, they weren't bad. I am sure today's offerings (what little there is) are even better, but still not cheap.
No one but a rich geek will be able to afford these for personal use. So what can all of the normal geeks do?
Simple.
Break out the soldering iron, and build your immersive experience!
I am not saying you will get the best of the best - it is homebrew, after all. But with today's PC's, and cheap prices on LCD TV's, anyone can build thier own HMD, for less than $500. In fact, it is easy to buy an old VFX-1 or, if you are really cheap (like me), and old Stuntmaster, off of Ebay. VFX-1's go for about $200-$400, and Stuntmasters can be found for less than $50 in most cases!
Head tracking can be built easily, and using a Forte Cyber-Puck for navigation, exploration can be painless (use the cyberpuck for nav in one hand, and use one of those handheld, trackball mice in the other for manipulation). Cobble some software together using AVRIL or REND-386, maybe throw in Mesa for good measure, or some other rendering library. Output the image through a VGA to TV converter, and into the HMD. Track the HMD via pots connected to ADC's on an ISA interface board (or use PICs and serial ports). Break out back issues of PCVR magazine, and use them!
Heck, it is even possible to cheaply do one of these dome things, with imagination! Fuji used to make a cheap projector called the Fujix P-401 - it was about the size of a video tape, and ran on a 6V source. Not great res, but good enough. I recently found one for $250!!! Build a dome screen (definitely not the easiest task, I imagine), run a version of FishEye Quake, and you're there!
What has heppened? Why isn't there any interest in homebrew VR (on a related issue, why did they change the terminology from VR to VE)? Why, especially when we have all of this great technology to produce greater realism than ever before? To explore worlds of our own creation, data in new ways for new insights...
Or are we simply content to sit on our collective asses, and watch the world go by?
I support the EFF - do you?
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
How realistic can it be if all the sensory input (to the body) goes through the mouse? Yay! My hand is shaking, but my ass isn't...
That's because you don't the the mouse positioned properly. Lot safer than hampsters, no?
Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba
Man, this would make one hell of a practical joke for some unsuspecting user. Just send some low noise, and have their mouse jump in their hands. Couple this with a message box like "Machine is not properly grounded, please shut down immediately to avoid electrocution", and you could really scare the crap out of someone.
Don't use low noise. Send a loud spark-gap type of sound.
I can just see people doing this through netbus (if these type of mice become commonplace), and watching the user's reactions via webcam (and/or microphone).
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I hate to rain on people's parades -- especially when they've put so much hard work into their cool devices...
How realistic can it be if all the sensory input (to the body) goes through the mouse? Yay! My hand is shaking, but my ass isn't...
Perhaps this 'tool' will find a use as some sort of feminine stimulation device -- like the ones you see sold on late night television or in the back of magazines desguised as 'personal massage' utilities...
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seumas.com
Just do what I do...hook the computer up to the stereo, crank the base on the stereo up all the way, and have the whole room shake while you are playing on the computer. And if your stereo is good enough you can shake your neighbors mice as well...
FoonDog
Bet it'd be real nice when you do audio editing start playback to see what you've got and all of a sudden your mouse starts jumping all over the place ruining everything you've done.
My mouse has enough problems going across the screen, the last thing i need is it fighting back...
How Jaded Are You?
Man, this would make one hell of a practical joke for some unsuspecting user. Just send some low noise, and have their mouse jump in their hands. Couple this with a message box like "Machine is not properly grounded, please shut down immediately to avoid electrocution", and you could really scare the crap out of someone.
Could you generate a set of sounds that would move the mouse, as in this story?
I can see writing a trojan horse that would move somebody's mouse around without them even touching it. Possessed computer!
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Pretend there is some witty statement here.