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What is a CAVE Good For?

Posted by Cliff on from the searching-for-the-killer-app dept.

ynakai asks: "Today, I had the fortune to be allowed to play with demo applications in a CAVE. This technology is stunning, but what is the killer app? A staffer said that despite the potential use as a teaching tool for medical students, the system is rarely used now except by digital artists (who admittedly create some stunning experiences - try the VRML versions of some). Surely Slashdot can think up better ways to make use of a multimillion dollar room of fully immersive 3D interaction, besides FPS games?"

3 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. for those of you who don't have an Indigo2... by niff · · Score: 2, Informative

    you can download a vrml plugin here:

    http://ca.com/cosmo/

  2. CAVE experience here by Robbat2 · · Score: 2, Informative

    From working with a CAVE enviroment in a research lab for 2 years, I came to the simple conclussion that other than for developing and utilizing some custom 3D (with immersive stereo glasses, head tracking etc.) applications, and showing off your work on a big screen (with 3D of course).

    There is a definate wow factor to it that helps in promoting the research, but for the most part it becomes stale fast.

    Another shameless plug here, a custom math visualization system I spent quite a while in the development with: http://mvs.sourceforge.net/

    --
    ICQ# : 30269588
    "I used to be an idealist, but I got mugged by reality."
    1. Re:CAVE experience here by davechen · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yeah, I'm with you. I worked in a lab with a CAVE for several years, and I've visited other places with CAVEs. They're mainly good for making gee-whiz demos to impress funding agencies. I have yet to see anyone actually doing real work in a CAVE.