ystem might also add a sound card to provide mono, stereo or true 3D audio output. Some sound cards also provide voice recognition. This would be an excellent additional input device for VR applications. Immersion VR (IVR)An Immersion VR system adds some type of immersive display system: a HMD, a Boom, or multiple large projection type displays (Cave). An IVR system might also add some form of tactile and touch feedback interaction mechanisms. The area of Touch or Force Feedback (known collectively as Haptics) is a very new research arena. Cockpit SimulatorsA common variation on VR is to use a Cockpit or Cab compartment to enclose the user. The virtual world is viewed through some sort of view screen and is usually either projected imagery or a conventional monitor. The cockpit simulation is very well known in aircraft simulators, with a history dating back to the early Link Flight Trainers (1929?). The cockpit is often mounted on a motion platform that can give the illusion of a much larger range of motion. Cabs are also used in driving simulators for ships, trucks and tanks. The latter are fictional walking robotic devices (i.e. the Star Wars films). The BattleTech location based entertainment (LBE) centers use this type of system. SIMNET, Defense Simulation InternetOne of the biggest VR projects is the Defense Simulation Internet. This project is standardization being pushed by the USA Defense Department to enable diverse simulators to be interconnected into a vast network. It is an outgrowth of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration (DARPA) SIMNET project of the later 1980s. SIMNET was/is a collection of tank simulators (Cab type) that are networked together to allow unit tactical training. Simulators in Germany can operate in the same virtual world as simulators in the USA, partaking of the same battle exercise. VR ApplicationsThe applications being developed for VR run a wide spectrum, from games to architectural an...
