Objective The project will investigate and further develop novel camera technologies into an innovative mediation system that allows close to photo realistic 3D real-time visualisation of REAL (and possibly known) places for a moving observer. The visualisation will provide a high degree of impressiveness and support new types of empirical studies of the feeling of presence in a REAL scenario that is made artificially available for perceptual inspection. This is hard or impossible with conventional VR. Using this new technique in varying combinations with advanced versions of augmented reality, the project will contribute with empirical evidence to the development of a general multilevel interpretation of presence, on the basis of a context otherwise not available. The interpretation will provide a reference for empirical studies to optimise the technology in respect of aspects of presence found important for observation.OBJECTIVESThe project shall act as a melting pot for mixing novel technology, that allows real-time visualisation for a moving observer of recorded REAL PLACES, with ideas of researchers from diverse fields to develop new tools for empirical and theoretical studies of presence based on the concept of the observer's embodiment in the computationally created virtual environment. As real places (possibly known to the observer) with man-made and/or organic objects (like trees, foliage etc.) are otherwise hard to represent in a virtual environment, the aim is to bring about new insight into presence, when also comparison to real presence is possible.DESCRIPTION OF WORKTools for Presence: The project will develop and explore new recording and visualisation technologies enabling people to experience presence at REAL and possibly known places - without actually having to GO to those places. The experience will be based on true-to-life visual and auditorial sensory information presented in real-time. The technology will be designed to support the observer's active exploration of the visual and auditory space, thus adding an intuitive physical dimension to the experience. This physical dimension is paramount to achieving embodiment, i.e. the observer's sensation of being bodily grounded in an environment. The new technology of Image Based Rendering does not require a reconstructed geometrical model of the scene. It bypasses an important technological problem and presents a break-through, but large amount of image data needs to be stored, and recalled for real-time visualisation. Through augmentation, visually and auditorily, a sense of life can be added including objects for interaction. Projection technologies will range from HMD to large screens incl. 6-sided CAVE.PRESENCE RESEARCHThe empirical research will exploit the possibilities to investigate the experience of 'being there' 'When we refer to REAL places and possibly a place which the observer knows from previous real presence. The theoretical framework will be based on the concept of embodiment in conjunction with presence and investigate how it arises from e.g. fidelity of experience and presentation, domain specific elements, the sense of place, and physiological and neurological aspects like consistency of sensory-motor co-ordination. The framework will be developed in close interaction with, and as a guide for, technical development by focusing on the particular aspects that the technology offers as well as on its weak points. Feedback from empirical studies will form an essential part of the project. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensorsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software Programme(s) FP5-IST - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on a "User-friendly information society, 1998-2002" Topic(s) IST-2002-6.2.2 - Presence Research: Cognitive sciences and future media Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator AALBORG UNIVERSITET Address Fredrik bajers vej 5 9220 Aalborg Denmark See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CZECH TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE Czechia EU contribution € 0,00 Address Zikova 4 166 36 Praha 6 See on map NAPIER UNIVERSITY United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address 129 colinton road EH14 1DJ Edinburgh See on map THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM Israel EU contribution € 0,00 Address Givat ram campus 91904 Jerusalem See on map UNIVERSITAET BREMEN Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Bibliothekstrasse 1 28359 Bremen See on map
