Thesis
VR-Smart, a virtual reality system for smart homes
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101556
Abstract
This thesis work presents a novel approach to assist the inhabitants of a home using virtual reality technology. The need for this work arises due to a growing elder population in the U.S. and the physical disabilities they experience from old age. It is estimated that 12.4% of the population in U.S. is of age 65 years or older, and by 2030 almost 1 in 5 persons will be 65 or older (1). Further, 28.6% of persons of age 65 years and older have a physical disability (2). This thesis focuses on integrating CAD and virtual reality technologies to assist people with disabilities in participating in the design of a smart home, training for living in the smart home and using these technologies to assist with the actual living in the smart home. We have developed an integrated CAD and virtual reality system which can be used in the design, training, and actual use phases of a smart home. Using the work presented in this thesis, a room modeled in a CAD system can be imported into a virtual environment (also created as a part of this work) for an immersive environment experience to the inhabitant. The HMD, or the user's head, and room objects are attached with the sensors which are part of a six DOF tracking system. Methods have been created to allow the inhabitant to move objects around in the room and then later issue an audio query for the location of the object. The system generates an audio response with the object's position relative to the person‟s current position and orientation. The conceptual room is divided into 12 polar segments and directional guidance is provided using these segments. Results of the testing showed that although the overall system shows promise, the success of the system depends on the accuracy and calibration of the tracking system. Testing also showed that this system could significantly assist disabled people find objects easily in the room once implemented just as an assisting system without the display system.
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Details
- Title
- VR-Smart, a virtual reality system for smart homes
- Creators
- Vinay Mishra
- Contributors
- Sankar Jayaram (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical and Materials Engineering, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525014701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis