Virtual Reality … In Real Life!
We're still reeling from the really surreal experience from the Maker Extravaganza that happened at the Toronto Reference Library on July 8 and 9. It was unreal! Well, sort of. The library was not only honoured to be the host venue of this event, but its Digital Innovation Hub staged a Mixed Reality demo.
Mixed Reality is a hybrid of real and virtual environments to produce new visualizations where the physical and digital coexist. Some of the ingredients of this video potpourri were a camcorder, lights, a green screen backdrop, an HTC Vive Virtual Reality (VR) kit, an Alienware computer, Open Broadcaster Software, the Steam-powered Fantastic Contraption simulation game, plus a dash of fun!
Co-developed by Radial Games and Northway Games, Fantastic Contraption was originally a Flash-based physics game back in 2008. It's now a room-scale VR game involving the use of beams, wheels and other basic components to construct wacky, far-out machines. Here's a peek of what went down:
The Maker Festival is not over yet! Take a look at the event calendar.
Toronto Public Library branches across the city host VR events regularly, and the Reference Library is one of them in the not-too-distant future.
Understanding Virtual Reality Interface, Application, and Design by William R. Sherman and Alan B. Craig is a nice place to start for the curious.
It and many other titles are available as e-books from the library.
With thanks from Cameron Lee, Digital Design Technician.
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