DESIGN S O FTWA R E
Recent applications
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124 MARCH 2020
fatigue. In addition, I believe that user tracking will
continue to evolve, for example tracking from the inside
out, without the need for beacons, but with the use of
cameras in the VR headset itself.”
For ESI’s Kam, voice activated and therefore
‘touchless systems’ could become more prevalent,
although he adds a note of humorous warning, “We
have had forays into voice interfaces in VR already,
but not to the point of fully deployable
applications. Natural language interaction
for completing simple tasks like ‘Siri read
me my emails’ is one thing. ‘IC.IDO bring
user A and B to my viewpoint within this
wide-body jet and do so without making
them ill,’ is maybe a bit more complex.
But we keep trying.”
Further out, Renacen’s Martín predicts
Mixed-reality
systems will gain
traction in cabin
design once their
price becomes
that mixed-reality systems such as Hololens
will gain greater importance “once their price
favours their greater penetration.”
ACA’s Arendt mentions the user benefit too: “The
possibility of hologram rooms like the holodeck from
Star Trek is one scenario, but without the same visual
aspects or physical feelings. When you imagine a room
of say 1.5m2 and as high as you are, this is probably better
than a heavy headset for somebody who wants to check
something out.”
And with his even longer-range future-predicting
goggles on, Renacen’s Martín sees a time when perhaps
neither technology will be required.
As Martín concludes, “VR as we know it today still
has enormous potential, which we will begin to exploit
to the full when the vision and control devices are the
best that technology can offer us. In fact, I think
important advances in the field of bioengineering will
allow us to see VR without any device – just look at the
developments of Neuralink by Elon Musk in the form
of implants.”
Aircraft seat manufacturer, Adient
Aerospace, has commissioned a
configurator app that allows customers
to create their own cabin configurations
using a simple touchscreen interface.
Named ‘Adient Ascent VR’, the app
was created in collaboration with the
Acumen design studio and Mbryonic, a
digital agency specialising in VR, AR and
interactive 3D applications. When the
user’s chosen configuration selections
are complete, the system builds a HD
virtual cabin. Using a VR headset, the
user can then experience what it is like
to be in their personalised cabin, from
different viewpoints and with the ability
to alter material and trim settings from
a range of options.
Mbryonic has also worked with
Acumen and All Nippon Airways (ANA)
to premiere ‘The Room’, the airline’s
upgraded B777-300ER business class
cabin. Users wearing the headset
find themselves in ANA’s futuristic
holodeck in front of a B777. They are
then transported into the business class
cabin where they are able to experience
the seats’ features. The experience is
focused around the themes of work,
meals and relaxation, enabling the users
to virtually open and close cabin doors,
order food, change lighting conditions
and watch an inflight movie.
MBRYONIC’S RENDERING
WORK WITH ANA (LEFT)
AND ADIENT (BELOW)
ground or a simulator, costs are much
lower when using VR, and the user
experience often better.”
As to how much better VR will be after a
few more generations of the software, Renacen’s
Martín is very positive. “I believe the software will
become more intuitive and allow for more photorealistic
results, although this will go hand-in-hand with the
hardware,” he says.
“I think we will have much lighter, more ergonomic
and wireless VR glasses offering a larger field of view,
refresh rate and resolution – which are the main points
to improve today to avoid possible dizziness and visual
lower
ABOVE: VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HAS
STARTED USING CGI TO MARKET
ITS PRODUCTS AND TO CREATE
MARKETING IMAGERY FOR THE
BRAND. THIS INTERIOR IMAGE
WAS CREATED BY TRICK 3D
ON A GREEN SCREEN STAGE
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