Leicester-based W Industries Ltd on Friday launched Virtuality 1000 SD, which it is heralding as the world’s first 360 degree, three-dimensional computer-generated self-contained virtual reality system for the leisure industry. According to W Industries the upgradable system for games arcades, which costs from UKP20,000, is a third of the price of simulation games that vendors claim to carry virtual reality status. Virtual Reality is a much-hyped concept – to experience it the user must be totally immersed in a computer-generated world of real-time simulation, an artificial world where objects and environments have the illusion of being real. Through the use of helmets, data-gloves, and other body-mounted devices, the user can see, hear and touch objects, as well as other people, and can walk, fly or do anything without physical risk. At the core of the leisure system just announced is Commodore’s Amiga 3000 for data management and sound control – the rest of the technology is W Industries’ own. Expality is a multi-processor, multi-media system developed by the company, using two Texas Instrument TMS 34020 processors, two TMS 34082 processors, a Motorola 68030 or 68040 with 68882 maths co-processors, all running at 25MHz to 33MHz. This engine provides the computer-generated images, multi-channel sound and motion outputs. Mass storage – 40Mb to 300Mb – is provided using CD-ROM and hard disk to enable the use of large databases for the simulated virtual worlds. And W Industries’ Animette simulation software generates the Virtuality experiences. The main interface to the virtual world is Visette, a helmet containing a stereoscopic viewing system which uses liquid crystal displays, infinity optics, a four channel sound system and a tracking sensor enabling the position and angle of the head to be continuously monitored. The Expality system also contains an Ethernet local area network facility to enable groups of Virtuality systems to be connected for multi-user participation. Says design and production director Richard Holmes, the Virtuality leisure system has been designed to a set cost, and so provide only that level of virtual reality required for games – real-time is 17 to 25 frames per second. The leisure industry is obviously where the money lies, but W Industries wants to design systems for high-level computer-aided design and manufacture, and science – with virtual reality, places can be explored before they exist so that architects can walk around towns they’ve created before building them and medical operations can be practised before the knife is wielded in anger.
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