ScienceDaily: Virtual Reality News

Bonding with your virtual self may alter your actual perceptions

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:22:22 EDT

When people create and modify their virtual reality avatars, the hardships faced by their alter egos can influence how they perceive virtual environments, according to researchers.

Modeling disease spread, including flu

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

A collaborative research network that formed nearly 10 years ago has pioneered the use of computational and mathematical models to prepare for, detect and respond to influenza, pertussis, West Nile disease, dengue fever, cholera and other infectious disease threats.

Leadership emerges spontaneously during games

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:24:24 EDT

Video game and augmented-reality game players can spontaneously build virtual teams and leadership structures without special tools or guidance, according to researchers.

Weight loss programs via virtual reality

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:56:56 EDT

There are many barriers that can interfere with weight loss. For those attending face-to-face weight loss programs, barriers can include travel, conflict with work and home, need for childcare, and loss of anonymity. In a new study investigators continue to explore alternative weight management delivery methods to eliminate some of these barriers. The solution they are investigating -- virtual reality for weight loss and weight maintenance.

High-volume Bitcoin exchanges less likely to fail, but more likely breached, says study

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:11 EDT

Online exchanges that trade hard currency for the cyber money Bitcoin have a 45 percent chance of failing -- often taking customer money with them. A new empirical study into the closure of Bitcoin currency exchanges found that exchanges that buy and sell a high volume of Bitcoins are less likely to shut down but more likely to suffer security breaches.

Virtual, squishy creatures evolve to run using evolutionary algorithms

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:58:58 EDT

Scientists have created a computer algorithm that can be used to witness virtual creatures evolving their squishy, muscle-like features in order to teach themselves to walk.

'Big data’ algorithm used to customize video game difficulty

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:42:42 EDT

Researchers have developed a computational model that can predict video game players’ in-game performance and provide a corresponding challenge they can beat, leading to quicker mastery of new skills. The advance not only could help improve user experiences with video games but also applications beyond the gaming world.

Online learning: It's different

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:22:22 EDT

Researchers have found that, by interspersing online lectures with short tests, student mind wandering decreased by 50 percent, note-taking tripled and overall retention of the material improved.

Virtual games help the blind navigate unknown territory

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:26:26 EDT

Scientists have developed a virtual gaming environment to help blind individuals improve navigation skills and develop a cognitive spatial map of unfamiliar buildings and public locations.

Mobile LIDAR technology expanding rapidly

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:12:12 EDT

A new report on the uses and current technology of mobile LIDAR has just been completed and will help more managers and experts understand, use and take advantage of this science that promises to change the way we see and record the world around us.

Video game 'exercise' for an hour a day may enhance certain cognitive skills

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:21:21 EDT

Playing video games for an hour each day can improve subsequent performance on cognitive tasks that use similar mental processes to those involved in the game, according to new research.

New technology for animation film experts

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:19:19 EST

Hollywood devotes great effort to chasing monsters through realistic-looking environments. Researchers have now developed a technology that greatly simplifies the production of such scenes. Actors' movements are captured with a few cameras in a real scene and then transferred extremely realistically to virtual characters. This will not only simplify the work of cartoon makers, but also assist doctors and sportsmen with motion analysis.

Researchers test holographic technique for restoring vision

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:42:42 EST

Researchers are testing the power of holography to artificially stimulate cells in the eye, with hopes of developing a new strategy for bionic vision restoration. Computer-generated holography, they say, could be used in conjunction with a technique called optogenetics, which uses gene therapy to deliver light-sensitive proteins to damaged retinal nerve cells. In conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), these light-sensing cells degenerate and lead to blindness.

Newly observed properties of vacuums: Light particles illuminate the vacuum

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:21:21 EST

Researchers have succeeded in showing experimentally that vacuums have properties not previously observed. According to the laws of quantum mechanics, it is a state with abundant potentials. Vacuums contain momentarily appearing and disappearing virtual pairs, which can be converted into detectable light particles.

With robots, humans face 'new society'

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:30:30 EST

Humanity came one step closer in January to being able to replicate itself, thanks to the EU's approval of funding for the Human Brain Project. Danica Kragic, a robotics researcher and computer science professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, says that while the prospect of living among humanoid robots calls to mind terrifying scenarios from science fiction, the reality of how humans cope with advances in robotics will be more complex, and subtle.

Engineering 'ghost' objects: Breakthrough in scattering illusion

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:06:06 EST

Researchers have come out with an optical device to "engineer" ghosts. Their research has opened up a completely new avenue for cognitive deception through light-matter behavior control. This would have wide applications in defense and security. The findings also pave the way for the design of new optical and microwave devices such as those for detection and communication.

Brain prostheses create a sense of touch: Infrared signaling could create sense of touch in artificial limbs

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:41:41 EST

Infrared sensing might be built into a whole-body prosthesis for paraplegics so patients wearing the "exoskeleton" could have sensory information about where their limbs are and how objects feel when they touch them.

A new 'virtual moderator' helps reach consensus in troubled negotiations

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:05:05 EST

Researchers have designed a new fuzzy ontology-based system to help making decisions in our daily lives.

Virtual vehicle vibrations: Predicting role of posture in traffic collision injuries

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:24:24 EST

A researcher has designed a computer program that allows engineers to accurately predict the role posture plays in transferring the stress of vehicle motion to bone and muscle in the head and neck.

Humans and robots work better together following cross-training; Swapping of roles improves efficiency

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:45:45 EST

Spending a day in someone else's shoes can help us to learn what makes them tick. Now the same approach is being used to develop a better understanding between humans and robots, to enable them to work together as a team.

Avatars may reduce depression in young adults

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:07:07 EST

A preliminary study suggests that depression symptoms may be significantly reduced when 18- to 25-year-olds interact with computerized avatars —- virtual 3D images of a healthcare provider like a nurse practitioner or physician.

Digital games contribute to HIV education in Uganda

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:38:38 EST

Computer games, virtual classroom with a discussion forum and video drama can be integrated in a common learning environment for teaching teenage children. This pedagogical approach has demonstrated the significance of using a variety of learning objects to achieve a common educational goal.

Pushing boundaries of virtual reality

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:33:33 EST

Devices that detect and convey sense of touch may have applications in telemedicine.

Control a virtual spacecraft by thought alone

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:17:17 EST

Scientists at the University of Essex have been working with NASA on a project where they controlled a virtual spacecraft by thought alone. Using BCI (brain-computer interface) technology, they found that combining the brain power of two people could be more accurate in steering a spacecraft than one person. BCIs convert signals generated from the brain into control commands for various applications, including virtual reality and hands-free control.

Virtual superheroes more helpful in real world, too

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:41:41 EST

Having virtual super-powers in a game may incite people to better behavior in the real world, according to new research.

The ecological badminton robot: Optimizing energy efficiency in machine design

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:27:27 EST

A robot to play with! A childhood's dream has now come true for researchers in Belgium. Wim Symens and his team pioneered the development of the first robot ever to play badminton. But this robot is only a guinea pig to test a software application designed to optimize energy efficiency in machine design.

Fashion blogs: How do ordinary consumers harness social media to become style leaders?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:43:43 EST

The Internet has given consumers the unprecedented opportunity to reach a mass audience and thereby advance their social position through displays of good taste, according to a new study.

Investigating the bystander effect using virtual reality

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:24:24 EST

The bystander effect is well-known in behavioural psychology and suggests that the more people who witnessing a violent emergency the less likely it is that someone will intervene. It was first identified in the 1960s, but conducting research on the phenomenon has been difficult. Most experiments rely upon staging fake emergencies or violent encounters using actors, but it is tricky to gauge how genuine a response is.

Game-based economics research explains why we roll the dice on flu shots

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:20:20 EST

Using an online computer game that simulates the spread of an infectious disease among its players, researchers learned more about what motivates people to protect themselves from infection – from the flu to whooping cough.

Solving puzzles without a picture: New algorithm assembles chromosomes from next generation sequencing data

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:24:24 EST

One of the most difficult problems in the field of genomics is assembling short "reads" of DNA into complete chromosomes. Now an interdisciplinary group of genome and computer scientists has solved this problem, creating an algorithm that can rapidly create "virtual chromosomes" with no prior information about how the genome is organized.

E-games boost physical activity in children; Might be a weapon in the battle against obesity

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:57:57 EST

Video games have been blamed for contributing to the epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. But a new study by researchers suggests that certain blood-pumping video games can boost energy expenditures among children who are at high risk for unhealthy weight gain.

Virtual women reveal more skin, regardless of body proportions

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:30:30 EST

In the virtual world of Second Life, female avatars expose substantially more skin than males, independent of their virtual body proportions, according to new research.

Virtual reality and robotics in neurosurgery: Promise and challenges

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:37:37 EST

Robotic technologies have the potential to help neurosurgeons perform precise, technically demanding operations, together with virtual reality environments to help them navigate through the brain, according to researchers.

Internet outages in the US doubled during Hurricane Sandy

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:31:31 EST

Scientists who track Internet outages throughout the world noted a spike in outages due to Hurricane Sandy, with almost twice as much of the Internet down in the US as usual.

Creativity and linguistic skills important for immersion in World of Warcraft

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:26:26 EST

The sense of immersion in role-play and computer games is sometimes viewed as dangerous, as players’ strong perceptions of fictional worlds are assumed to make them lose contact with reality. On the other hand, players’ immersion also implies a potential for improved learning, since it enables them to ‘experience’ new places and historical eras. Yet a new study from Sweden shows that immersion in online role-play games requires a lot of hard work.

From rats to people: Gaming platform used to compare memory impairments of rodents and humans with epilepsy

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:16:16 EST

A behavioral test widely used on rodents to study spatial learning and memory, the Morris water maze (MWM), was recreated using software developed to create custom video game environments. By creating a virtual reality analogue for humans, it was possible to obtain a direct comparison between the results of studies on a rodent model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), whose spatial memory performance was found to be severely impaired, and patients with TLE.

Technology use in the classroom helps autistic children communicate

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:33:33 EST

The use of technology in the classroom is nothing new, but one elementary school is breaking new ground by using technology to help pupils with autism communicate more effectively.

Online learning strategies of male and female students

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 18:37:37 EST

Researchers have determined the online learning strategies of male and female students in an English language course.

Are social networking Internet sites a factor in psychotic symptoms?

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:20:20 EST

Internet communication is exploding -- and so is the possibility of a related psychopathology called Internet addiction. Now a researcher says that a review of several case studies from his own practice shows a direct connection between psychotic episodes and participation in certain online social networking sites.

Largest resolution immersive visualization facility

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:52:52 EST

A new Reality Deck, a 416 screen super-high resolution virtual reality four-walled surround-view theater, is the largest resolution immersive display ever built driven by a graphic supercomputer. Its purpose and primary design principle is to enable scientists, engineers and physicians to tackle modern-age problems that require the visualization of vast amounts of data.

Georgia Tech Releases Cyber Threats Forecast for 2013

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:31:31 EST

The year ahead will feature new and increasingly sophisticated means to capture and exploit user data, escalating battles over the control of online information and continuous threats to the U.S. supply chain from global sources. Those were the findings released by the Georgia Tech Emerging Cyber Threats Report for 2013.

Looking for information? Turn the pages with just your eyes

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:04:04 EST

Putting on a pair of novel data glasses with an OLED microdisplay allows you to see not only the real world, but also a wealth of virtual information. Imagine looking through a repair manual; the trick here is that you turn the pages using just your eyes.

Virtual reality could help people lose weight, fight prejudice

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:21:21 EST

When an individual strongly identifies with the virtual reality representation of themselves, known as an avatar, the electronic doppelganger can influence that person's health and appearance, according to a new study. Harnessing the power of the virtual world could lead to new forms of obesity treatment and help break down racial and sexual prejudices.

Virtual reality puts human in rat world: 'Beaming' technology transforms human-animal interaction

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:42:42 EDT

Using cutting-edge virtual reality technology, researchers have "beamed" a person into a rat facility allowing the rat and human to interact with each other on the same scale.

We live our lives within our media, rather than simply with it, expert says

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:18:18 EDT

An expert takes on the prevailing notion of his peers in media and communications research -- that the media and its related devices have an effect on us and that the more we use them, the more they shape our lives.

Control any device -- from mobile phones to television sets -- with just a wave of your hand

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:30:30 EDT

Forget the TV remote and the games controller, now you can control anything from your mobile phone to the television with just a wave of your hand. Researchers have developed a sensor the size of a wrist-watch which tracks the 3-D movement of the hand and allows the user to remotely control any device.

Android-based network built to study cyber disruptions and help secure hand-held devices

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:17:17 EDT

As part of ongoing research to help prevent and mitigate disruptions to computer networks on the Internet, researchers have turned their attention to smartphones and other hand-held computing devices.

Artificially intelligent game bots pass the Turing test on Turing's centenary

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:32:32 EDT

An artificially intelligent virtual gamer has won the BotPrize by convincing a panel of judges that it was more human-like than half the humans it competed against. The victory comes 100 years after the birth of mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing, whose "Turing test" stands as one of the foundational definitions of what constitutes true machine intelligence.

Computers get a better way to detect threats

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:50:50 EDT

Computer scientists have developed a technique to automatically allow one computer in a virtual network to monitor another for intrusions, viruses or other kinds of threats.

Blind people develop accurate mental map by playing 'video' game

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:06:06 EDT

Researchers have developed a new "video" game for blind people that can help them learn about a new space using only audio cues.

Can post-breakup Facebook surveillance delay emotional recovery?

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:49:49 EDT

More than 900 million people worldwide are active users of the social networking site Facebook, and it is estimated that as many as one-third report using Facebook to check on the activities of former romantic partners. The effects of remaining Facebook friends with an ex-lover or even just following their activities online can disrupt a person’s ability to heal emotionally and move on with his or her life, according to a new article.

'Blue Brain' project accurately predicts connections between neurons

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:20:20 EDT

Scientists have identified key principles that determine synapse-scale connectivity by virtually reconstructing a cortical microcircuit and comparing it to a mammalian sample. These principles now make it possible to predict the locations of synapses in the neocortex.

Stopping cloud computer problems before they start

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:25:25 EDT

Researchers have developed a new software tool to prevent performance disruptions in cloud computing systems by automatically identifying and responding to potential anomalies before they can develop into problems.

Turning ideas into products faster

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:27:27 EDT

Scienitists have engineered and built a system which produces reverse osmosis membrane elements for water treatment in record time. Virtual engineering allowed research and development to proceed simultaneously.

Researchers make clinical trials a virtual reality

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:58:58 EDT

Clinical trials can be time-consuming, expensive and intrusive, but they are also necessary. Researchers have developed an invention that makes clinical trials more efficient by moving them into the virtual world.

Computer viruses could take a lesson from showy peacocks

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:12:12 EDT

Computer viruses are constantly replicating throughout computer networks and wreaking havoc. But what if they had to find mates in order to reproduce? Researchers have now created the digital equivalent of spring break to see how mate attraction played out through computer programs.

New nanomaterial could help keep pilots and sensitive equipment safe from destructive lasers

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:16:16 EDT

Scientists have developed a new material using nanotechnology, which could help keep pilots and sensitive equipment safe from destructive lasers.

Capturing movements of actors and athletes in real time with conventional video cameras

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:31:31 EDT

Within milliseconds, and just with the help of mathematics, computing power and conventional video cameras, computer scientists can automatically capture the movements of several people. The new approach helps not only animation specialists in Hollywood movies but also medical scientists and athletes.

Computer-simulated knitting goes right down to the yarn

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:53:53 EDT

A new method for building computer-simulated knitted fabric out of an array of individual stitches has just been developed. The innovation creates a 3-D model of a single stitch and then combine multiple copies into a mesh, like tiles in a mosaic.

Molecular economics: New computer models calculate systems-wide costs of gene expression

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:39:39 EDT

Bioengineers have developed a method of modeling, simultaneously, an organism's metabolism and its underlying gene expression. In the emerging field of systems biology, scientists model cellular behavior in order to understand how processes such as metabolism and gene expression relate to one another and bring about certain characteristics in the larger organism.