Virtual Environment and Sensori-Motor Activities: Haptic, Audition and Olfaction

Marielle Mokhtari
Distributed Synthetic Environment Group
Defence R&D Canada - Valcartier
Val-Belair, Qc, G3J 1X5
Canada

e-mail: marielle.mokhtari@drdc-rddc.gc.ca

http://www.drev.dnd.ca/

Abstract

While the simplest Virtual Environment (VE) configuration considers only visual interfaces, the need for increased immersion drives the VE designers towards the integration of additional communication modalities. Sensori-motor systems are the components of a Virtual Reality (VR) system that contribute to generate the VEs and to create the feeling of immersion and presence, the feeling of being there. This paper quickly reviews the (1) olfactory, (2) auditory, (3) haptic sensori-motor activities and focuses on the hardware/software components that are currently available, either as commercial products or as academic prototypes.