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This research project in cooperation with the group "Computer
Graphics" (Prof. Dr. Hans Hagen) of the Department "Computer Science"
of the University Kaiserslautern and supported by the "Stiftung
Rheinland-Pfalz für Innovation", deals with the development of a
system of virtual reality representation by which a room to be planned
can previously be entered optically as well as acoustically. Supplied
with a space mouse and 3d glasses, a test person can immerse
himself/herself into a scene projected before him/her onto the power
wall. A high-quality surround system provides the sound field
synthesis. The project is mainly focused on the physically correct
computation of the sound field in the virtual room and the intuitive
visualization of acoustic quality criteria.
A series of criteria (reverberation time, distinctness, localization
quality) have been developed in sound engineering in order to evaluate
the acoustic properties of a room. The software programs for the
simulation of room acoustics which are available on the market can
provide a computation and visualization of a certain quality. However,
the client of an engineering service - e.g., a local public builder -
or a student of architecture are mostly lacking experience with these
parameters, thus finding themselves hardly capable of following the
arguments of an acoustic engineer. The virtual reality system (VR)
will also enable clients without sufficient experience to weigh up the
requirements with respect to acoustics, illumination, and aesthetics
of, e.g., a concert hall. Once the hardware and software basis will
have been developed, numerous further applications can be found (for
example, audio-visual rendering of fly-around, noise exposure in a
machine shop, traffic noise protection measures). In contrast to
already existing methods, the approach which we are proposing is
characterized by the fact that low frequencies, which are important
for industrial applications, are accounted for
wave-acoustically. Besides, it offers a high-quality natural
visualization, real-time movement of the listener in the virtual room,
realization of the principle of error-oriented adaptivity with respect
to all simulation aspects, and the intuitive visualization of complex
quality criteria.
During the current project year, the research work has been focused on
the development of the required hardware and the specification of the
software components. The next steps will concentrate on the subjects
of the simulation of room acoustics (high, medium, and low frequency
and their coupling), real-time rendering (visual and acoustic), and
visualization, i.e. on the development of the software basis. It is
our objective to develop a first prototype of hardware and software up
to the end of 2006.
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Type of project:
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Foundation Rheinland-Palatinate for Innovation
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