MARE

Architecture

Hardware Part

We choose to provide an heterogeneous configuration (displays,tracking,interaction devices), and to use affordance, possibilities, and avantages of each device in our environment. The system is based an table, each user sit around the table, and we augment the user : contrary to virtual reality, the equipment keep total liberty of movement of user by choose low weight devices. We decompose the working area in two parts, personnal area and shared area
For the visualization we based our system on Personnal display, and use personnal HMD : on tow mode optical see-through and video see-through (the choice is conduct by the application and user role).

For the tracking our system repose on an Northern Digital OPTOTRACK, that provide an accuracy in order of 0.01 mm. The system is place above the user, and the choice of position try to take a maximum volume of tracking for the hand place on table and the head of each user. We complete the system with magnetic tracking and vision tracking.

Software Part

For the software part, we realize a modular and multilayer architecture, based on decomposition by manager (like VrJuggler, or Lighting system). Each can be configured with an XML, for easy setup of the system and realization of simple applications. A hierarchical classes approach is use for extensibility of the system and easy development of new complex applications. The system actually run on IRIX, and is porting on Linux (by provide a middleware for access on graphic, video and sound ressource.)

The system support important number of object : 3D, 2D, text, picture, music but also video or speech synthesis (based on MBROLA). Object can be easily animate by overload an update method, and register object with a specific manager. Each object can be describe on world, body or head reference.