The CAVE

A Tour Through the CAVE
Hosted by : George Francis

The CAVE is a surround-screen, surround-sound, projection-based virtual reality (VR) system. The illusion of immersion is created by projecting 3D computer graphics into a 10'x10'x9' cube composed of display screens that completely surround the viewer. It is coupled with head and hand tracking systems to produce the correct stereo perspective and to isolate the position and orientation of a 3D input device. A sound system provides audio feedback. The viewer explores the virtual world by moving around inside the cube and grabbing objects with a three-button, wand-like device.

Unlike users of the video-arcade type of VR system, CAVE dwellers do not wear helmets to experience VR. Instead, they put on lightweight stereo glasses and walk around inside the CAVE as they interact with virtual objects.

Multiple viewers often share virtual experiences and easily carry on discussions inside the CAVE, enabling researchers to exchange discoveries and ideas. One user is the active viewer, controlling the stereo projection reference point, while the rest ofthe users are passive viewers.

The CAVE was designed from the beginning to be a useful tool for scientific visualization; EVL's goal was to help scientists achieve discoveries faster, while matching the resolution, color and flicker-free qualities of high-end workstations. Most importantly, the CAVE can be coupled to remote data sources, supercomputers and scientific instruments via high-speed networks, a functionality that EVL, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, and Argonne National Laboratory are jointly implementing.

What we saw in the CAVE

Eversion of the Sphere

Everting a sphere in three space by a regular homotopy is a fairly complex problem in descriptive topology. The problem can be stated simply as follows: provide a sequence of topological transformations which will turn a sphere inside out in a way that does not allow for creasing or tearing (note, that self-intersections are allowed). Below you will find a partial visualization of the method proposed by a French mathematician Bernard Morin that is remarkable not only for its complexity and inherent beauty but also due to the fact that it was created as a pure execise of reason and imagination (Morin was blind). Several other eversions were devised since.







Representation of 5D Space

Back to the homepage!


This site was designed by Jacqueline Cordero and Theresa Fulton.