It is desirable for Virtual reality input devices to be minimally invasive to the user while being cost effective both in hardware and computational overhead. Additionally it is desirable to precisely know the position input information while faithfully representing a users own hands or body in the visual space. A traditional fiber optic glove system encumbers the user while providing relatively low position resolution. Other exoskeleton systems are more accurate at the expense of complexity and encumbrance. Rendering an accurate image for all such systems requires significant computational resources. The approach proposed here, using a combined laser ranging and stereoscopic imaging system, promises to optimize hardware cost, image quality, computational resource requirements and position input accuracy in a nonencumbering system of modest cost.Anticipated direct application includes virtual reality input and gesture recognition device for broad virtual reality utilization.Specific early direct applications include local and remote interactive design, interactive training simulations and video conferencing. Indirect applications include computerized gesture recognition applied to widely ranging problems such as recognizing the American sign language for the deaf and "keyboard free" data input at Automated Teller Machines.
Keywords: Phase_I, NASA, Abstract, FY94
