Brown will open two new virtual reality labs this year, each with very different research functions.
While one lab relies upon subjects who don a head-mounted display to investigate how humans learn about new environments, the other will immerse researchers in a virtual landscape to better understand complex scientific data.
Despite the virtual reality connection, "the two facilities will be used for rather different experiments," said Andries van Dam, professor of computer science, who worked on a grant proposal for one of the labs. "It's synergistic. We intend to use each other's facilities."
The $1-million facility, called the Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Visualization, is nearing completion at 180 George St. It contains an IBM supercomputer to drive virtual simulations and other forms of scientific computation, and the Cave, an eight-foot-square cube in which images will be projected.
A continuous virtual image will be projected on the three walls and floor of the Cave, immersing a person into a virtual environment. Test subjects will wear lightweight goggles and be connected to tracking devices so that when they move their heads, the environment around them will change.
The facility will enable scientists to walk around inside a molecule and examine its three-dimensional components, for example. Or they will be able to examine the air flow around a space shuttle, where streamlines are colored to indicate velocity at each point along the shuttle.
Although researchers can run simple experiments in the Cave, another 18 months are necessary to improve hardware and software so that they are ready for most uses, according to van Dam. A dedication is planned for Commencement weekend in May.
Faculty from the departments of chemistry, applied mathematics, physics, computer science and geology were involved in securing funds for the Center for Advanced Scientific Computing and Visualization. It will be managed by Samuel Fulcomer, center director.
"In a year or two I hope to see this facility in use 24 hours a day, and open to all meritorious applications on campus," said Fulcomer.
National Science Foundation grants are financing both projects.