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Student Choice Response
Student Choice Response
Microsoft DreamWalker
Microsoft DreamWalker
Another technology that caught my attention is Microsoft’s research into virtual reality—Microsoft DreamWalker. This is a project that allows a user to walk through the world while wearing a virtual reality headset, extending the use of virtual reality technology to areas outside of already set up rooms that have the proper sensors and dimensions required for ordinary consumers use virtual reality headsets.
You would imagine that using virtual reality anywhere outside the proper set up would require a lot of equipment for it to portable. You would be correct in your thinking. The DreamWalker setup requires a virtual reality headset, a portable PC, a phone with dual-band GPS, two Intel Realsense cameras, and a controller. It’s a lot to carry, but every component is necessary to make DreamWalker work properly.
It works by using its cameras to recognize the distances between the user and the various objects in the real-world environment. It classifies objects in the real world as either dynamic and stationary, and the software Microsoft has come up with will spawn objects in the virtual reality environment to represent these real-world obstacles. If there’s a fire hydrant in the real-world environment, it would certainly help the user if that object was represented virtually so that the user can avoid hitting it. This is no different than teaching self-driving cars to recognize the environment it’s in so that it can predict where objects will be so that it can self-correct.
In Microsoft’s blog, a video showcases how someone can walk around with a virtual reality headset without bumping into anything, while that same user experiences a virtual downtown environment inside of the headset.
Source of image: [link]
The technology that Microsoft came up with is impressive. It’s difficult to teach a computer to recognize objects in real life, and it’s an interesting idea to use that information to spawn virtual objects that represent obstacles in the real world.
It seems like Microsoft DreamWalker is just for proof of concept, because personally I can’t imagine any applications where any ordinary consumer would want to walk around real life like this. There are several things that would deter people from wanting to wear this sort of technology daily. First, it’s lot of expensive equipment to bring outside for an experience that make the act of “walking” anymore exciting. Second, I don’t think it’s safe enough. I already worry as is about strangers robbing me while I’m downtown. Third, even if someone could make an interesting environment to walk around in or some game to play while you’re walking on your commute, I’m not sure that I agree with the idea of people spending every second of their day at a computer. There have already been studies done that being “bored” is good for your mental health. It allows you to process your thoughts, boosts creativity, and helps you focus and be productive. Some people have raised concerns about the fact that everyone searches for distractions to avoid being bored. I listen to music or podcasts when I’m showering! No one did that 10 years ago. One of my cousins is so used to this kind of instant gratification, that he sobs and throws tantrums if no one will give him a handheld device to play games on.
I think Microsoft’s research proves that you can walk in a virtual reality environment while successfully avoiding obstacles, but I think this lacks potential for everyday use for the average consumer. I can imagine DreamWalker being used for firefighter training to traverse a virtual burning building inside of a real building or NASA astronauts learning how to navigate a future Mars colony. In these situations, users are not restricted to a room of set dimensions, but any real-world environment. However, I can’t imagine myself putting on an expensive set of equipment to make ordinary walking more “fun”.
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