Course Virtual Reality

  • Instructor: Prof. Dr. Bernd Fröhlich
  • Teaching assistants
    • Dipl.-Medsys.wiss. André Kunert
    • Dipl.-Medsys.wiss. Andreas-C. Bernstein
  • Lecture schedule 
    • Tuesdays, 3:15 - 4:45 pm
    • Location: Room 015, Bauhausstr 11
  • Lab class schedule 
    • Group A: Monday, 3:15 - 4:45 pm, starts 3.11.2014
    • Group B: Friday, 9:15 - 10:45 am, starts 7.11.2014
    • Location: VR-Lab, Room 008, Bauhausstr 11
  • Office hours by appointment only
  • Target audience
    • M.Sc. Medieninformatik/Mediensysteme
    • M.Sc. Computer Science and Media
  • ECTS Credits
    • 4 Credits (Mediensysteme)
    • 4.5 Credits (Medieninformatik, Computer Science and Media)

Course Description

This course presents the theoretical, technical and applied foundations of modern virtual reality systems, 3D TV, 3D Cinema, stereoscopic gaming and 3D user interfaces. The course focuses on the following topics:

  • Scenegraph technology
  • 3D viewing
  • 3D perception
  • Stereoscopic single- and multi-viewer display technology
  • Three-dimensional user interfaces and interaction techniques

Virtual reality experts from other labs will be invited for guest lectures throughout the course.

The accompanying lab classes allow students to implement a set of 3D interaction techniques in stereoscopic environments and a project of their own choice. The VR lab provides access to the newest virtual reality technology such as multi-viewer 3D projections and Oculus Rift systems.

German Course Description

Die Vorlesung stellt die aktuellen Technologien und Techniken zu den Gebieten "Virtuelle Umgebungen" und "Virtuelle Realität" vor. Regelmäßige Übungen im VR-Labor ergänzen die Vorlesung durch praktische Erfahrung mit modernen VR-Systemen. Die konkreten Themen der Vorlesung:

  • Szenengraphen
  • 3D Viewing Setups 
  • 3D Wahrnehmung
  • Stereoskopische Single- und Multi-Viewer-Systeme
  • 3D-Eingabegeräte und Interaktionstechniken

Diese Vorlesung wird englischsprachig angeboten.

NEWS

  • Orals exams
    • Oral exam information PDF
    • In February on request by email.
    • Regular exam dates: March 4, March 11 and March 12, 2015. Please contact maria-theresa.hansens (at) uni-weimar.de for signing up at the latest one week in advance of the exam. Check Lab Class section for Q&A sessions.
    • Additional exam dates: April 8, 2015. Please contact maria-theresa.hansens (at) uni-weimar.de for signing up. Check Lab Class section for Q&A sessions.
    • Other dates only on special request by email stating a significant reason.
    • André Kunert will offer a Q&A session in February - date tba.

Lecture notes (pdf)

The documents from the WS 2013/14 course serve as a basis and will be further developed. The contents are only accessible from within the university network. Please do not redistribute the material.

    Lab Class

    • Guacamole Introduction: Group A 3.11.2014 3:15 pm, Group B 7.11.2014 9:15 am
    • Hierarchical Modeling: Group A 10.11.2014 3:15 pm, Group B 14.11.2014 9:15 am
    • Recap: Group A 17.11.2014 3:15 pm, Group B 21.11.2014 9:15 am
    • Input Mapping (graded): Group A 24.11.2014 3:15 pm, Group B 28.11.2014 9:15 am
    • Recap: Group A 1.12.2014 3:15 pm, Group B 5.12.2014 9:15 am
    • Event-Handling and Dataflow: Group A 8.1122014 3:15 pm, Group B 12.12.2014 9:15 am
    • Tracking Systems & Virtual Pointing: Group A 15.12.2014 3:15 pm, Group B 19.12.2014 9:15 am
    • Recap: Group A 5.1.2015 3:15 pm, Group B 9.1.2015 9:15 am
    • Remote Manipulation (graded): Group A 12.1.2015 3:15 pm, Group B 9.1.2015 9:15 am
    • Viewing Setups: Group A 19.1.2015 3:15 pm, Group B 16.1.2015 9:15 am
    • Navigation (graded): Group A 26.1.2015 3:15 pm, Group B 23.1.2015 9:15 am
    • Final Project Instructions
    • Exam Q&A: 2.3.2015 2-4pm
    • Exam Q&A: 9.3.2015 2-4pm
    • Exam Q&A: 7.4.2015 10-12am

    Final Project

    • Requirements
      • Design and implementation of a small virtual reality project
      • Reappraisal of the concepts presented during the course
    • Procedure
      • Development by individuals or in groups of two
      • Development effort: about one week
    • Presentation
      • Demonstration of the project, supported where possible by a small presentation of the implemented concepts

    Grading

       

    • The final exam will be an oral exam covering all topics of the course
    • Appointments for oral examination can be made with the computer science secretaries (R112, B11) at the end of course.

      •  

    • Requirements for admittance to the final exam
      • At least 50% of the points need to be achieved in the assignments and the final project.
      • The following scheme lists the grades depending on the percentage of the achieved points (assignments + final project):
        • 1.0   >=95.0
        • 1.1   [93.5-95.0)
        • 1.2   [92.0-93.5)
        • 1.3   [90.5-92.0)
        • 1.4   [89.0-90.5)
        • 1.5   [87.5-89.0)
        • 1.6   [86.0-87.5)
        • 1.7   [84.5-86.0)
        • 1.8   [83.0-84.5)
        • 1.9   [81.5-83.0)
        • 2.0   [80.0-81.5)
        • 2.1   [78.5-80.0)
        • 2.2   [77.0-78.5)
        • 2.3   [75.5-77.0)
        • 2.4   [74.0-75.5)
        • 2.5   [72.5-74.0)
        • ...
        • 3.0   [65.0-66.5)
        • ...
        • 4.0   [50.0-51.5)
        • Less than 50% is insufficient for an admission to the oral exam.
    • Contributions to the final grade
      • assignments: 20%
      • final project:   30%
      • final exam:     50%