The mission of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab is to understand the dynamics and implications of interactions among people in immersive virtual reality simulations (VR), and other forms of human digital representations in media, communication systems, and games. Researchers in the lab are most concerned with understanding the social interaction that occurs within the confines of VR, and the majority of our work is centered on using empirical, behavioral science methodologies to explore people as they interact in these digital worlds.

Through education and training programs, the creation and management of visualization facilities, and advanced visualization research, the visualization technology group (VTG), promotes the use of visualization and virtual reality technologies for improved understanding of scientific data and human cognition.

VTG manages the DiVE (Duke immersive Virtual Environment), a 6-sided virtual reality theater. We host open houses every Thursday at 4:30. The rule is first come, first served. Just drop on by and visit the DiVE yourself. 

The Laboratory for Intelligent Imaging and Neural Computing (LIINC) was founded in September 2000 by Paul Sajda.  The mission of LIINC is to study fundamental processing strategies and representations used by biological vision systems and apply these to develop artificial vision systems capable of sophisticated and adaptive image and scene analysis.  Our laboratory pursues both basic and applied neuroscience research projects, with emphasis in the following: 

Live3D is a web-based application that allows users to update the geometry and textures in Google Earth to see what the world looks like at this very moment. Users are encouraged to take one of the many outdoor webcam images and embed them three-dimensional space, constructing a scene with up-to-date images.

Live3D can also calibrate camera images and infer the camera's location and orientation. So, without leaving your desk, you can geo-locate and geo-orient a camera (usually to within a couple meters).

A new European research project is developing three-dimensional (3D) versions of Mediterranean islands that will be updated automatically with current information from public and private databases. MedIsolae-3D will enable users to virtually "fly over" Mediterranean islands and swoop down on areas of interest.

Children's Hospital Boston (CHB) researchers, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have developed MedWatcher, an iPhone application designed to engage health care professionals and the general public in drug safety issues and real-time pharmacovigilance. MedWatcher enables users to track the latest drug safety updates provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and incorporates information about medications listed in FDA databases. Users also can see reviews by patients and providers.

EU Scientists Make Virtual Reality Touchable

CORDIS News (Belgium) (07/20/10)