Multi-Screen Virtual Reality System : VROOM - Hi-Resolution and four-screen Stereo Image Projection System -

In this paper, we report a system specifications of Hi-resolution and four-screen stereo image projection system which was established in VBL(Venture Business Laboratory) at Tokyo Institute of Technology on 3rd July 1996. The system is 3m $\times$ 3m $\times$2.2m rectangular parallelepiped composed of three 150inch side screens and floor. Host computers can generate virtual environment s in real-time and four projecters project these images to the screens. Viewers are, therefore, surrounded by these screens and an illusion of immersion can be created. Because, the views of users are completely covered with the projection images and many kinds of interactive devices can be used in this system. Moreover, many users can have experience the virtual environments at the same time. Usually, this kind of system uses hi-performance graphics workstations for host computers. One is SGI(Silicon Graphics, Inc.) Onyx with 3 Reality Engines. The other system is 4 personal computers. Because hi-performance and low price graphics accelerators for personal computer have been developed in these years, the abilities of VR(Virtual Reality) systems based on personal computers should be investigated.