Guides & Tutorials: i-Space: Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR)

Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment which intends to give the person experiencing it a strong sense of immersing in that virtual environment. Users can interact with virtual objects in the enclosed virtual world. A sister technology, Augmented Reality (AR) is a combined view of overlaying computer-generated imagery or information over the real world visual. It targets to engage users in their existing surroundings augmented with digital content. While both technologies have decades of history, they gain popularity in gaming in recent years, and are now largely employed in other areas including education, training, engineering, industrial design, therapy and fine art.

Below are some resources for you to know more about VR, AR and related facilities at i-Space.

VR Facilities & Software

VR Facilities

To present digital content in an immersive environment, VR headsets are commonly used. A few types of VR headset are available at i-Space.

HTC VIVE

A VR headset driven by a high-end pc. It works together with motion tracking system and handheld controllers, delivering you a more sophisticated VR experience.

(* You need to book a VR Experience Zone session to use the HTC VIVE.)

Google Cardboard

An open source VR headset made of cardboard. You can download the template to make your own cardboard VR headset. But you need a smartphone running the VR application and slide it into Google Cardboard to view the content.

VR Viewer

A VR headset running on android system. It allows you to watch 360º images/videos and play VR games with the headset alone.

VR Software

Below is the list of VR applications you can experience on the HTC VIVE. Book your VR Experience Zone session to try them out!

3D Organon VR Anatomy
The world’s first fully-featured virtual reality anatomy atlas. Learn human anatomy with over 4,000 realistic anatomical models/structures sided with quality text descriptions per body structure. Explore the human body like never before with this revolutionary medical app!
Speech Trainer
Speech Trainer is a virtual auditorium where you can learn to overcome your fear of public speaking by addressing a virtual audience.
The VR Museum of Fine Art
Explore a virtual museum in room-scale VR: see famous sculptures in full, 1:1 scale and see famous paintings without the limitations of glass and security guards.
Apollo 11
The story of the greatest journey ever taken by humankind. This VR experience is a recreation of the events which took place between July 16th and July 24th 1969. Now for the first time ever you get to experience this historic event through the eyes of those who lived through it.
Google Earth VR
Puts the whole world within your reach. Take a peek at some of the incredible sights you'll experience along the way in the preview gallery below. Explore the world from totally new perspectives. Stroll the streets of Tokyo, soar over Yosemite, or teleport across the globe.
ObserVRtarium
Interact, immerse, inspire. Step into our virtual museum and explore our collection of amazing Space objects.
Universe Sandbox
A physics-based space simulator. It merges gravity, climate, collision, and material interactions to reveal the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Create, destroy, and interact on a scale you've never before imagined.
The Lab
A compilation of Valve’s room-scale VR experiments set in a pocket universe within Aperture Science. Fix a robot, defend a castle, adopt a mechanical dog, and more.
Katana X
A sword simulation action game designed specifically for VR utilizing tracked motion controls. This game takes real physical skill of body control and hand–eye coordination to get high scores. If you like motion gaming, swordplay, and having a serious workout session, this is the game for you.
Blocks by Google
Lets you easily create 3D objects in virtual reality, no matter your modelling experience. Using six simple tools, you can bring your applications to life, create a volumetric masterpiece, or simply let your imagination run wild.
ShapeLab
Empowers everyday people to be 3D creators and artists in minutes. Sculpt, paint, model and have fun!
SketchFab
Provides a viewer based on the WebGL and WebXR technologies that allows users to display 3D models on the web, to be viewed on any mobile browser, desktop browser or Virtual Reality headset.
Tilt Brush
Lets you paint in 3D space with virtual reality. Unleash your creativity with three-dimensional brush strokes, stars, light, and even fire. Your room is your canvas. Your palette is your imagination. The possibilities are endless.
VRCAT
A simple tool set will allow you to quickly sketch and model objects in VR. No 3D modeling experience needed to sketch a building, a car, or a far away world. Let your creativity flow.

Internet Resources for AR

Below are some resources that help you learn what AR is capable of. You can also experience some of the apps on your own mobile devices.

How Memory Sticks
A local arts education programme aims to let students to explore traditional Chinese culture through a series of learning activities. Part of the programme includes several education kits that you can interact with AR & VR apps. (*Chinese only)
Star Hoppers
An award winning app which helps users to identify celestial objects and constellations by overlaying real-time generated star chart and labels on the camera's view of your mobile device.
Google Lens
An app primarily lets you search information with your phone's camera. It can also translate text appear in the camera's view and overlay the translation on the original text. More than that, it allows you to copy the translate text as well.
IKEA Place
An app lets you virtually place true-to-scale 3D models of furniture in your own space. You can first have a look of whether a piece of furniture fits your space before you place an order.
L'Oreal Virtual Try On
A web app lets you virtually puts different cosmetic products (hair dye / lipstick / eyeshadow / face makeup) on your face and see which colour fits you.
AccuVein
A device which uses near-infrared to scan veins under the skin, and projects real-time vein mapping on the skin. It assists clinicians to locate a patient's vein with high precision.
Hawk-Eye
A high-speed computer vision tracking and data visualization system used in numerous sports. For example, it tracks and records 3D motion of the ball in a ball game. Whether a player has hit an in/out ball can be visualized in instant replay with computer-generated trajectory and bounce mark of the ball overlayed on the recorded video.
The Power of AR in Construction
An article describing capabilities and use cases of AR in construction. Various real world examples with videos are presented.