MSU - Moscow State University (CAVE)

The room of virtual reality (CAVE) at faculty of psychology of MSU

Project Tasks

The interactive tool was necessary for the management of faculty of psychology of Lomonosov Moscow State University for carrying out scientific and practical researches in the field of psychology and psychophysiology. The main problem of these researches is the changeable environment in which they are conducted, so, for studying of reaction of the person to this or that situation, it is necessary to recreate several times it, without changing anything: lighting, arrangement of things, the examinee's provision, etc. that is almost unreal. An exit — immersion of the person in virtual reality. To solve this problem, MSU addressed VE Group company, at that time to the only supplier of the professional systems of virtual reality in Russia.

Solution VE Group:

The VE Group company implemented in MSU the room of virtual reality — full-fledged 4kh-screen CAVE which is used by psychologists, psychophysiologists and other specialists of MSU for immersion of the person in virtual reality.

Room of virtual reality of MSU it:

• four screens of the return projection providing effect of presence even without use special 3D - points;
• four stereo-projectors which are synchronously displaying the image;
• the graphic cluster supporting work with the software for
• interactive visualization of virtual scenes;
• the system of tracking tracing gaze direction of the person and his head;
• suit, trackings of movements of a body of the person (motion capture);
• the gloves of virtual reality allowing to carry out manipulations with virtual models (assembly dismantling, movement of objects);
• speaker system 5.1;
• data network.

Difficulties of the project:

To the building in which the room of virtual reality is located about 230 years and it is under protection of UNESCO. Therefore at a system design it was important to consider the small metric area of the premises and impossibility of making changes in the existing constructions and a floor. Despite these difficulties, specialists of VE Group managed to place the equipment indoors with observance of all safety regulations.

Project Effect

Psikhfak of MSU — one of the first in Russia began to use virtual reality in psychology. In the room of virtual reality conduct researches in the field of perception of space, optical illusions, a blindness to changes and other directions. The effect of presence in the virtual stage allows to study reaction of examinees to a stress, to simulate communication with virtual three-dimensional characters.

Besides, CAVE is connected to the supercomputer of MSU which is in the building on Sparrow Hills thanks to what results of supercomputer researches can be reflected in the room of virtual reality in real time.

At the moment the room of virtual reality solves problems of all researchers of MSU, and not just psychological faculty.

And till today of VE Group conducts service and upgrade of a system with the beginning of project implementation. On the basis of constantly cooperation of MSU and VE Group carry out joint research works, Research and Development, training and consultation.