Augment’able – Multimodal workplace
| Project staff: | Dipl.-Ing. Erik Steindecker (former staff member) |
When designing new products, both physical prototypes and virtual models are used. Physical prototypes can be used to evaluate physical properties in particular, such as weight, rough shape and surface texture. With virtual models, on the other hand, design details and user functions can be visualised and varied quickly and easily. Combining both, physical prototypes are enriched with virtual information and merge for the user. The resulting hybrid prototype combines the advantages of both models and allows an efficient evaluation of the future product. Cost- and time-intensive corrections to the physical prototype are reduced.
The Augment'able offers the perfect working environment for this. The user views a stereoscopic representation of the virtual model through special filter glasses. This means that the model is not simply shown on the display, but appears to float in space. The use of a semi-transparent mirror causes the perception of a physical prototype and the virtual model in the same place. In addition to visual perception, a haptic pen with force feedback enables direct interaction with the virtual model information. For example, virtual object details can be felt and changed haptically.
