The HEMISPHERIUM^TM has a 6-metre dome, mounted vertically, with 7 synchronised projectors, giving a full screen of high resolution real-time generated images. As the user takes control in the flight chair, peripheral vision is filled; coupled with full ambionic sound the virtual world becomes real.

This paper includes a technical overview. The illustrated presentation at TILE99 will describe a number of applications that exploit the dome for museums, heritage, real estate, education and entertainment.

The author draws on her experience of working with Trimension and Silicon Graphics as Industrial Partners and with the Technical Director and Technical Manager in the Virtual Reality Centre, University of Teesside. All with a vision to develop a new virtual reality experience.

In 1993, Kalawsky [1] defined a virtual environment as a synthetic sensory experience that should include visual, audio and tactile elements. This ability for synthetic worlds to stimulate our senses, enables human immersion in an artificially (wholly computer generated in real-time) produced virtual environment. This is true today, yet still we need to consider our other senses, for example, smell … that is my paper for next year!

Traill [2], in 1997 said that mainstream immersive VR is still centred on head mounted display (HMD) based solutions in which the user is isolated from their surrounding environment. "The occlusion of real-world interaction within such systems imposes unnatural social and physical constraints on the user".

The journey to the HEMISPHERIUM^TM investigated HMDs, Domes and Reality Centres. On the way the decision was made to design this new experience for a single user and group working.

The Reality Centre concept is to create an immersive space for single or multiple users staffed by VR experts. It is based on projected displays, generated in real-time by SG high-end graphics computers. Dave Hughes, Silicon Graphics, Theale, UK, designed and launched the Reality Centre concept in June 1995. This immersive experience normally uses 3 synchronised projectors onto a 140degree or 150degree double curved screen. The screen is normally 7 metres across, with a 40degree field of view vertically. In the public domain PERA Technology, Melton Mowbray, CIMI at the University of Nottingham installed a Reality Centre in 1996; the University of Teesside opened one in February 1997. (Fig 1 and 2)

The VisionDome is another version of a Reality Centre. BT, Martlesham use the VisionDome, a hemispherical projected digital display system. A central projector unit projects on to a tilted hemisphere of the dome creating a 360degree by 180degree image, [2].

In all Reality Centres, real-time graphics enables the user/audience to interact with a virtual environment.

University College, London uses a large flat screen and a stereo projection display. The user wears CrystalEye glasses to increase the sense of ‘realism’ and immersion.

In the private sector, CADCentre Cambridge launched a cylindrical curved screen with 3 projectors in 1997. This is popular in the Oil and Gas sector. Many more Reality Centres exist in the private sector. Although Industry has been slow to embrace the Reality Centre concept, 1998 saw the technology accepted as more case studies were publicised. Anyone interested in Reality Centres should contact the 1999 Reality Centre Special Interest Group (RCSIG) Chair, Doug Traill or the author, Chair in 1998.

Our human field of view is about 200degree horizontal and 130degree vertical. Barbour [3] and Kalawsky [1] explain how the larger field of view images in Domes increases the subjective feelings of naturalness, expansiveness, depth and ‘reality’.

Smith [4], at TILE98, described Gardaland – a Planetarium and Theatre combined. This innovative approach was taken to enable regular visitors to Gardaland the chance to see new experiences in the same space. This ‘Theatre’ is not, however VR. It relies on pre-prepared media; as is the Video based Dome Theatre described by Shaw [5].

In the 1970’s technology had progressed to allow the military to use real-time computer generated images to produce Dome displays/simulators.

Today VR Domes are used for flight, combat, weapon, ship and vehicle training. This is achieved by using synchronised multiple projectors and various screen geometries.

In 1995 the University had the opportunity to refurbish an existing building on the campus. The £10 million pounds University of Teesside Innovation and Virtual Reality Centre is the result. From the start it was a partnership bid for European Regional Development Funds and involved Government Office of the North East (GONE), the European Union and high-technology industries such as Silicon Graphics and Trimension, all working in partnership with the University and the public and private sectors.

The Innovation and Virtual Reality Centre is also home to the School of Science and Technology, Incubator Units for graduates to set up new businesses in the communication and information industries in addition to the VR Centre that includes the HEMISPHERIUM^TM, development, training and commercial applications laboratories.

From the outset the VR concept was threefold, namely:

• to include Virtual Reality technologies in the new Centre, building on the expertise and excellence in computer graphics animation, visualisation, multimedia plus communications and computing. In this way to support the developing courses in the University in VR, real-time for games and the raft of new media and design communication courses.
• to support new research and development proposals
• to develop VR case studies and demonstrate new uses of VR for SMEs in the North East region, also Nationally and Internationally.

In January 1996 the journey began. The challenge was to install an ‘interim’ VR immersive room and development room whilst designing a new VR experience - all within the initial funding. At the same time the challenge was to establish a commercial base for the newly formed VR Centre. The team grew from 3 in 1996, to 12 by February 1997 and 24 by October 1997. The team is now 30 and still growing.

The vision for the Centre was to become world-class within 2 years across a broad sector, including heritage, entertainment, and real estate; providing creative content for Millennium and other large-scale projects, eg Theme Parks.

In consultation with specialists in Dome technologies and with Trimension and Equipe Limited, Consultants to the project in 1996, a Dome was chosen. The limitations on size were both physical and financial.

Trimension and Equipe Limited had just installed a Dome for Saab, when the budget was initially determined. Only 4 projectors were used to display the images; 3 producing 180degree by 40degree high-resolution band across the centre of the dome and with a 180degree, by 180degree ‘soft’ projector fill.

During 1997, the VR Centre was developing Heritage models and models of the town centre and a large model of the Tees estuary.

The technical manager and technical director in the VR Centre were convinced that the 4 projector solution was not suitable for the type of work being produced. The challenge was given to Trimension to work out a higher resolution solution. It was suggested that 6 projectors, maybe 7, might just work.

It cannot be over emphasised that without the technical staff expertise, ‘grown in-house’ the initial plan, namely, to use a technological solution already tried and tested in Industry may have been adopted.

The project was fraught with many anxieties but in the end it was sheer joy designing a brand new VR experience.

Once the decision was taken to use 7 projectors, it took 6 months to commission and install.

At TILE98, Blair Parkin, MD, Trimension Systems Limited, made reference to the multichannel real-time reality dome HEMISPHERIUM^TM that was being constructed at the University of Teesside [6]. He referred to this project as ‘focusing on academic and research applications for virtual reality’. Due to investment by GONE it is, very importantly, developing educational, entertainment and commercial real-world applications.

The HEMISPHERIUM^TM is a fully immersive PRODAS dome display, with 7 channels of high resolution PRODAS projection onto a 6 metre hemispherical dome screen that is mounted vertically. The dome is manufactured of lightweight GRP material and finished with a matt white optical coating. The PRODAS projectors are geometrically corrected and seamlessly edge blended using a 7 channel DigiBlend edge blending and colour correction system. The dome surface is covered with over 9 million pixels (compared with a desktop PC screen at 307,000 pixels). This single rich image portrays levels of computer generated realism that allows design decision making of anything ranging from an entire Theme Park to ‘one of the rides’.

It is the first system in the world to locate the user in a ‘flight chair’ without any obstacles between them and the screen. Seating up to 22 users, everyone is immersed in stunning imagery wrapped round them from floor to ceiling and from ear lobe to ear lobe. It is equipped with powerful ambionic surround sound and controlled lighting system to enhance the experience.

The HEMISPHERIUM^TM was officially opened by the Trade and Industry Secretary, Peter Mandelson, on the 11^th December 1998. Mr Mandelson said, "this imaginative project is exactly the sort of development that is needed to help to keep abreast of advances on high technology".

Also at the launch, Dave Hughes said "this is truly a step-change capability in immersive VR. A 1^st of it’s kind in the world, developed as a partnership between the University of Teesside, Trimension and Silicon Graphics. The images are not on film, the virtual reality worlds are produced in real-time."

This wonderful partnership has produced a real product that can only be experienced, not described.

All of the display and environment technology was supplied and integrated by Trimension Systems in collaboration with the team at the University of Teesside. The team included the Project Manager, Estates, Technical Director, Technical Manager, Assistant Technical Manager and author, VR Centre.

The HEMISPHERIUM^TM is a trademark of the Virtual Reality Centre at Teesside Limited.

1. Kalawsky R S: ‘The science of virtual reality and virtual environments’, pp331, Addison-Wesley (1993)
2. Traill D M, Bowskill J M, Lawrence P J: ‘Interactive collaborative media environments’, BT Technology J, Vol 14, No 4, (1997)
3. Barber C G, Meyer G W: ‘Visual Cues and Pictorial Limitations in Photorealistic Images’, SIGGRAPH91, Course Notes, C9, pp.IV-1 to IV-36, (1991)
4. Smith G H: ‘A High-Tech Planetarium goes into …. a Theme Park? Pp48-58, 7^th TILE98 Conference Proceedings (1998)
5. Shaw J: ‘Dome Theatres: Spheres of Influence’, pp59-65, 7^th TILE98 Conference Proceedings (1998)
6. Parkin B: ‘Making Virtual Domes a Reality’, pp66-67, 7^th TILE98 Conference Proceedings (1998)

Janice Webster is an interior designer and has used 3D computer graphics for TV studio set design, interior spatial design and architectural visualisations. In 1988 she started the MSc in computer graphics animation at the University of Teesside. In 1995 she was appointed Director of the Institute of Design and in 1996 the Director of the VR Centre at the University of Teesside. As founder member and first Chair of the Reality Special Interest Group (RCSIG) she is internationally recognised for the innovative work she is doing, at the leading edge of technological change. She is currently working on several Millennium funded projects with her team of VR developers. As the inventor of the HEMISPHERIUM^TM experience she brings together design and technology in an imaginative and unique way.