Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Virtual Environments in Physical Therapy
Felix O. Akinladejo
University of Technology,
Jamaica, West Indies
1. Introduction
This chapter examines virtual environments which usually represent computer simulated
environments, otherwise called virtual worlds or virtual reality and its application in
physical therapy. Virtual environments present computer-generated three-dimensional (3D)
representation of a physical presence of places in the real world as well as in the imaginary
world. Users mainly interact with virtual environments using virtual reality headsets. Many
of the current virtual reality environments are primarily visual experiences display either on
a computer screens or through other stereoscopic displays. Applications of virtual
environments are mainly focused on artificial reality that projects users into a 3D space
generated by the computer with some sort of tracking devices which may be the virtual
reality headsets worn or another 3D tracking device attached to the body of the user such as
the electromagnetic tracker system. Research in virtual environments has made significant
impact in the entertainment industry and in the training field such as the flight simulator
(Stern, 1995).
Fig. 1. Virtual Reality Parachute Trainer. Source:
http://www.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=3523 Courtesy: The work of the United
States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.
