The other most important features of virtual reality are immersion, interaction and imagination [3]. Virtual reality helps the users to interact with the imaginary world and objects with real-time 3D graphics in a more perceptive and natural manner. This concept helps the users to understand, analyze, and communicate with the computers to create the virtual worlds or objects. The Virtual reality helps us to convert the data to the best visual forms. The advancement in today's technologies helped us to develop excellent interface systems which not only facilitate users to create the graphical objects and scenes but also provides the best experience. The visual experience provided by Virtual reality simulations to the end user is the best when compared to the other simulation softwares. For instance Virtual reality concepts played an excellent role in the movies like Avatar and Tron. The developers created the artificial worlds which were close and comparable to the real world scenarios. Though both these movies were far away from the possible reality but the imagination and creativity was the best.
There are some simulation softwares and animations available and in this paper majorly talks about the differences while drawing some similarities between VR concept and softwares like MATLAB, LABVIEW, 3DMAX.
MATLAB became popular in the engineering community to simulate and find out the projected performance by using numerical methods and algorithms by varying certain parameters. MATLAB later on became popular in image processing; using MATLAB the users can build the 3-D animations, 3-models and sound simulations. MATLAB gives an engineer to develop an application with complete control of the algorithm in terms of it structure, efficiency, and program execution. On the other hand the VR developer is occasionally plagued by the complexity of the code [4]. VR provides the best visualization and it helps the users to walk through the architecture and provide the best overview. VR also demonstrates its strengths in displaying huge complex information and data to create best visual impact. MATLAB interface with Virtual reality offers a compatible MATLAB interface to the Virtual Reality world. Using this tool box MATLAB objects can be created and related to the virtual world, and the user can use various functions and methods to control the virtual world. MATLAB user can set position and properties of Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) objects to generate callbacks from graphical user interface and link the data to virtual objects. The user can also view the world with VRML viewer, establish the structure and allocate new values to all accessible nodes and their fields. The virtual world properties can be retrieved and changed using function in the virtual reality tool box. They can also be used for storing the VRML files that corresponds the original structure of the virtual world. MATLAB objects can be used for controlling and manipulating the communication between MATLAB and virtual reality [5].
LABVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) was created as a data acquisition system by National Instrument (NI) chips. As per the National Instruments LABVIEW is a virtual instrumentation [6]. LABVIEW is used in the industry largely because of its capability to perform analysis in user friendly front panel. LABVIEW follows a block based method to control processes but it has less mathematical depth and avoids complex programming. One major advantage of LABVIEW is its front display panel which keeps track of the input/output parameters and performance attributes of an industrial process in real time. The inbuilt programs are designed to help users to perform many operations simultaneously by providing a graphical interface. LABVIEW helps the user to monitor the instruments and interact with the process and visualize it. This helps the uses to simulate the hypothetical ideas in the real world. Whereas VR is majorly based on imagination which may not be close to the actual results.
3D Max software is very popular and is used in many areas like TV commercial studios, and architectural virtualization for displaying various aspects of objects, building etc. The users of 3D max can get a good picture of object and buildings and they can understand the complexity involved in them. On the other hand VR not only does what 3D Max can but also offer viewers to see the fine details and realism of the designs. This is possible by VR applications because of the high computing power with high level graphics and greater number of polygons and triangles in the designs [8]. It not possible for human eye to detect some of the graphics developed by using the VR applications whether they are virtual or real (Please see the pictures in the reference page). Using VR systems the user can make models and scenes which are close to imposable in 3D Max.
Simulink is visually realistic 3-D model which can be used to monitor and simulate a dynamic system. Virtual world is connected directly with Simulink signals with the blocks provided in the tools box. These blocks in the tool box helps the users to visualize a particular models in three- dimensional animation. Simulink helps the user to create virtual reality tool box features. The blocks can be built-into the Simulink diagram and select a virtual world and connect the Simulink signals to it. It also helps the users to configure the location, size, properties and the other parameters of an object in the virtual world. This provides the user to create high quality virtual scenes 3-D animations. SIMULINK animations are compatible to import and process VRML files created from CAD assemblies that are authorized to use in designing tools like Pro Engineer and solid works. Simulink allows the uses control the visual data in different ways users can get the snapshots and record animations videos. Using Simulink users can also develop video outputs from the Virtual worlds develop programs to build algorithms my means of visual response two way connection with VR world.
The simulations discussed above and the most of the other animations and simulations are using the applications of Virtual reality. The users can get the best visualization and this engages themselves with a great interest to learn. Educators are using the VR applications to help learners to understand and improve their learning capabilities in different prospective [7]. The VR application can provide safer and less expensive methods example flight simulator. Applications of VR are applied in every industry, education, medical, manufacturing, prototyping, military, art and architecture. In the coming years VR applications will be seen in many areas because the hard ware is less expensive, the only challenge is in lowering the cost of the software.
