On the Road towards? - Developing a toolset for a low-cost VR-enhanced design approach
Wolfgang Dokonal, Pascal Mosler, Maximilian Gehring, Uwe Rüppel · eCAADe proceedings · 2022
For several years, we have been experimenting with Head Mounted Displays (HMD) being used as Virtual Reality (VR) interfaces. We tried to develop easy to use workflows for these devices so that they can be integrated into the architectural design process. Additionally, we were able to upgrade those systems with sensor boxes and designed new systems for movement control, collision detection, and additional effects for an increased feeling of immersion. Our systems focused on the use of the ultra-low-cost HMD devices and the intention was to clarify how much benefit within the design process we can achieve already at an early design phase in using this workflow without having extremely detailed models available. We experienced with our students in the past that the change from analogue design methods towards software-supported design reduced their understanding of space and scale and was therefore a negative factor in the design process. In this paper, we will focus on scripts for the game engine Unity with new functionalities that we tested with the students in two workshops.