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Session 1526

CRCD: Wireless Multimedia Communications for Virtual Environments

Julie A. Dickerson, William C. Black, Carolina Cruz-Neira, Robert Weber Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011

Abstract

This project combines research from the areas of wireless communications, very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuit design, virtual environments, and human factors in a coordinated interdisciplinary program. This paper gives a brief description of the overall project. Education in the hardware and software of virtual reality (VR) systems will serve as a testbed for training engineers in this co-design philosophy. Part of this project is the creation of three new classes that cover software engineering for real-time software, design of virtual environments, and design of practical wireless devices. The research part of the project will utilize the C6, a three- dimensional, full-immersion, synthetic environment in the Virtual Reality Applications Center (VRAC) at Iowa State to create a new generation of wireless communications devices. This is the first academic program that trains computer engineers and scientists to understand and evaluate the effects of particular hardware and software implementations on human operators.

I. Introduction

Wearable and inexpensive, short-range broadband wireless communications systems are the key to future computing environments. These future information experiences will range from untethered personal computing to totally immersive virtual environments. Engineers capable of designing such devices will need a diverse set of engineering skills in hardware/software integration and human factor issues that are presently treated separately in both curricula and research. This paper gives an overview of a new Combined Research and Curriculum Development (CRCD) project at Iowa State University. This project will integrate upper level teaching and research in communications, radio frequency (RF) and very large scale integrated (VLSI) hardware and software design, and virtual environments in a coordinated interdisciplinary program for simultaneous hardware/software co-design.

Education and training in both communications circuits and virtual environments is difficult because of the rapidly changing underlying technologies and the breadth of necessary multi- disciplinary understanding. Researchers tend to become ‘delta functions of excellence’ without significant collaboration with others, especially in different fields. This cultural divide is invariably carried into the classroom, where courses and laboratories are only rarely coordinated in a way that will maximize their impact on student understanding and ultimately career opportunities. By providing a framework for both faculty and students to expand their educational and research horizons in an area of critical national need it is hoped that everyone, students and faculty alike, will significantly benefit. Our goal is to bridge this interdisciplinary chasm.

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Black, W., & Weber, R., & Dickerson, J., & Cruz-neira, C. (2001, June), Crcd: Wireless Multimedia Communications For Virtual Environments Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9054