INCOGNITO: Cognitive interaction between human and virtual environment for engineering applications

The project proposes the development of a cognitive simulation system for the interaction between human and virtual objects, focusing on obtaining an as natural as possible visual and haptic feedback and also considering the human factor. The applications which are targeted by this simulation engine are virtual prototyping of mechanical systems (mechanisms) and the development of a new environment for designing in virtual reality. In these applications the force feedback, as an interaction modality plays a crucial role, and when it comes to the evaluation of the forms a personalized and adapted to user´s requirements, fully immersive virtual environment is decisive. In the present, these design and testing procedures are accomplished by the use of complex simulations with engineering software and by testing real prototypes, but the new envisaged interface will permit the user to feel, to see and to interact in a direct and natural way with the concepts of the product in a stereoscopic and fully immersive environment. In order to be able to develop the haptic feedback and the visualization systems one has to understand the sensorial characteristics of the human body and to develop a computer controlled system which enables the natural interaction with virtual environments.