Immersive Control of Human Interaction with Multi-Variata Data 

Draw Computing Associates, Inc. 

Philadelphia, PA 
 

Developed a Virtual Reality package (Human OpenWorlds) for supporting immersive, reactive worlds in a human simulation.  It is based on DRaW’s OpenWorlds VRML libraries

• Range of commercial VRML products on several platforms
• Work has been presented at VRML 98 Conference and featured in Silicon Graphics World
• Related demo software being shipped by Silicon Graphics, Inc. with Irix 6.5 operating system
• Over $200K privately invested in commercialization

• OpenWorlds^TM and Human OpenWorlds^TM, OpenWorlds Horizon^TM and OpenWorlds Merchant^TM
• Used in CAD/CAM,universities,car simulations, and interactive presentation graphics.  Targeted for existing and new 3D graphics applications, and human simulation environments
• OpenWorlds product commercially available for PC, SGI, and Sun.  Human OpenWorlds expected availability August 1998
• Over 700 product inquiries to date (June/1)
• One demo product being distributed by SGI.  Examining other partnership/ licensing opportunities
• Currently self-funded enterprise
• Product staffed by 10 full-time workers
• Competitive strengths:

-Human OpenWorlds: presents unique
 ability to create interactive virtual
 worlds with realistic, accurate human
 figures.
-OpenWorlds: brings VRML and 3D
 graphics and simulation capabilities 
 into any software system (i.e., CAD
 package, games, training packages,
 etc.) 
-Open Platforms - supported on Sun,
 SGI,  and Windows NT/95
-Open Rendering - supports OpenGL,
-Optimzier, Iris Performer, and more.
 

• Currently used for NASA simulation of maintenance tasks for International Space Station (feasibility, ergonomics studies)
• Potential uses for other human-machine interactions (training tasks, feasibility studies, ergonomics assessment, etc.)
• Application for military, OSHA, etc. tasks
• Application can be used to correct design flaws, make human assessments of virtual mockup of station before production, resulting in potential millions of dollars in savings
• Astronauts can virtually train in simulation without building of costly physical mockups

 

Return to NASA SBIR Success Listings