Virtual Robotics
Virtial Robitcs is a project currently in progress. To make human-robotic colocation safer, we can isolate the robots in their own room in the physical world, and have one (or more) Humans located elsewhere virtually walk through the robot room. The robots will learn to adapt to the humans and be safe, without ever posing any real danger to real humans.
This project is still in its infancy, so more details will be coming soon!
Virtual STEM Buddies
Virtual Stem Buddies (or VSB) is a project that is on display at the Children's Museum of Atlanta to help grow STEM fields.
Children are able to customize a virtual avatar to represent their buddy, who then guides them through various modules. These modules are different educational mini-games, such as a see-saw teaching math and physics.
My most significant role was building the character creator, in addition to general testing.
This is an ongoing project, which poses the important question: What do you do when a user sticks their head into a wall in a virtual environment?
This research will explore various possible solutions, including blacking out the users sight, preventing them from moving altogether, and deforming the wall as they walk into it, almost like putty.
Maze Wall Deformation
Height Normalization Experiment
After creating the bread sorting experience, I decided to use it as the basis for my next research project.
I implemented a height normalization system, which would make particpants experience the simulation with the height of an average 21-year old male. The intent of this project is to see how it effects their performance, and to create an "equal playing field" where a user's score is determined only by their skill, no their physical stature.
