IDIA Lab’s Virtual Pantheon/Kinect project in Blue Mars and our occupational simulation for Alzheimer’s patients won the Bronze Medal at the iENA International Trade Fair for Ideas, Inventions and New Products in Nuremberg, Germany. http://www.iena.de/en/home.html
The Virtual Pantheon Project in Blue Mars is a multi-user simulation of the Roman Pantheon and its surroundings as it might have existed in 320AD. The structure is the largest and most intact surviving example of ancient Roman architecture in existence. The building was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome, and rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian about 126 AD. The simulation was created by the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University in consultation with the University of Otago, NZ and the Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at Indiana University. The simulation leverages the significant graphic capabilities of the CryEngine to create a compelling immersive experience. IDIA Lab and Avatar Reality worked together to design an interactive solar tracker that allows the visitor to change time of day around important celestial and celebratory events in Ancient Rome. More detail here: http://bit.ly/18cfDKu The project can also be interacted with via MS Kinect sensor directly in Blue Mars.