Development and validation of a user-friendly method to deploy immersive technologies in the process of product development.

The goal of this research is to provide a user-friendly method for product developers to interact with Virtual, Augmented Reality and/or Mixed reality (MR, merging the real and the virtual world). We will define and validate a method to deploy MR in the process of product development. The project was defined by the observation that the product development process can be improved by revisiting interaction in mixed MR with design objects. For example, organic shapes (e.g. geometrical surfaces with non-trivial curvatures) can be directly handled in MR and then tuned to flexible manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, bypassing the need for complex and cumbersome on-screen manipulations in digital drawing. The goal of this research is achieved by the development, implementation, testing and validation of a toolkit that incorporates latest advancements in MR in different stages of the design process: ideation, system design, concept design and prototyping/manufacturing. Envisioned improvements are: increased efficiency, more accurate communication, enhanced perception, faster verification, less iterations and faster decision making. Consequently, the toolkit will improve the outcome of the product development process and/or reduce efforts to achieve a non-inferior product. The toolkit focuses on products that directly interact with the human body.

Keywords:VIRTUAL REALITY

Disciplines:Ecodesign