3-D virtual reality builds knowledge-based economy.

Imagine being able to step inside the picture on your computer display. What was once two-dimensional and flat is now, suddenly, a virtual environment with all the detail and depth of real life.

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It might sound like something straight out of science fiction, but in fact the technology exists today and is a valuable tool for scientists, engineers and others who need to visualize data or understand objects in three-dimensional form.

Because of the expense and space required, most 3-D environments are created using desktop displays. This is sufficient when just one or two people need to "step inside" the virtual environment, but can be a limiting factor when a group is involved.

This is where large-scale, 3-D virtual reality comes into play. With powerful projectors and multiple screens, the virtual environment becomes an immersive room in which an entire group can discuss, collaborate and make decisions based on what they're seeing.

Saskatchwan,s resource companies-particularly those operating in mineral exploration, mining and petroleum have been early adopters of 3-D virtual technology, using it as a tool for visualizing existing resources and identifying new ones. Seeing things in three dimensions, as a group, can lead to better collaboration and faster decisions. It can also play an important role in the critical area of investor relations.

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The technology also has practical applications for researchers using the Canadian Light Source synchrotron in Saskatoon, or working in numerous and often diverse disciplines at the nearby University of Saskatchewan. 3-D virtual reality can be used to prototype or improve manufactured components, visualize forest assets, simulate surgical operations, model climate patterns or map genes in livestock. The potential applications are as diverse as Saskatchewan's economy.

It takes considerable technology to create a large-scale 3-D virtual environment. The most obvious components are multiple screens and projectors. The screens are measured in square feet-80 square feet is common- and the projectors typically output many times the light emitted by a movie theatre unit. When combined with high image resolutions, the visual capabilities are nothing short of amazing.

One recent innovation in 3-D technology is the FLEX(TM) system, which lets operators configure the large screens at varying display angles.

The computer hardware must be able to quickly render complex images from software such as GOCAD, MapInfo or AMIRA. This is achieved with fast, dual-CPU servers running several times the RAM of a desktop computer. Top-end graphics cards and separate video scaling hardware ensure images are clear and stable.

Many large-scale 3-D centres also incorporate SmartBOARDs or other touch screens, letting participants write and save annotations to anything on display. Most facilities also have sound systems, mixing hardware and wireless microphones.

These facilities are not common in western Canada because of capital and operating costs. Of the existing facilities, only a small number are available for general use by industry.

Yet, when industry does have access to the technology, the results can be exciting. Companies are using 3-D virtual reality to illustrate new ore discoveries to investors, or delve into the geology of their properties. Other users might peer inside failure-prone components to learn why stress fractures are happening. Medical researchers can look into a virtual human body, and engineers can harness the enhanced viduals to more easily explain complex data sets.

In today's competitive, knowledge-driven economy, having access to the most powerful tools is a must for any business or institution that wants to compete within Canada or beyond. Large-scale virtual reality is one such tool; combined with Saskatchewns's expertise and innivation, it will play a role in keeping Saskatchewan at the forefront of our increasingly knowledge-based world.

Scott Wood leads the Saskatchewan Research Council's 3D Virtual Reality Centre. Questions and comments can be directed to him at [e-mail]