ABSTRACT
When we experience a virtual reality (VR) environment, we focus our attention largely on the simulation that we interact with, rather than the technology that supports this interaction. VR models exhibit a fundamental lack of absolute correspondence between their representations and the objects they represent. The study of signs, or semiotics, provides a rich foundation for understanding the complex relationships between objects and their representations. In contrast with the 2D and 3D representations, some distinguishing characteristics of VR environments make them more interactive, spatial and social. In the construction industry, interest in VR technologies has grown along with the increasing use of building information modelling (BIM), which has led to the generation of large datasets that often need to be collectively visualized. The growing use of augmented reality is benefitting from developments in wearable computing applications, gesture devices, mobile hardware and global positioning systems (GPS).
