ABSTRACT
Welcome to our two-part guide to the science, technology, mathematics and practical implementation of virtual reality. Since the words virtual reality are going to crop up quite often, we will use the abbreviation VR from now on. As you work your way through the book, we hope you will begin to appreciate that VR is more, much more than computer graphics, more than just electronic engineering, more than just software engineering, more than mechanical engineering. In fact, it is about all these things. It is about designing and using interfaces to as many of our physical senses as is technically possible. Quite a challenge! Do it right and its potential is staggering. However, it is just as important to appreciate when it is better not to use VR. There are many instances where we don’t yet have the technology to do a good job using VR, so it’s better not to start.
