Hypothesis

Want to travel into space? Forget it. "Earth" travel is expensive enough!
In 2009, Virgin Galactic launched its space travel program to the general public. Unfortunately, it is too expensive for the average person. The starting price for a ticket is $200, 000 US (Virgingalactic.com). Even for "Earth" travel, going to other countries requires extreme expense and lots of preparation. Instead of bringing the person to their desired environment, we propose to bring the environment to them in an accessible, cost-effective manner. With today's photo-stitching technology of billions of photographs online including satellite images, it is possible to weave together realistic virtual environments for travelers to explore from the comfort of their local communities ( Blaise Aguera y Arcas 2007). We hope to develop a model of a dome screen where the user can interact with a mock-up of his/her desired destination. Our bubble dome will allow users to 'walk' through foreign countrysides and witness sunsets over vast, distant landscapes on a screen that surrounds them completely. They can rotate their flying viewpoint 360 degrees around an object of interest, bringing up key information, fun facts, and activities tailored to each location. Users can even manipulate time, using time-lapse photography to view locations either day or night. Using an interactive panel and motion-sensor technology, users can rotate the virtual camera, letting them fly around the globe and into space. They can also manipulate virtual objects at certain sites, examining world famous landmarks or interactive buildings. Detecting the motions of users hands in real time will provide a more seamless immersive experience.