Computer Scientists Go under Water

Researchers from York University, Canada, and from the Department of Computer Science will evaluate the findings of their under-water experiments by the end of this week. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, researchers from the Center for Vision Research at York University, Toronto (Canada), and the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences jointly carried out under-water experiments within the framework of the Alexander-von-Humboldt project entitled "Perception in Virtual Reality" to find out whether perception works differently under water than on land due to the effect of boyancy. Two psychologists, Prof. Heather Jenkin and Sandra Boronas, as well as Michael Jenkin and Rainer Herpers, professors of Computer Science, were also involved in running the project.

The computer scientists from both universities attach great importance to the experiments. Herpers said, "We want to find out which part these stimuli play in determining someone's position under which circumstances." This should lead to improving the surroundings in virtual reality, for example to achieve better training results.
The findings that have recently been achieved in the diving tower building of the Oktopus Health and Leisure Park in Siegburg as well as those brought along by the Canadian guests will be evalutated by the end of this week.
The researchers, who are trained divers themselves, are being supported in carrying out their experiments by diving instructors Jürgen and Frederike Weinreich.

Background information

We primarily perceive our body's position through our eyes and our organs of equilibrium, which are located in our ears.
Visitors to 3-D cinemas therefore tend to take the curves when watching speedy car races, and swaying surroundings can cause dizziness even when you are standing on solid and immovable ground. A fixed reference point for your eyes can, none the less, cause you to confuse "up" and "down", which is extremely dangerous for pilots, but can also be perilous for divers, e.g. if the depth gauge is no longer working. The influence of the organs of equilibrium on positioning obviously weakens as people get older. This can then lead to falls if the visual information is not clear of if it cannot be perceived any longer.

Contact details

Prof. Dr. Rainer Herpers
Tel +49 2241 865 217
email:

Foto: Michael Jenkin

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