Immersive technology has faced many head-winds during its growth into the mainstream. Some of the most glaring issues revolve around ergonomics, display resolution and lack of a shared experience. Domes and hemispheres provide a solution to the first two, whereas head mounted displays (HMD) continue to fall short.
Of all the domes currently available for use, “The Holodome,” developed by Vulcan Inc., is one of the premier experiences for immersive content. Development began in 2016 and was limited to an equatorial projection resolution of 5k, using two projects to display virtual content. Three years later, it boasted almost double the resolution at 9.2k with four projectors, 15 speakers, full haptic feedback and 15.1 Ambisonic 360 audio.
Unlike applications or content delivered through an HMD, a dome allows multiple participants to consume an immersive experience together. Moving around within a 360° immersive environment is known as ‘locomotion’ and brings up one of the most difficult obstacles facing VR/AR experiences: motion sickness. In The Holodome, the user is grounded in the real world, and can see their own body, companions and projectors; therefore, they have something to lock onto while the virtual world is moving.
Some guidelines for comfortable locomotion are: limit rotating tipping and rolling the simulation underfoot; when simulating vehicle movement keep the vehicle head and position locked within the dome; project fixed platforms under people’s feet when simulating vehicles; limit non-vehicle movement to mostly straight lines; and use the vibroacoustic haptic floor to evoke the sensation of movement.
The Holodome is different than the typical igloo and cave industry domes; these are low-cost hemispheres that scale, etc. The Holodome is closer to a ‘cave’ – a fully enclosed immersive environment. What makes it different is that it is a shared immersive reality platform. Six people can share in a total, fully interactive game, real-time experience, etc.
The future of domes holds huge potential not only for gaming and cinematic content, but also ancillary categories such as trade shows and festivals. Without the prerequisite of an HMD, whether a music festival or art installation or architectural conference, viewers can more freely experience the product being distributed. As the cost-quality curve continues to become more attainable, domes will be one of the premier and most effective distribution platforms for enterprise and communal entertainment.
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