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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

English Faculty in the CAVE

Members of the English department had the opportunity on Feb. 25 to experience Villanova's new CAVE virtual reality facility.

The Villanova CAVE, housed in Falvey Library, features an 18’ by 10’ by 7.5’ high enclosure in which 10-15 viewers can view three-dimensional imagery and immersive data displays. The CAVE is configurable for applications requiring projections onto three walls and the ceiling, or onto three walls and the floor.  “CAVE technology has played a key role in scientific and engineering research since its development in the 1990s, and I believe the time is right to bring its powerful visualization capabilities into more general use,” says Prof. Frank Klassner, professor of Computing Sciences and the director of the CAVE project.  Adds Klassner: “This project will contribute toward establishing a collection of dynamic imagery and video from locations around the world, not only for scientific and cultural research, but for classroom use and public appreciation as well. Placing the CAVE in a very public library setting is the key, as it will make it as easy to ‘check out’ and share locations as it has been to check out or share books.”

English Professors Brooke Hunter, Heather Hicks, and Evan Radcliffe in the CAVE with Prof. Frank Klassner