Introduction

Virtual Reality App Development

Course organization

Outline

1. Motivation
2. Syllabus
3. Assignment
4. Info and tools
5. Hardware

My background

Weichao Qiu, Yi Zhang, computer science Ph.D. students

Computer vision (AI) researcher

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UE4 C++ developer (user, not engine developer)

Oculus research intern

1. Motivation

• An introduction of how to create a VR app
• Find teammates

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VR is an opportunity for

• Entrepreneurship
• Research tool
• Design my own game

2. Syllabus (Tentative)

• Introduction (01/09)
• 3D world concepts and construction
• Programming basics 1
• Q/A + Programming basics 2
• Animation / Input

Tues/Thur 1:00pm - 3:30pm

1:00 - 2:00�10mintues break�2:10 - 3:30

2. Assignment

Two options

1. An essay (non-technical)
2. Programming assignment (technical)�Individual project or team project

Essay

1. Describe a VR application you want to design�Make sure to include these details
1. Problem to solve
2. Why and how to use VR to solve it
3. Describe technical challenge in this design�Such as: price of hardware, graphics quality, tracking solution
4. Similar apps on the market

2. Summarize a VR app, or a category of VR apps

An example

• Problem to solve�Help remote family members virtually gather together
• Why use VR�Immersive and more activities can be done in VR
• Technical challenges�3D human reconstruction, human pose tracking, HMD weight
• Similar apps�Facebook spaces, etc.

Programming assignment

Background requirement

• Know basic concept of programming (loop, condition, variable, function)

Related CS courses

• Computer graphics
• Augmented reality
• Video game design
• Object-oriented programming

3. Info and tools

• Website:�https://jhu-vr.github.io, slides, read materials, example projects�Slides will be posted before each lecture�
• Slack team:�https://jhu-vr.slack.com, check email for invitation�For project discussion, Q/A, feedback etc.�https://join.slack.com/t/jhu-vr/signup�
• Unreal Engine 4, for programming assignment

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What is Slack?

What is Slack?

Channel�Organized by Topics�Private or public

Create a new channel �for your interest�

Direct Message�Ping and chat with�a team member�

Chat history

Why Slack (not piazza?)

Ask questions

Give feedback (cover more details of a topic, etc.)

Find teammates

Discuss project

Free chat

Unreal Engine 4

Will be introduced later

The course is based on UE4, but the knowledge is generic

Unity? Yes, but might not get much support

4. Hardware

• Laptop: Windows or Mac�>= 8GB ram�https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/GettingStarted/RecommendedSpecifications/
• VR device�Two VR device for appointments�No VR device is required for the assignment, will explain later.

A quick survey (optional)

• VR background�Own a VR device? VR apps ever tried
• Technical background�

https://goo.gl/forms/7PisSJA5Bj3IFoMm2

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Questions?