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Virtual Reality Excursions with Programs in C by Watkins & Marenka Recommended

ISBN: 0-12-737865-0       Publisher: Academic Press       Pages: 503Dpp       Price: £31-00

Categories:   virtual reality     graphics

Reviewed by David M Holmes in C Vu 8-2 (Jan 1996)

There are five chapters in total, along with extensive appendices. Chapter one begins by explaining how various virtual reality applications are currently being developed. Chapter two continues with a brief look at the history of virtual reality. Chapter three discusses the human elements which are important if you are to create a credible virtual environment, namely sight, sound and touch, while Chapter four introduces the authors' opinions of how virtual reality may evolve in the future.

Finally, Chapter five introduces the actual C functions necessary to create the 3D visualiser, along with detailed explanations. At the end of each section the functions that have been introduced are included as program listings. The C functions could equally be used for ordinary 3D graphics programming.

All the program listings along with the full executables for the 3D visualiser are present on a disc included with the book. You also get a pair of 3D glasses in order to view objects in real 3D.

Anyone wanting to learn all about virtual reality and how to program virtual worlds, or just 3D graphics programming in general would find this a very helpful and interesting book.