Bachelor/Master/Semester Thesis: Human Interactions in Networked Virtual Environments

Introduction

Virtual reality techniques are increasingly being employed to investigate human behavior and cognition in complex environments. Sample applications include the optimization of architectural features, flow capacity, and signage in transport terminals, hospitals, and theme parks. A relatively new field is the applications of virtual reality techniques to experimental investigations of locomotion and spatial decision-­‐making with large groups of navigators as well as dense crowds. A primary aim of this approach is to understand the cognitive and behavioral processes leading to congestion and other group-­‐level dynamics of emergency situations such as panic during an evacuation.

Task description

In this project, you will implement a networked setup allowing multiple human players to engage in a joint virtual environment. The system is built on the Unity game engine architecture and needs to support both groups of human players and computer-­‐controlled agents. Several input devices need to be compared for steering the avatar of the human participant, varying the mapping of input controls (and controls’ sensitivity) to virtual motion. Similarly, the computer-­‐controlled agents should be matched in their visible behavior (leg, body, head, and eye movements) to the control repertory available for the human players. The project is part of an interdisciplinary effort of computer vision, artificial intelligence, architecture, psychology, and sociology, and the resulting system should be accessible and usable for researchers from diverse backgrounds.

Skills

• Programming in C++/C#
• (Recommended) Experience in computer networking, artificial intelligence, and/or computer animation
• (Recommended) Prior experience with Unity game engine
  

Remarks

• This project can start as soon as possible.
• A written report and oral presentation conclude the thesis.
• This thesis will be supervised by Prof. Christoph Hoelscher (ETH-­‐COG), Dr. Tyler Thrash (ETH-­‐COG), Prof. Mubbasir Kapadia (DRZ/Rutgers), and Prof. Dirk Helbing (ETH)

Contact

Dr. Tyler Thrash: