Inexpensive Head Tracking for use with Large High-Resolution Displays

Abstract

This thesis investigates how head tracking can be implemented by using inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware for a 6 x 3 meter high-resolution display wall.

The tracking system has been integrated into to an existing event system, Shout, that allows for inter-program communication.

An application called htsim has been developed that is used for testing different head tracking configurations in a virtual environment. Developing in a virtual environment does not require access to head tracking hardware. Tracking algorithms developed in the virtual environment can directly be used for head tracking in a physical environment. The tracking system is able to track a user's head with cameras that are placed behind the user.

htsim is also used for configuring the head tracking system used in the physical environment.

Experiments detail out the overall latency in the system and sources of jitter.