A new virtual reality headset will be revealed today in London. But unlike its predecessors which only offered two sensations (usually sight and sound), this one promises to stimulate all five of the senses.

The project, 'Towards Real Virtuality,' is huge collaborative project between half a dozen universities in the UK. Real Virtuality ?is a term coined by the project team to highlight their aim of providing a 'real' experience in which all senses are stimulated in such a way that the user has a fully immersive perceptual experience, during which s/he cannot tell whether or not it is real.? [EurekAlert] The new helmet will be known as the ?Virtual Cocoon.?

In short, it is guaranteed to be the ultimate virtual reality experience. People could be transported to ancient Greece, or maybe a futuristic colony on the moon, and be able to hear authentic period sounds, smell some futuristic scents, or even taste the food of the era. There is probably little doubt that tourism companies would cash in quickly. What better way to entice someone to visit Italy than a ten minute teaser-tour of the streets of Venice?

Professor David Howard of the University of York, lead scientist on the project, explained how the team was tackling the difficult task of stimulating the remaining unexplored senses (hearing, smell, and taste): "Smell will be generated electronically via a new technique being pioneered by Alan Chalmers and his team at Warwick [University] which will deliver a pre-determined smell recipe on-demand. Taste and smell are closely linked but we intend to provide a texture sensation relating to something being in the mouth. Tactile devices will provide touch." [EurekAlert] The whole ?texture sensation relating to something being in the mouth? idea sounds a little creepy, but if they are somehow able to create it virtually, it would be an amazing feat of technology.

There are, of course, ethical objections. Primarily, there is fear that a subject in the Virtual Cocoon won?t be able to tell reality from the virtual counterpoint (which is a valid concern, as lack of separation is the precise goal of the project). But while the team is hoping to make the Virtual Cocoon cheaper than most virtual reality devices out there, it will likely be sometime before it affects society at large.

Source : www.examiner.com