Virtual space decision support system and its application to consumer showrooms

A new paradigm for the relationship between humans and computers has been called artificial reality, virtual reality, or cyberspace. Using three-dimensional computer graphics, interactive interface devices, and high-resolution displays, a virtual world can be realized in which one can pick up imaginary objects as if they were real. Using this technology, Matsushita Electric Works has been developing the Virtual Space Decision Support System (VSDSS), where users can design virtual products and experience them in virtual space. VSDSS can be used to build a unified sales/production system (US/PS) which will let users design their own custom products and have them produced by a computer-aided manufacturing system. This paper details the design of the VSDSS and US/PS systems.