EPSRC PhD studentship in Development of True3D displays using Non-Solid Diffusers

Recent market studies foresee VR will become mainstream, reaching a $7 billion market from 2018 and $62 billion by 2025. However, users are still forced to carry a head-mounted display, becoming unaware of people around them (e.g. colleagues), and encumbering use of other technologies or instruments.

Other solutions have similar limitations. Planar displays only allow hands and 3D content to be simultaneously visible in close proximity to the display. Bandwidth requirements limit holographic technologies to small sizes, limited resolution or non real-time behaviour.

In practice, either technologies only allow limited access to the benefits of 3D interaction (e.g. no direct manipulation, fixed positions and form factors) or they require aids (e.g. glasses, gloves) that make it cumbersome to interact with the world around us (e.g. typing, using a smartphone, watching a LCD screen).

Our main goal is to 1) develop systems that allow uninstrumented users to directly see and interact with 3D content; 2) identify interaction principles to support users around such systems. This main goal is enabled by our previous research on shape-changing, 3D displays using NSDs (Non-Solid Diffusers, i.e. made of fog, mist, dust).

Applicants should have at least a good 2:1 bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) relevant to their area of study. General qualification requirements: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/applying/2016entry/qualifications

For further information including details of the application procedure visit: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/informatics/pgstudy/doctoral/funding

Research webpages: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/informatics/research