Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Virtual University Library Project - part 4



Earlier blog posts about the project:

Virtual University Library Project - part 1

Virtual University Library Project - part 2

Virtual University Library Project - part 3



Recently, I've made a new and better demo video, which I would like to show to you. I think it's time for me to take a little break until I'm refreshed enough to continue working on my project.

First of all, here is the video, enjoy it:



Although the virtual environment needs some improvement, for example, around the textures and models, I assume this product is far better than the earlier one, especially because now I've managed to include a counter, stairs, a painting and fences. Moreover, I've learnt to make materials in Unreal Engine 4 in a very short time, so now you can see a green surface on top of the tables instead of the previous temporary golden material.

This is a list of what I would like to achieve in the near future:
- Include more objects and improve some of the existing ones
- Paint textures with the Substance software
- Fix the lighting and the reflections
- Create a night scene with stars, the Moon and switched on lamps
- Make statues (the hardest part of project, in my opinion)
- Create books

In addition, I hope I'll be able to buy an Oculus Rift VR kit, a new laptop, a photoscanner machine and some new software, as well. I assume the scanner machine would make my work easier because it would be essential to make realistic and complex statues for the ceremonial hall.

Nevertheless, the working prototype was finished earlier than I would have thought, so my estimation so far is that I will finish my project in 2017, if things are going well.



Footnote:
3D graphics and Virtual Reality are popular now and better and better technologies are developed around the world. Unreal Engine 4 is one of the best and most highly developed technologies. Even though it was originally created for video games, it is now suitable for education, architecture, medicine, the media, and so on. I hope that my spectacular project will help the ELTE University Library, as well as other libraries in the whole world to improve their perception along with that of computer graphics.