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1
Introduction
Welcome to our two-part guide to the science, technology, mathematics and
practical implementation of virtual reality. Since the words virtual r eality are
going to crop up quite often, we will use the abbreviation VR from now on.
As you work your way through the book, we hope you will begin to appre-
ciate that VR is more, much more than computer graphics, more than just
electronic engineering, more than just software engineering, more than me-
chanical engineering. In fact, it is about all these things. It is about designing
and using interfaces to as many of our physical senses as is technically possi-
ble. Quite a challenge! Do it right and its potential is staggering. However,
it is just as important to appreciate when it ...