A Practical Introduction to Virtual Reality: From Concepts to Executables

A Practical Introduction to Virtual Reality: From Concepts to Executables is written for the undergraduate computer science student taking a course in virtual reality. This tutorial-based text is organized so that by the end of the semester students will have created their first VR game, including sound and various interactions. The materials are written from the position of the student and the student’s professor as opposed to the professional with prior graphics experience.

Beginning with an introductory chapter covering the ten universal basics necessary for VR coding, the book moves on to such topics as putting together a VR set-up, creating Heads Up displays, building scene trees, learning how to import 3D models and animations, lighting and audio, and more, until by the end of the book, students will have a final project game ready for beta testing and publishing!

• Provides a complete course package, leading to the actual development of a publishable final project game
• Presents the first virtual reality textbook that combines tools and underlying fundamentals
• Minimizes required starting time for professors and educators

Dr. Lori Rebenitsch has had previous research experience in the USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland, publishing experience in scientific publications from computer science to physics, as well as undergraduate teaching experience in the USA and Canada. She has undergone the process of publishing both research articles and a fiction book before founding The Study, LLC, specializing in scientific writing in computer science and physics.

Dr. Lisa Rebenitsch is the head of the VR laboratory at the South Dakota School of Mines and a professor in the Computer Science and Engineering department. Dr. Rebenitsch previously held a Future Academic Scholars in Teaching (FAST) Fellowship at Michigan State University. She is trained and experienced in teaching techniques for engineering students.

Rohan Loveland, PhD, MBA, is a former high-tech start-up entrepreneur, as well as a professor in Computer Science and Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines.