Designing an immersive virtual reality interface for layout planning

This paper discusses the reasons why manufacturing layout planning is consi dered to be an appropriate new area of virtual reality (VR) utilisation; de velops a framework for a VP-based layout planning tool and reports on a stu dy comparing the use of immersive VP to a monitor-based system for detectin g layout design flaws. The evaluation of the proposed framework has been co nducted in a study, which did not have provision for an interactive alterat ion of the layout. The aim of the study was to compare an immersive system and a monitor-based VR system for workplace analysis. Participants were ask ed to investigate a workplace environment, which included three serious lay out design flaws (tool arrangement, visibility, and tool location) and give their assessment about potential improvements. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.