A Two-User Framework for Rapid Immersive Full Cycle Product Customization

In this paper we present an approach for a full cycle product customization in Virtual Environments (VE). The main goal of our work is to develop an integrated immersive framework, which allows configuring products from a great number of parts. Our framework supports collaborative work of two users and operates both on desktop computers and in immersive environments. The framework is integrated into a manufacturing environment, thus making the immediate production of customized products possible. The integrated modules of the framework allow importing CAD files directly into VE, creation of new objects on the basis of constructive solid geometry principles, attaching virtual connectivity-describing attributes to parts, guided assembly of parts and comprehensive analysis of products. In order to identify the influence of immersion and collaboration on the performance in assembly and manipulation tasks in VE, we performed a quantitative assessment of user performance, which we also describe in the paper.

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