Teaching virtual reality

This paper reports on the design and implementation of a two-semester course on Virtual Reality (VR). The course is aimed at final year undergraduates on programmes leading to specialist degrees such as Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Studies, Business Information Systems.Entitled "VR - implementation and applications", the course embraces novel devices, interfacing, software toolkits, graphics algorithms, system evaluation, technology prediction, Human Computer Interaction (HCI), social, psychological and philosophical aspects.The course focuses on the evaluation of current and expected technology and on the assessment of current and future applications in its complete variety. It thereby encompasses transferable skills in the mainstream areas of technology evaluation, system evaluation.This paper reviews the aims of the course, the curriculum content, a novel learning approach, assessment and an evaluation of the course.