Swimming in a Virtual Aquarium

We present a simulated underwater world to be experienced in a cave-like virtual environment [Cruz-Neira 1992]. The user, wearing stereo glasses and data gloves, moves among three-dimensionally modeled plants and schools of fish in the virtual water with hand gestures that simulate swimming. In addition to this physically based motion, the user may interact with the virtual fish, attracting them by gentle feeding gestures or scaring them by abrupt motion such as clapping hands. Besides visual feedback, the system includes 3D audio effects simulating water flow at the moving hands.