New virtual reality technology introduced to public

The Museum of Aviation has a new attraction they

want the public to discover and experience – a virtual reality project that is

on display. On Friday, the Museum of Aviation introduced a virtual reality

technology simulator in the museum’s Eagle Building called Pulseworks VR

(Virtual Reality) Transporter. Pulseworks, LLC is an Atlanta-based provider of

motion-based entertainment and digital content with whom the Museum of Aviation

has formed a partnership.

“This is a virtual reality simulator that they

developed a few years ago and we are the second place in Georgia to get one,”

said Jenny Maas, the Director of Operations of the Museum of Aviation

Foundation. “It’s like something out of Universal Studios. It is a motion-based

ride and a 360-degree virtual experience when you’re wearing the glasses. You

can sit there and actually turn your whole body around and see a different

scene behind you. It holds four riders and it has two experiences the riders

can choose from. They can travel to the International Space Station and they

can do an underwater adventure.”

The goal of the VR Transporter is to mimic the

mesmerizing visuals that the real world presents us. Pulseworks motion and

effects technology affirms what people are seeing by providing input to their

other senses, and the dynamic motion produces important cues to the brain that

they are really traveling, while also being surrounded by audio sounds and

4D-effects.

“One of the things we are always told by

visitors of the museum is that people are looking for more technology and

interactive things to do,” said Maas. “We’ve always been asked, being a place

of flight and space, what can we get in terms of a simulator. We started doing

some research about six months ago on Pulseworks and four of our staff members

went up there and rode it. They said as long as we put it out in a visible

place, they feel like it would get good attraction.”

Friday was the first day people could test-ride

the simulator, and it was free. After Friday, it will cost the public $10 ($8

for military) to ride. The motion platform for the VR Transporter elevates,

pitches, and rolls in computer-controlled increments designed to emulate the

path of the astronauts as they float in space on their extravehicular journey

from the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space

Station. The transporter will also allow people to go underwater to explore a

prehistoric ocean while coming across creatures such as an Archelon sea turtle,

long-necked Styxosaurus, a Ginsu Shark, and Megalodon Shark.

“I’ve done both experiences and the

International Space Station is more educational, where it takes you all over

the Space Station,” said Maas. “It gives you a direct view and it’s like really

being at the space station. The underwater one is my favorite. You’re

underwater and being chased by a shark, and trying to locate a diamond. That

one is more of a fun thrill ride.”

“It was extremely good. The video. The

graphics,” said John Wagner, who was amongst the many individuals who showed up

Friday to test ride the VR Transporter. He mentioned that this was his second

virtual reality experience with the first one being at Moody Air Force Base

where he took part in a Virtual Aircraft Flight simulation. “It was very realistic.

The feel, the movement, and everything. My grandkids are here so hopefully they

ride and get the same underwater experience.”

Maas said that the VR Transporter will be open

for the public to experience as long as the interest is still there, while also

indicating that they will continue to develop new experiences every few months

to keep the community engaged.

“It is certainly something new to middle

Georgia,” said Maas. “We don’t have anything like this. The only other place

that has this is the aquarium in Atlanta. We are glad to bring this to the

community.”

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