Technological Developments; Using New Technology to explore new USP's

Currently there are games out there that allow the player to simulate racing experiences and build their own cars such as Forza Motorsport and Need for Speed. However, these games are very limited as they require teams of people to build each asset individually; could it be possible to scan objects/vehicles into a game yourself and build your own game world quickly?

I've set out to explore what technology is currently available and how this could possibly be pushed further or inspire new technology to work with my IP.

Need for Speed is one example of using the real world to build a believable virtual world. For example, they use computer assisted design software to build their cars in game, of course with some touching up for compatibility from the developers to optimize the game's performance.

The computer assisted design software creates a 3D model using multiple photographs of the same car from multiple angles. There are other versions of the type of CAD that can be used without the assistance of developers and generates 3D models with textures completely on its own, like Fitle:

Fitle: An app that allows you to browse clothes on a 3D scan of your own body.

Fitle is an app uses the camera on your mobile phone to scan a 3D model of your body and import it into a virtual environment. It uses recognition and reconstruction algorithms to digitize clothing from multiple brands partnered with the app developers and allows you to place them on your 3D virtual self.

This proves that scanning in 3D models of vehicles and environments could be possible using the technology and algorithms similar to that of what Fitle uses and could even be pushed further using more powerful hardware and platforms.

Forza Motorspot 6: One of the most advanced racing game simulators on the market.

Forza Motorsport 6 is one of the many examples of racing game simulators that bridge the gap between the virtual world and real world in terms of vehicle performance. From air resistance to fuel capacity, Forza Motorsport takes into account every detail of racing and car performance to make the game play as realistically as possible.

Generally the developers create a base handling platform for the game and alter each car based on this model using specifications, dyno information and testing data provided by the manufacturers. However, most performance upgrades are not based on genuine aftermarket part performance figures as each car is affected by these upgrades different so it is more generalised. As a result, gamers that could possibly test out their real world car in this game won't see accurate results in simulation of its performance as the parts they would purchase likely wouldn't reflect the performance of the car in the real world. The best way to attain accurate results would be for the users to constantly be a part of mass data collection, by entering their specifications onto a device, could it be possible to record how these perform using hardware rigged to their car?

SimXperience racing simulation rig.

Game developers and third party companies are constantly trying to push the boundaries in racing simulation, from simple wheel and pedal setups from Thrustmaster to complex simulation rigs that use hydraulics to simulate g-forces from SimXperience.

However, all of this simulation equipment is expensive and third party companies with the most advanced simulation rigs can only hire them out to large companies for events etc as they're so expensive, the average consumer probably couldn't afford them after a lifetime of saving. Some rigs cost over £100,000 to build, could there be a cheaper way to simulate what you would experience when racing?

An athlete using EMS during training

Electrical Muscle Simulation (EMS) uses electrodes on the skin to mimic the action potential coming from the central nervous system. This can be used to simulate pain and assist athletes when training which is often used as a post recovery tool. There have been many cases in which this has been used for men to experience the pain felt by women during childbirth by stimulating the muscles around the abdomen to simulate contractions; this means you could simulate g-forces by stimulating the relative muscles in a way that would be experienced through different levels of g forces.

The Microsoft Hololens demonstrated playing Minecraft

Augmented reality uses motion tracking to incorporate virtually generated visuals into the real world through a lens as if they were actually there. This technology could be used to immerse the user into somewhere they haven't been before by merging a virtual environment with the real world. For example you could sit in a car and have the windows display a virtual environment that isn't actually there but still leave the interior of the car as it is.

There are plenty of opportunities presented by current and developing technology that could sell my IP as a unique product that could be highly marketable for car enthusiasts at a consumer level.