Virtual Reality(VR) is a technologcal concept which produces the realistic experience by providing the unrestricted interaction and the artificial stimulus to the five senses of human being. VR can be applied to diverse areas such as education, training, entertainment, exhibition, medical area, product design, and art. In this situation, VR can play a important role which supposes a new direction in product design.
The purpose of this study is; (1) to understand VR; (2) to predict the possibilities that VR can be applied to the product design process; and (3) to suggest the perspectives of the design evaluation by VR.
In the theorical study section, the concept and the technological background of VR were reviewed, and the applicational methods of VR in the design process were discussed on the basis of the applied VR studies related with the design process. These were virtual manupulation system, design evaluation system and design expert system. The builted VR system for this study was the projection VR consisted of the PC486 and VRT3. In the case study section, a kitchen was designed to apply VR in the design process, and to evaluate the design elements such as desk, shelf, electric range, clock, oven, hydrant, and door. The evaluational criteria were the interaction that were height, operating methods, positions of an operating part, and sensitive feedback methods.
In conclusion, (1) it is found that VR can be applied as diverse design supporting tools, (2) and it is difficult to evaluate the design alternative with the VR system. For using VR for the actual design evaluation tool, it is necessary to improve in the following technological problems : visual presentation for user's space, speed and quality in display devices, presence by tactile feedback.
