3pointD.com

A “virtual reality room” at Iowa State University is getting an upgrade courtesy of Fakespace Systems, according to a press release. The room, which consists of full screens covering all four walls, the floor and the ceiling, is used for things like visualizing genetic data, developing tools to help engineers in decision-making, and as a control room for the military’s unmanned vehicles. Researchers are building “a virtual environment that allows operators to see the vehicles, the surrounding airspace, the terrain they’re flying over as well as information from instruments, cameras, radar and weapons systems. The system would allow a single operator to control many vehicles.” The room will cost more than $4 million to upgrade, and will feature a total of 100 million pixels on display.