Virtual road trip

The Desert Dispatch in Barstow, Calif., published a good article about the Cal State-Heyward students who developed a multimedia Route 66 experience.

As their masters thesis in multimedia design, the students have outfitted a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle that can take whoever sits in the driver’s seat to any spot on historic Route 66 via video screens with three-dimensional models of buildings and other landmarks along the route.

At stops along the way, the “driver” of the Beetle will also have the option of reading information and  viewing pictures of Route 66 landmarks in their heyday, as well as see video footage of interviews with the people who had (and have) close ties to the landmark highway. […]

Those who step in to the Volkswagen navigate through the virtual Route 66 by picking a destination on the map with the vehicle’s gearshift and steering down the road the road using the vehicle’s steering wheel.

“We hacked into a keyboard and connected the wires to the gearshift,” said Lai. “Wires and switches are hidden everywhere.”

The car also uses a Nintendo Wii tucked under the hood and connected to the steering column to sync the motion of the wheel to what the driver will see on the screen.

The students did finish the project and earned their master’s degrees for their efforts. Next, they hope to take the Route 66 simulator on a tour once the necessary funds are raised.

Here’s the team’s website.

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