The VisBox is a one wall, fully integrated, projection-based VR system with head-tracking and stereo display. Not only is the VisBox much more affordable than other high-end projection based VR systems, it has several important advantages:
The VisBox uses bright projectors. The VisBox makes use of the newest in digital projectors and the VisBox is also fully enclosed. This means that rather than needing a dedicated, large, dark room, you can put a VisBox (or several VisBoxes) into a regular room.
The VisBox is PC-based. The VisBox leverages the performance of the newest in PC graphics hardware. Given the incredible advances in PC graphics hardware in recent years, the VisBox hardware outperforms much more expensive graphics hardware systems. Not only this, because the VisBox is PC-based, it doesn't have any special power or cooling requirements.
The VisBox has wireless, optical head-tracking. Most tracking systems require a tether to the tracked glasses. The VisBox's VisTrackTM camera-based head-tracker allows the tracked user to wear very light, wireless glasses. The result is an unencumbered and comfortable user experience.
The VisBox is fully integrated. With other VR systems, you usually have to buy the computer, display, tracking, and controllers separately and configure the overall system. With the VisBox, you get everything you need and all of the software is pre-installed and configured.
The VisBox development software is open. The pre-installed software includes the VisBox library which is a simple API that lets you use the box "as-is". However, for extensibility, other VR libraries are pre-installed and configured, such as vrJuggler, FreeVR, and DIVERSE. These more general and complex APIs allow developers to experiment and integrate their own special hardware.
The VisBox comes with turn-key applications. The Visbox library comes with several demo applications: BOXfly, BOXnav, VTK examples, CAVE QUAKE, etc.
To summarize, the goal of Visbox is not only to make projection-based VR technology much cheaper, but to also make it much easier to use, maintain, and develop for.