Cole Loewer Accepted to REU in Augmented Reality at Lehigh University

2015 Jun 11

Cole Loewer , '17, a Computer Science and Computer Information Systems dual major from Burden , KS was accepted to a summer Smart Spaces REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.

"Dr. (Dave) Kraemer is the one who told me about the REUs," said Loewer, who then found information about this REU on the nfs.gov website. "What drew me to it was the choice of topics, including augmented reality and embedded devices."

For his REU project, Loewer is working in the area of augmented reality using the Leap Motion Controller that can be attached to a virtual reality headset. He is working with one other student to create a first-person view adventure type game controlled by hand motions, such as swiping to look around, pointing to move forward, or slicing to chop down a tree. Augmented reality is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.

Loewer and his partner will use the Unity 5 platform to create characters, environments, lighting and effects, with the C# object-oriented programming language and using either Blender 3D production software or 3ds Max software for the modeling, texturing, rigging a digital skeleton and animation tools.

The ten-week Smart Spaces REU program in which Loewer is participating consists of a faculty-mentored research experience, where participants will work side by side with both faculty and student researchers on timely and relevant topics in the Smart Spaces arena. It includes a professional development seminar series, with topics that include software engineering best practices, making technical presentations, applying to graduate school, and the ethics of Smart Spaces, among others. At the conclusion is a Research Symposium where students will present posters on their research projects.