Inside Cintoo VR Experience

This article outlines navigation in Cintoo VR Experience application both in Desktop and VR modes. Helping to get to know better the structure and visualization of data as well as main interface elements and tools available.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Desktop Mode
VR Mode

Desktop Mode

First, click on Projects tab on the left and then choose a project to experience in VR. After the project is opened in Resources and Work Zones tabs choose objects to be activated.

Clicking on Log Out button at the top will redirect back to login menu.

Workzones and Resources

Workzones tab reflects project's work zone structure with number of objects indicators in blue.

To the left of each work zone there are clickable icons:

Open eye icon means that a work zone is active

Closed eye means that a work zone is inactive

Activate needed work zones to see their content in Resources tab.

Resources tab contains only active work zones with all scan and model type objects.

To the left of objects in Resources tab there are clickable icons:

Open eye icon means that an object is active

Closed eye means that an object is inactive
Target allows to jump to an object directly from Resources tab

Once finished setting up the right amount of data to be displayed, tabs could be minimized by clicking on Workzones and Resources once again.

Display Modes Panel

At the top of the screen in the middle Display modes panel is located, that controls visualization:

RGB – colorful image taken from scanner data
X-ray – transparent mode for comparison of multiple scans
Surface - mesh generated from scan data
Indoor – inside buildings mode allowing to darken the environment
Backface – allows to hide backfaces of 3D mesh surfaces to be able to see inside of buildings from outside and to clean up the scene from unnecessary mesh pieces

In Desktop mode of Cintoo VR Experience application it is possible to navigate from scan to scan or in fly mode freely in 3D space. Click on floating scanner icons or move freely by holding any mouse button and moving the mouse, use Shift to turn camera.

Options

On the top panel open Options menu to change visualization parameters inside the application and choose additional settings.

Pre-load Annotations - allows to fetch annotations for the selected project.
Similar to Fetch from cloud in Annotations.
VR Tunnel Vison - due to the navigation locomotion change users can activate this option to make movement smoother. Could also be activated from VR Tools menu.
Visual quality - same setting as on the login page described in details in Discover the Application
Scans quality - same setting as on the login page described in details in Discover the Application

VR Mode

Connection

for Meta devices - after that establish connection with Meta Quest Link from the device by navigating to Settings, choosing Link, and clicking Launch. Or choose Link in Quick Settings menu.
More detailed instruction from Meta: Set up your Meta Quest with the Meta Quest Link
for other devices - establish connection with PC.

To switch to VR mode and start streaming to headset click on Virtual Reality in the low right corner.

Controllers

Main controller chosen when starting the application is called Navigation controller. Right-handed setting would have A and B buttons and is used to navigate in a project.
Second controller is called Tools controller. It has X and Y buttons, in the right-hand setting, and its use is functional. Interface for navigating projects and data could be visualized by pressing B button. Navigation and visualization controls are the same as in Desktop mode.

Warning: while any interface menu is open, teleportation is not possible!

Discover different ways to navigate in Cintoo VR Experience in VR mode.

Scan-to-scan

Pointing at scan location transforms parabola into a line and scan icon gets highlighted. Press Navigation controller trigger to go to scan location.

Teleport with Motion Controllers

At the end of the parabola a target is displayed, while on the floor there is a red/blue grid. Another target is projected onto the floor to make navigation easier. When the target is moved closer to the surface of the floor at some point two targets merge and will stay in place. Press Navigation controller trigger to teleport to a chosen location.

Set up height of view by clicking X on Tools controller and adjust height by moving Navigation controller joystick up/down. Set up height one time and use with every teleport.
More information: Change Teleportation Height.

Fly Mode

Move freely in 3D environment imitating flying. When in Teleport mode (blue parabola) to enter Fly mode click Navigation controller joystick 3 times passing yellow and pink parabolas. Once parabola disappears Fly mode is on.
Change position vertically with Tools controller joystick, horizontally with Navigation controller joystick.
This navigation mode works while in Exocentric scale as well.
Flying activates Turbomesh process, using the nearest activated scans and models to contribute to the 3D world real-time reconstruction.

Vision (gaze) Control

To enter this mode drop hands with controllers along the body. Now controllers are not visible, and control goes with gaze. To go to a scan, orient gaze at a scan icon and once it is highlighted press Navigation controller trigger.

Scale Change - Exo/Egocentric Modes

Full scale observation of the site, an architectural walkthrough of a given space, better visual evaluation and understanding of spatial relationships between site elements, measurement of greater distances than ones available in 1:1 scale are possible by using Exocentric mode.

To enter Exocentric mode point Navigation controller to the sky, a special indication will be shown and click Navigation controller trigger.
Exocentric mode allows to view scene from high above and get a big picture.

To go back to the same position in Egocentric mode do the same gesture - Navigation controller to the sky, reverse indication is shown and click Navigation controller trigger. Or use teleportation to go back to Egocentric scale.

Find more details in Control tips menu in Desktop mode or in the dedicated section
Exo/Ego.

To ensure the most fluid VR experience there are several view positioning modes available to manage both Egocentric close-up 1:1 scale site inspections and large scale Exocentric mode inspections.

Orbit Mode

Allows to rotate the scene in parallel to the ground by holding both controllers' grips and doing oppositely directed hand movements forward and backward, like grabbing the scene and moving it by holding opposite edges. A line visible between controllers indicates that both controllers are used. Find more details in Control tips menu in Desktop mode or in the dedicated section Orbit.

Dynamic Scaling

Allows to scale/zoom the scene at users convenience by holding both controllers' grips and moving hands towards each other to zoom out until reaching 1:250 scale or spreading hands to zoom in until reaching 1:1 scale. A line visible between controllers indicates that both controllers are used. A special icon with the current scale rate is shown between controllers allowing to better navigate in space.

Find more details in Control tips menu in Desktop mode or in the dedicated section Dynamic Scaling.

Pan Mode

Allows to slightly move in any direction by moving a hand. To enter Pan mode hold Tools controller grip. Once in Pan mode - move controller in the desired direction to move there along the axis.

Pan mode works while in Exocentric scale as well.

Find more details in Control tips menu in Desktop mode or in the dedicated section Pan Mode.

This menu serves as the main control for enabling/disabling modes and accessing features.
To enter VR Tools menu click on the thumbstick on Tools controller.

Set up Controllers Aim (more info Controller Aim)
Change Units that would be used in measurements and heightmap
Obtain different Measurements (VR actions Measurements)
Perform CAD models Manipulation (not yet activated!)
Use Comparison tools (VR actions Comparison). Only Visual Check is available.
Switch Display mode including Heightmap, Backface and Indoor

Note: switch between display modes by clicking Y button on Tools controller. Cycle Display Modes

Activate Tags to review (VR actions Tags)
VR Tunnel - smoother scan-to-scan navigation and teleportation. More details in Options
Exit VR mode – exit to Desktop mode

Heightmap

Heightmap is one of display modes that allows to show the scene colored according to heights of objects. Clicking on Heightmap button will change display mode and visualize a color legend for heights. Move the window by grabbing the title of the legend with Navigation controller trigger.

To lower or increase the low and high limits point at a number and pull or push correspondingly Navigation controller thumbstick.

Slide up and down grey bar to offset range set.

To get back to default settings click Reset.

Backface

Backface mode allows to show backfaces of 3D mesh surfaces to be able to see the full scanned surface of buildings and ensure that all mesh pieces are visualized.
Could be used alongside one of the other modes (RGB, XRay, Surface).

Indoor

Indoor mode replaces sky background with a black one.
Could be used alongside one of the other modes (RGB, XRay, Surface).