Modifying a virtual environment in just a few clicks

Creating and modifying a virtual reality environment just got a lot easier thanks to software being released today by Imverse, an EPFL spin-off. The secret behind Imverse's program, which works much like a photo editor, is a three-dimensional rendering engine based on 3D pixels called voxels. The rendering engine can be used for other virtual reality applications as well, such as depicting real people. The startup's initial target market is the movie and video game industry. Wearing a virtual reality headset and using manual controllers, you can use Imverse's new software to select tools that let you bring depth, cut, paste, paint and zoom in and out - much like in a photo editor. Your virtual environment can therefore respond to your creative flourishes, even from a 2D or 360 photo: in an instant, your surroundings can change as you push back walls, create space here and there, add furniture and experiment with colors. The beta version of this software program will be available online starting today.