Recent advances in real-time global illumination (e.g., Unity3D and Unreal game engines) provide exciting new opportunities for the next generation of virtual reality (VR) applications, ranging from lighting design for built environments, psychological studies to art creation. It is therefore now possible to bridge the virtual and real (built) environments and accurately replicate visual stimuli (lighting, shadows, etc.). The findings (e.g., responses to the visual stimuli) in virtual environments could be transferred/ applied to built environments and vice versa. The goal is to develop a supporting hybrid testbed on top of the existing infrastructure (Virginia Tech Cube and Future- HAUS) to support research on the impact of visual stimuli in virtual and built environments and use of lighting in built environments.

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