On Thursday 21st February the Dartmoor Society in conjunction with Yelverton and District Local History Society arranged a unique event in the form of a ground-breaking presentation for over 90 people, courtesy of Plymouth born and bred Professor Bob Stone and his team from Birmingham University entitled “Making the Invisible, Visible” held at Meavy Parish Hall.
By using Human Interface Technologies (HIT) the team has been focussing on a number of high-tech Research and Development projects in the Plymouth area as well as on Dartmoor since 2003.
More specifically Bob explained about their work using a Multi-Purpose Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) where they have been able to carry out the first ever high-tech underwater survey of Burrator Reservoir.
After Bob’s presentation all the audience enjoyed using the headsets and experienced amongst others “virtually” walking on the deck of the Mayflower ship which of course originally set off from Plymouth to America in 1620. Using these Virtual Reality headsets was a first for many of our attendees.
Later on Bob took an aerial photograph of everyone outside on Meavy Village Green using a drone on its inaugural flight with a Hasselblad lens in what can only be described as perfect conditions.
The afternoon was rounded off with an excellent tea provided by the Dartmoor Society Executive Committee.