The invention relates to a connection element for a post-and-beam or rod construction of a facade system, wherein the connection element has a connection part which is manufactured by means of an additive manufacturing process for metals and which is formed by a plurality of different three-dimensionally curved regions.

Provided is an X-beam structure including: a plurality of beams extending in X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions and formed in a lattice pattern and a plurality of cross intersections at which an X-axis beam, a Y-axis beam, and a Z-axis beam meet one another, wherein in the X-beam structure in which a cross section of each beam has the geometry of a right-angled X, and the beam intersections are formed with one continuous beam and the two other joining beams are attached and welded onto the continuous beam.

A building system comprising a plurality of tubes, a plurality of connection nodes comprising tubular sections for connection to the tubes, wherein the tubes are arranged to connect between the connection nodes to form a frame for a building, wherein at least one continuous cavity is formed through at least a portion of the nodes and tubes when the nodes and tubes are connected, the building system further comprising fluid tight seals between the tubes and connection nodes to enable fluid to flow through the at least one continuous cavity.

A method for providing a configurable virtual reality environment comprises receiving virtual reality world implementation data that describes locations of structures within a virtual reality world from a customer at an input interface. The virtual reality world implementation data is mapped to a physical plan describing a physical implementation of the structures within the virtual reality world using a mapping controller. The physical plan provides indexing and reference points with respect to the physical implementation of the structures in the virtual reality word enabling the physical plan to define the structures in the real world using the mapping controller. Configurable hardware components necessary to build the physical implementation of the structures in the virtual reality world are determined responsive to the physical plan and a listing of available configurable hardware using a parts list controller. A parts list of the configurable hardware components necessary to build the physical implementation of the structures of the virtual reality world is generated using the parts list controller responsive to the determination. The customer is provided with the physical plan describing the physical implementation of the structures within the virtual reality world, the parts list and the configurable hardware components needed to build the physical plan.

A modular shading facade spaced from a building wall includes multiple decorative modules. Each module is formed by a rigid frame with outwardly extending legs connected to the frame by multiple receiving brackets. Each receiving bracket has a base and a stepped region formed by two angle shaped parts disposed at an angle to each other to define an open space for receiving the respective leg. A primary bracket is defined by a base with a primary socket attached to the base for inserting said legs. The primary bracket is connected to a facade frame.

A system for generating a virtual reality environment includes a mocap suit having a plurality of sensors for generating at least one mocap suit output responsive to movement of an individual within the mocap suit within the virtual reality environment. At least one virtual reality player headset generates at least one virtual reality headset output responsive to actions of a player within the virtual reality environment. A virtual reality controller receives the at least one mocap suit output and the at least one virtual reality headset output and generates the virtual reality environment for display in the at least one virtual reality player headset. The virtual reality controller selectively generates an avatar associated with the mocap suit responsive to the at least one mocap suit output. The avatar being selectively inserted into the virtual reality world responsive to a first input and selectively removed from the virtual reality environment responsive to a second input.

A method for preventing collisions in a physical environment for multiple players playing in a virtual reality environment comprises creating a plurality of virtual reality areas with respect to a physical environment. Each of the plurality of players are established as an active player in one of the plurality of virtual reality areas. Each of the plurality of players have an active player avatar mapped into a single virtual reality area of the plurality of virtual reality areas. Each of the plurality of players have a non-active player avatar mapped into each of the plurality of virtual reality areas where the user does not have an active player avatar. The active player avatars and the non-active player avatars are displayed in each of the plurality of virtual reality areas. A single avatar is present in each of the plurality of virtual reality areas for each of the plurality of players.

A system for controlling player movement within a fixed virtual reality play area includes a plurality of panels defining an X by Y virtual reality play area, a transport area associated with the X by Y virtual reality play area and a virtual reality system. The virtual reality system displays a virtual reality environment to players. The virtual reality system divides the X by Y virtual reality play area defined by the plurality of panels into a plurality of virtual reality environment play areas. Each of the plurality of virtual reality environment areas comprises a portion of the virtual reality play area. The virtual reality system associates a first virtual reality player group with a first virtual reality environment play area of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas and associates a second virtual reality player group with a second virtual reality environment play area of the plurality of virtual reality environment play areas. The first and second virtual reality player groups include at least one player member. The virtual reality system determines if the second virtual reality environment play area has been vacated by the second virtual reality player group. If the second virtual reality player group has not vacated the second virtual reality environment play area, the virtual reality system prevents entry of the first virtual reality player group into the second virtual reality environment play area from the first virtual reality environment play area. If the second virtual reality player group has vacated the second virtual reality environment play area, the virtual reality system enables entry of the first virtual reality player group into the second virtual reality environment play area from the first virtual reality environment play area.

A method for controlling player movement within a virtual reality environment involves locating a position of a player within the virtual reality environment. It is then determined if the player is in a desired position within the virtual reality environment. A positive visual indicator is generated to the player if the player is located in the desired position. A negative visual indicator is generated to the player if the player is not located in the desired position.

A system for providing a virtual reality experience includes a plurality of wall panels at a plurality of wall panel locations defining an X by Y area within the interior of the plurality of wall panels. At least one haptic feedback device associated with at least one of the plurality of wall panels for providing haptic feedback to a user. A transition area is associated with the X by Y area. A virtual reality system displays a first virtual reality environment to the user within at least a portion of the X by Y area. The first virtual reality environment defines a first virtual reality pathway for the user within the X by Y area to the at least one haptic feedback device. The virtual reality system displays a second virtual reality environment different from the first virtual reality environment within at least a portion of the X by Y area. The second virtual reality path defining a second virtual pathway for the user within the X by Y area to the at least one haptic feedback device that is different from the first virtual pathway responsive to the user entering the transition area while in the first virtual reality environment.