HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gs@teetot.acusd.edu (Greg Simon)
Subject: TECH: PowerGlove questions...
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 04:26:38 GMT



I am currently hacking the glove to my Amiga and I have a few
questions.

(1) The code/hack example I found has the glove wired to the parallel
port.  From the info I can gather about the glove's operation, it
sounds serial in nature; so wouldn't it be better to hack it to the
serial port instead?  Or does it matter?

(2) I have heard of "LoRes Mode" "Hires Mode" and "3D Mode."  The 3D
mode is initialized by sending: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x06 0xc1 0x08
0x00 0x02 0xff 0x01 .  How about the other two modes? Are there any
other modes?  How does the 12-byte data packet differ between modes?

(3) Is the Motorola HC-11 hack the _best_ way to connect it to get the
best data output?  It seems like over-kill to me; but then I'm only a
second-year Elec.Engineer :-).

Thanks for all who respond!

-- Greg 

Greg Simon
gs@teetot.acusd.edu
Electrical Engineering
University of San Diego
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: lonachon@anu.edu.au (andrew longhorn )
Subject: TECH: Guitar sound chip?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Australian National University
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 06:21:28 GMT



I have noticed people throwing around the old "air-guitar" thing, I
wanted to have a go at building one. (pet project).

Does anyone know where to get a good sound chip to produce "guitar"
sounds?  I would need control over pitch, vibrato, duration, velocity
sensing etc.

Some of you guys who have tried it may be able to help me with this.

Also, (a little off beat) who makes the guitar effects kits?

Please email responses:

lonachon@mehta.anu.edu.au
From: lonachon@anu.edu.au (andrew longhorn )
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: PUBS REQUEST: Info on "Virtual Reality Playhouse"
Date: 13 Sep 92 01:42:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Sep13.192451.11799
Organization: Australian National University
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



In article 10130@u.washington.edu, John Eagan
<76130.2225@CompuServe.COM> () writes:

-- (EXCELLENT POINTS ON MISDIRECTED BITCHING)

HERE, HERE!

Let's be a little more constructive you guys..

Surely any help in generating interest in VR has some benefit.

We all know the industry is new, and public awareness/understanding is
limited... HELL, we can't even pin down exactly what we are trying to
do, or what to call it.

I think Virtual Reality Playhouse is a good step in the right
direction.

Andrew Longhorn.

Waiting for a good platform to display his wiz-bang, interactive signature.
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: jwtlai@jeeves.uwaterloo.ca (Jim W "GrimJim" Lai)
Subject: Re: PHIL: The meaning of "virtual worlds" and "virtual reality"
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 07:57:01 GMT



In article <1992Sep4.050438.14034@u.washington.edu>
cyberoid@u.washington.edu (Bob Jacobson) writes:

>In article <1992Sep3.150445.5976@unocal.com> stgprao@st.unocal.COM
>(Richard Ottolini) writes:
>
>>The "definition of VR" is a recurring thread in this news group.  I
>>agree and have proposed in the past that much of human culture
>>concerns constructing artificial realities.  This particular news
>>group implicitly assumes the words "computer-assisted" in its
>>definition of VR.
>
>This newsgroup cannot "assume" this, as the newsgroup is
>composed of thousands of people, many of whom (probably all of whom)
>share different conceptions of "what VR is."
>
>The newsgroup was located in the sci. hierarchy, rather than in the
>comp. hierarchy, precisely to dispel any notion that a virtual world
>*must* be computer-generated.  Having noted that, I do wonder whether
>the claim that almost any human artifactual creation is a "virtual
>world."  If it is, then virtual world is a distinction that makes no
>difference and hence may be a useless definition.
>
>I think otherwise.  For me, a virtual world is a specific construct
>within the mind of a human being which represents the external world,
>and which can be manifested through the use of various technologies
>including computers.  

Perhaps tangentially, I am reminded of a few words that Lois McMaster
Bujond (an author for those not aware of her work) on the richness of
literary worlds.  I don't remember them verbatim, of course, She said
that one thing that had been ignored was the richness of such a world
when details are created by the readers of the work.  In other words,
it relied on the reader (user) to fill in the gaps.  I suppose one
distinguishing feature of the approach to virtual worlds here is that
we are trying to reduce the task of adding detail/richness from the
viewer (with the aid of technology?).  Of course computers are not
required for this (being but a class of technologies).  Is there a
term which adequately makes this distinction succinctly?

>For *general* use, however, to keep with the flow of meaning ascribed
>in common discourse, I would prefer that the term "virtual world" be
>applied to denote specifically the relationship between internal
>mental constructs and computer-generated representations of these
>constructs.  Yes, it's not the whole story, but we need to make
>language mean what we want, not the other way around -- and this
>narrowing of meaning seems to do that.
>
>On the other hand, I do believe that "virtual reality" is an empty
>phrase and personally choose not to use it, because it confuses nearly
>everyone who tries to understand its meaning.  Nice conundrum, poor
>lexical device.

Agreed.  In fact, if one distrusts one's senses, one can never truly
experience the non-virtual reality anyway.
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: spittman@nyx.cs.du.edu (Steve Pittman)
Subject: Re: TECH: U of I PowerGlove update 9-8-92
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 17:56:35 GMT



RE: PowerGlove serial interface

 I found a software program on a local BBS that has both schematics
for hooking up a Nintendo PowerGlove to a PC and has software that is
used for testing (the one I remember had a hand on the screen, and
moving the powerglove moved the hand..nothing fancy, but it included
the C source...)

 If anyone is interested, I could ftp it to the net and give everyone
the address...

steve
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: jpl@newt.phys.unsw.edu.au (James Lloyd)
Subject: Research on cyberspace for honours thesis
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of New South Wales
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 03:12:43 GMT



I'm posting this for my sister, who is interested in replies to some
questions.  Please e-mail responses to me:

               jpl@newt.phys.unsw.edu.au

Hello, I am an honours student in Communication Studies in Sydney, and
I'm writing a thesis on technological space and the body, in
particular cyberspace. I'm interested in any responses or comments you
have on the topic of virtual spaces and environments, especially from
women.

I have some basic questions I would like you to address, but feel free
to expand or add your own.

These are:

1.   where did you first hear/see/read about cyberspace?
2.   what does cyberspace mean to you? and where is it?
3.   would you like to use virtual reality? and why?
4.   what would you look like in cyberspace?
5.   do you think people need bodies in cyberspace?
6.   can you see any problems with the design and/or uses of
     virtual reality?

These responses will be used to test some of the ideas developed in my
thesis. Please include your age, sex and occupation when replying.

I look forward to reading your responses!

Thanks,

Justine Lloyd
From: syntax1@vax1.mankato.msus.edu
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: EDUC: Recommended readings?
Date: 8 Sep 92 18:27:38 GMT
Article-I.D.: vax1.1992Sep8.122738.1
Organization: Mankato State University
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



Hi everyone!

I am an undergraduate student (currently a sophomore), majoring in
computer science and mathematics, and am deeply interested in VR.  I
am currently reading Howard Rheingold's *Virtual Reality.* Are there
suggestions of other VR publications that I should read?

I consider Rheingold's work very well done, and I often refer to it as
my "VR Bible," it is so complete in what it covers.  My interest is
peaked, and I hope someone responds to this... perhaps Mr. Rheingold
himself?

In any event, thanx in advance!!

+----------------------------------------+
|  Brian M. Hofmeister  Mankato State U. |
|  syntax1@vax1.mankato.msus.edu         |
|                                        |
|  "Stranger things have happened!"      |
+----------------------------------------+
From: bluefire@well.sf.ca.us (Bob Jacobson)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: INDUSTY: WORLDESIGN Open House, Seattle, Oct 28-30, 1992
Date: 5 Sep 92 09:15:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Sep5.092359.5905
Organization: WORLDESIGN, Seattle
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



WORLDESIGN, Inc., a new information-design studio working in the
medium of virtual worlds, will hold its Open House in conjunction with
the HIT Lab's Industry Symposium on Virtual Worlds Technology, Seattle, 
Oct 26-27, 1992.  (Our Open House will follow the Symposium.)  If you
will be in Seattle to attend the Industry Symposium, you are cordially 
invited to attend.  Please RSVP by email or fax (206-782-8630).  Thank 
you for your interest.

Bob Jacobson
WORLDESIGN
From: frankc@netcom.com (Frank Crowell)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: TECH: Virtual-worlds on the net?
Date: 12 Sep 92 18:09:18 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



Why not set up your own study/research group?

There are several people interested in the behavioral studies dealing
with virtual worlds. it seems that you could pool your resources and
develop some interesting projects.  One way to begin is to form your
own mailgroup or use 'alt.uu.future'.  Alt.uu newgroups are for those
people interested in participating in Usenet University.  Although the
traffic is light on alt.uu, the charter and FAQ is published
frequently. Anyway UU is not sponsored by any organization; it's just
an attempt to create a learning community through Usenet.

You could also meet through IRC.  Or through a MU* (one of the muds).
At a MU*, you could leave notes and messages for each other, talk,
discuss, argue, or fight.

Sort through the rec.games.mud and rec.games.lpmud for behavioral
items.  A lot of the stuff is noise, but there are some threads that
could be fairly useful.
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: geoffrey@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz (Geoff Thomas)
Subject: INDUSTRY: Sense8/Tom Coull's email address
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 06:10:30 GMT



Bob -

I've had a reply for Tom's email address:

        Sense8!tom@well.sf.ca.us

Cheers,
Geoff Thomas.


[MODERATOR'S NOTE: For those with persnickety Internet mail, this may
translate to tom%sense8@well.sf.ca.us    The !s may give problems.
Thanks, Geoff. -- Bob Jacobson]
From: cejjb@marlin.jcu.edu.au (Jeffrey J Bird)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: TECH: Looking for HMD and glove suppliers
Date: 15 Sep 92 05:07:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: marlin.1992Sep15.050753.8689
Organization: James Cook University
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



Please forgive me if this is a FAQ item.

Could anybody supply me with a list of suppliers of head mounted
displays and other interaction devices such as gloves, trackballs,
etc?  Approximate prices would also be helpful.

                        Jeff Bird


-- 
    Jeff Bird - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
                James Cook University of North Queensland

AARNET/Internet:        cejjb@marlin.jcu.edu.au
                        jeff@wench.ece.jcu.edu.au
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: frankc@netcom.com (Frank Crowell)
Subject: Re: TECH: Virtual-worlds on the net?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 06:25:34 GMT



There have been several papers written on the socials aspects of muds.
Try parcftp.xerox.com (13.1.64.94) in pub directory.  There are at
least two articles dealing with mud & irc behavior.

Also try piggy.ucsb.edu (128.11.72.50) in pub/mud.  The FAQs should be
there, including other ftp sites.  Some of these sites, including
piggy, may have additional articles.

I also have names and addresses of one or two other people that may be
interested in social behavior in muds.

Finally, if rec.games.mud has an archive, there are some definitely
interesting psychological and sociological material.  Some examples
include:

        -powermongering, wizards
        -gender issues: sexism, rape, deception
        -failing students and muds
        -hackers & crackers
        -mud addiction 
        -mud justice and law
        -mud economics
        -virtual suicides, killing sprees, and mud trashing (depression)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: frankc@netcom.com (Frank Crowell)
Subject: Re: TECH: Virtual-worlds on the net? (my error)
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 19:46:00 GMT



Since no one flamed me about it, I will flame myself.  A few days ago
I suggested that some people could form their own study groups; I then
proceeded to give out misinformation.

Alterego writes:

>>You fat bloated flithy pig!  Why don't you check your
>>facts before you post.  What does alt.uu.future have to 
>>do with virtual-worlds???
 
Darn, I meant alt.uu.virtual-worlds.misc for study groups. Not the
alt.uu.future.

>>What??! I subscribed to rec.games.mud and found only a
>>couple of old mudders hanging out.  What gives?  Also
>>rec.games.lpmud does not exist, lard butt!

right again. Rec.games.mud it is going away.
The correct groups are:

        rec.games.mud.announce
        rec.games.mud.misc
        rec.games.mud.lp
        rec.games.mud.diku
        rec.games.mud.tiny
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: glen@wench.ece.jcu.edu.au (Glen Harris)
Subject: TECH: Sega viewer archive site available
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Electrical and Computer Engineering, JCUNQ
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 06:04:56 GMT



  Good news people!  My site here [wench.ece.jcu.edu.au] has let me
put my sega gif viewer up for anonymous ftp.  The appropriate
directory is /pub/sega.  Sega11.zip (the current version) is there by
itself, but I'll be putting some gif's there as well in the near
future.  The two example gifs will be removed from the archive to make
it smaller.

  This archive also houses the SoundBlaster Freedome Project in
/pub/sbf.  Any questions about the sbf are to be directed to Jeff
Bird, coordinator of the sbf, jeff@wench.ece.jcu.edu.au.

*----------------------------------*------------------------------*
* Glen Harris                      * 3D and Virtual               *
* 2harrig@wench.ece.jcu.edu.au     * Reality Groupie              *
*----------------------------------*------------------------------*
Hi! I'm a .signature virus! Join in the fun and copy me into yours!
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: maxfield@nprdc.navy.mil (Jack Maxfield)
Subject: WHO: Addresses for ARRL and EXE, in the UK?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Navy Personnel R&D Center, San Diego
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 18:30:53 GMT




To whom it may concern.

Is there anyone out there who can give me the addresses and phone
numbers of the Advanced Robotics Research Centre and the periodical
EXE, both of which are in Great Britain? Please respond via net mail.
Thank you in advance.

Jack Maxfield                   "Worship in the temple of your soul, but know
Naval Personnel R&D Center      the names of those who control your destiny.
San Diego, CA, USA              For, as the God of Time so aptly put it,
                                'It's later than you think'."
                                                      -- Harlan Ellison
From: 76130.2225@CompuServe.COM (John Eagan)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: Sci-VW: PUBS REQUEST: Info on "Virtual Reality Playhouse"
Date: 6 Sep 92 02:16:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Sep7.062206.23824
Organization: University of Washington
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



Virtual Reality Playhouse
by
Nicholas Lavroff

Waite Group Press
200 Tamal Plaza
Corte Madera, CA. 94941

ISBN 1-878739-19-0


******************************************************************
*John Eagan                         "humans is funny critters.." *
*VR section leader                                   -me         *
*Computer Art Forum                                              *
*CompuServe                                                      *
*compuserve:76130,2225                                           *
*internet:76130.2225@compuserve.com                              *
******************************************************************
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: James <advisor@seattleu.edu>
Subject: WHO: Hi...new here
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle WA
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 11:03:03 GMT



Hi... I'm new here and I'd like to ask a few questions, but first my
name is James and I'm from Lynnwood, Washington.

I've been trying to get involved in VR technologies for the past year
or two although it's not a new science I have just become aware of
it's existance about 2 years ago. At current I haven't even
experienced a virtual-world in the sense of a computer generated 3-D
stereoscopic virtual-world. I would very much like to but this seems
out of my grasp.  If anyone out there in the greater Seattle area
would be willing to help a freshman college student get involved with
VR technologies it would be greatly appreciated and would create an
incredible impact on this students life!!! If you would like to help
me in my quest for knowledge I will certainly repay you for your
efforts, maybe not in the near future but I will repay!

I have one other question: I have access to several PowerGloves here
in Lynnwood, but I'm wary of buying one because I don't at the present
have the knowledge of connecting one up to my 386, nor do I have the
software to drive it!  Does anyone here suggest getting a PowerGlove,
it's only $29.95 here and that's not too much?

Has anyone read the book entitled CyberSpace by Michael Benedikt?  If
so what are your reviews?

Again thanks to any replies that I may or may not get here on
sci.virtual-worlds.  I appreciate any help.... thank you.  James
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: jtojek@cae.wisc.edu (Jon Tojek)
Subject: SCI: Tactile Feedback
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 21:42:22 GMT



I am looking for ideas and info on a tactile feedback project for my
senior ECE project this year.  My general idea goes like this, a
subject would be wearing possibly a tight fitting glove sleeve thing
on one arm.  This sleeve would have little activatiors all over the
place, or in an approx. grid formation every sqr centimeter.  Then
another user would be sitting at the terminal of our computer looking
at a basic picture of this arm and activator points.  As the user
selects points, or selects three fingers, or whatever, the subject
would feel it on his skin.

Now my first problem is what kind of activators should I embedd into
the sleeve.  I have thought of little wires that could shock the
person with a small voltage, little things that vibrate, or little
things that heat up.  The requirements are that the activation time is
almost immediate, and that it is safe for the subject.

If you have any ideas or have heard of this being done on a low budget
before please do e-mail me at         jtojek@cae.wisc.edu

Thank You,
JonT.
.   
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: tcasady@nyx.cs.du.edu (tim casady)
Subject: TECH: Virtual-worlds on the net?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 03:38:15 GMT



Anyone who knows of articles/books/sources/etc. that deal with the
virtual worlds on the net (the virtual environments found in mud's or
boards rather than full-blown 3-d virtual reality systems) or who has
strong interest in such worlds:
 
I doing graduate research on the communication that occurs in the
virtual-worlds on the net.  Specifically, this deals with human to
human communication and how the net affects it.  This covers a lot of
issues: how people relate to one another when they cannot see anything
about the other person (looks, handicaps, race, gender), how people
are able to reveal things about themselves or do things on the net
that they would not do in real life, how big-name people can suddenly
become anonymous on the net, etc.)
 
If you know of sources on such topics, or if you would like to talk
about such topics, please leave me email at bampf@iastate.edu. 
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: spittman@nyx.cs.du.edu (Steve Pittman)
Subject: Re: TECH: U of I PowerGlove update 9-8-92
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 07:39:34 GMT



RE: Powerglove software

 Due to both the # of responses to my post about the PD PowerGLove
software (and me screwing up in the mail-reader:), I was unable to
answer some of your e-mail.

 Tomorrow, I will ftp 'powerglv.zip' (IBM PC PkZip format) to a site,
and then I will post a public message listing the site...  s
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: bryson@nas.nasa.gov (Steve T. Bryson)
Subject: CONF: Visualization 92 and VolViz92 call for student volunteers
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Applied Research Office, NASA Ames Research Center
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 00:34:55 GMT




Visualization '92 and the 1992 Boston Workshop on Volume Visualization
                        
        ****    CALL FOR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS             ****

1992 Boston Workshop on Volume Visualization:   
                   Oct 17 and 18 1992,         Boston, Mass.
Visualization '92: 
                   Oct 18 through Oct 23 1992, Boston, Mass.

The Visualization '92 conference and the 1992 Boston Workshop on
Volume Visualization are seeking student volunteers.  Volunteers will
work twenty hours or less in exchange for complete free registration
in the conference.  As the two conferences are being held at the same
location on successive dates, the same students may volunteer for both
conferences.  Come learn about the state of the art in volume
visualization and the use of computer graphics to study complex
scientific phenomena.

Student volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation
and lodging for the conferences.  To assist in costs, limited shared
rooms will be made available on a first-come first-serve basis.  All
students who are enrolled full time in the fall 1992 are eligible.

For more information, send dates of availability and field of study
to:

For Visualization '92:
        
        Steve Bryson
        MS T045-1
        NASA Ames Research Center
        Moffett Field, Ca. 94035-1000
        (415) 604-4524 fax: (415) 604-3957
        bryson@nas.nasa.gov

For the Workshop on Volume Visualization:
        
        Roni Yagel
        Department of Computer and Information Science
        The Ohio State University
        228 Bolz Hall
        2036 Neil Av. Columbus, Ohio 43210-1277
        (614) 292-0060, fax: (614) 292-2911
        yagel@cis.ohio-state.edu

--

Steve Bryson
MS T045-1
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, Ca. 94035
(415) 604-4524
bryson@nas.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds