From: ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz")
Subject: Re: VR tech/ use in firm or school
Keywords: VR
Organization: University of Strathclyde
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 12:19:18 GMT

In article <gp1z7!h@rpi.edu> thomat@vccsouth17.its.rpi.edu (Todd Michael Thomas) writes:
>This is in response (partially) to the two VR posts presently on alt.arch...
>
>Here at good ole RPI (Rensselaer Poly. Inst.) we have had the pleasure and
>good fortune to use some VR technology.  Our proffesor of our CAD department
>(yes we have CAD and we do use it for DESIGN, as well as PRESENTATION) is
>very intersted in VR and its applications in/to Architecture, as well as 
>being farily conversant in the technology invloved.  We have fairly powerful
>machines (from 386, and 486 to RS6000 and Mac FX) and he managed to get a
>company specializing in low cost, user friendly, available to small firm and
>school type VR equipment to come and demo.  In the extended demo we got some
>classes actually got to design in VR (in combonation with Auto Cad) and 
>present this to the school, as well as the whole school of architecture  got
>to tour some VR models to see how it works (VR) and how the experience is.
>We are also trying to aquire such equipment on a permanent basis.
>
>The basic set-up consisted of stereo goggles and a hand position sensor
>which would control pitch, roll, altitude, and speed, and compass direction.
>The equipment can run on 386 (very slow though) but can run relatively well on
>a 486, which is very affordable for a small firm and or school.  On a 486 the
>model can be moderately detailed and sized and run at a reasonable frame
>rate to simulate real time movement.  This is enough to design with and give
                                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>a student or your client a very good idea of the space(s) being created at a 
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>scale relative to your experience ( it is very hard to imagine yourself in most
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>1/8th "  scratch models!). The larger the machine, the faster the frame rate
>and the more detailed the image and the larger the model can be.  The
>equipment is not hand fabricated, it consists of off the shelf technology and
>parts.  Advances in the VR field will surely improve the tech and equipment
>but there does exist VR equipment usable at the small level today.
>
Can you please elaborate on your experience with these systems? How is design
can progress when you are using an Autocad to create the concept and visualize
it with all the rigidity of creating a model with this kind of modeller?

I always thought that the speed of sketching and the reaction of the designer
is crucial for the progress of the design. Also, I would like to know how can
I compare several designs at once when I'm using this technology.
Further, how I am able to consider other issues of the design apart from
visualizing the proposed spaces?

Regarding the machines used, it is true that an 386 or a 486 is relatively
cheap but what about the rest of the system? Further, for a proper evaluation
of the created spaces, we can't rely on wire-frame representstions or on a 
shallow (simple) models. What about lighting, texturing, viewing from outside?
 
Can you please how did you deal with these problems?

I. Ballouz


-- 
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* IBRAHIM BALLOUZ            **           DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE          *
* ccav38@uk.ac.strath.ccsun  **  STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY GLASGOW SCOTLAND U.K. *
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Newsgroups: alt.architecture