HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: BWOOD@TrentU.ca
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: SCI: Vr and Psychology
Date: 12 Nov 92 16:50:00 GMT
Organization: University of Washington
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


        re: Bob Pendleton's question of ethics and childhood VR experiments:

        Again 
        I must ask whether it has become ethically acceptable to take small
children to the movies, to let them watch cartoons all morning, to let them
play Nintendo all day . . . . since most of our day to day worlds are 
"virtual" anyway, what's ethical and what's not? It seems to me that if 
we have ethical problems with VR and kids then we ought to be dealing with
a host of other issues about virtual spaces and children. Instead, we're
bringing TV's and computers in to the classroom: the classroom has thuz
become a way to prepare children for the virtuality of their adult lives.
In this case, why not VR?
From: esoulvie@milori.ccit.arizona.edu
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: INFO: Head-Mounted Displays?
Date: 5 Nov 92 14:57:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: milori.1992Nov5.075739.1
Organization: University of Washington
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


Does anyone have any technical information on hmds(ie. resolution, distance
from eye)

   -Eric
From: tsullivan@trentu.ca (Tim E. Sullivan)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: TECH: U of I Call for Specification Discussion
Date: 6 Nov 92 07:21:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: trentu.6NOV199202213693
Organization: Trent University Computer Services Department
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


In article <1992Nov6.034310.4526@u.washington.edu>, jlb31348@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (J
im Brain) writes...
>Maybe this is futile with all the choices and problems, but if anyone is in
>a position to make a standard, the manufacturers of the device are the best
>hope.  My appeal to this newsgroup is that all readers take an active interest

  My personal bias towards programming the PowerGlove would include a 
driver, similar (but not a replacement for) the Mouse driver. I realize that 
this is specific to the MS-DOSesce world, but in this evniroment if woudl 
be ideal. I was actually suprised that some enterprising programm hasn't 
already attempted this (or that a discussion hasn't popped up here at 
least!) I'd do it myself, but time is the enemy, and my PG programming 
experience is fairly limited.

>It would be nice to build a set of commands that would work for more than just
>the PowerGlove and Sega Glasses.  A description that would include the Data Glo
v
>e, Polhemus Tracker, and other such things.  I doubt the Sega Glaases have
>a contemporary.

  The standard should also be forward thinking, in that it shoudl include 
functions for retrieving XYZ/rot or both the glove AND the HMD, thus 
allowing for easy incorperation and support of future low-cost HMDs (I'd 
say a year or two and they'll be EVERYWHERE... call me an optimist!)

   Tim Sullivan
   tsullivan@trentu.ca
   cstes@blaze.trentu.ca

A Disclaimer? Yeah, and people BELIEVE what I write, too...
---
 "Virtual Reality has NOTHING on Calvin."
       - Suzy, from Calvin and Hobbes
From: tibbetts@hsi.com (Todd Tibbetts)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: PUB: Boing Boing address?
Date: 11 Nov 92 16:36:49 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov12.021909.23134
Organization: 3M Health Information Systems, Wallingford, CT
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu



        I am on the search for the address of:

                        Boing  Boing  Magazine
                        in California.

        Thanks.

tt
From: D14YC%CUNYVM.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: INFO?: Afordable VR
Date: 6 Nov 92 20:16:42 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov7.015931.7285
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


On the TIME magazine article says that there is a company
planing to put 2 486 machine to make a VIRTUAL REALITY more affordable.
There is a possibility that individual could have their own VR machine.
Does anybody has more information about such equipment?
                    Thank you in advance
-------
=================================================================
I have a APPLE ! c and I want to sell it.($100.00)
It has:
The APPLE !c
A Monochome Screen
A Scribe Thermal Printer
and a External Drive
*****************************************************************
Please send any response to D14YC@CUNYVM
                            D14YC@CUNYVM.BITNET
                            D14YC@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
*****************************************************************
              Richard Lee
              CEO & President
                Extended Enterprises
                Richard Enterprises

[Co-mod (Mark): Do you know what the date on this article was?  That would
        make it easier for us to make an educated guess. Thanks!]
From: 73317.646@CompuServe.COM (Dan D. Gutierrez)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: PUB: Boing Boing address?
Date: 12 Nov 92 16:45:21 GMT
Organization: University of Washington
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


You can reach bOING bOING magazine at the following address:

11288 Ventura Blvd, #818
Studio City, CA 91604
(818)980-2009
FAX(818)908-0902
email:mark@well.sf.ca.us
From: ewels@vax.oxford.ac.uk
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: INFO?: Postgrad V.R. in the US?
Date: 13 Nov 92 13:36:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: vax.1992Nov13.133653.10120
Organization: Oxford University VAX 6620
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


Hello, 

I am posting on behalf of a German friend of mine who doesn't have access to
e-mail, so if it's possible to post any personal replies back to me, and I'll
print them out for him.

He is currently an undergraduate studying Cybernetics here in Stuttgart,
Germany, and also works part time with FhG - IAO Stuttgart, which are one of
Germanys biggest V.R. companies apparently (all information is second hand!)
The end of the course is approaching and he was extremely interested in doing a
PhD in America in some V.R. related field. He has experience with V.R. software
writing, and presumably (from his course title) hardware control as well.

The question is - which American Universities offer PhD work in Virtual
Realities, and which are the best?! (Much bias expected here!) Although he
specifically mentioned America I'm sure any other institutions world wide would
also be interesting.

I'm sorry I can't be more specific about his areas of interest (although I
assume it is more software orientated), but as this is only preliminary
investigation on his part I don't think he has decided where to specialise yet.

If you feel any reply would not be of interest to the rest of the group, could
you please post it to me at EWELS@petzix.mpi-stuttgart.mpg.de ?

Thanks in advance for any information forthcoming,

- Chris Ewels
From: randysh@microsoft.com (Randy Shedden)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: INFO: Goggle Vox
Date: 8 Nov 92 19:02:42 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov9.220038.11147
Organization: University of Washington
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


Just read about a new Twin LCD TV screen head mounted display
called Goggle Vox by an Englishman William Johnson.  It weighs
14 ounces.  The short blurb I read didn't have any more information
than that.  Does anyone know anything more about this,  like, price,
availability, where to reach Mr. Johnson?
From: schilkk@prism.cs.orst.edu (Rat)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: INFO: HMD's and focusing... (and other stuff...)
Date: 7 Nov 92 22:37:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov9.215840.10808
Organization: Organize?  I beg your pardon!
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu



Hi, all!  First, thanx for the response to my help post...  I have a 500 with
3.5 M and external diskdrive running on the stock PS, so I imagine that the
problem *is* current availability.  I'm going to drag my amiga into the lab
this week, since I burnt up some resistors when an idiot plugged an IBM null
modem cable into my serial port.  Anyways (sorry - didn't sleep much last
night... :-) I have a quick question that's been bugging me for a while.
        Q:  I've seen pictures of HMD's and noticed that the screens can't be
much further than 4" from the viewer's eyes.  Is it difficult to focus on the
screens (esp. after a reasonable length of time?)  I tried focusing on my
monitor at 4", and almost immediately developed a headache.  Are the images
corrected so you can focus at infinity (i.e. blurred screens) ?
        Any info would be appreciated.  Also, if anyone has a HMD, could you
smail me a picture of it?  (maybe a gif?)  I've been unsuccessful at finding
a good picture of one.  I do a "cyberpunk" (intellectual industrial/techno)
show on our radio station and want to do promo posters.  I found someone who
can draw, and I want her to draw a guy with a mohawk in VR gear (get it - 
cyber"punk" :-)  Anyways, I'm rambling again.  Best wishes!

        -rAt
---
        O----O  "I am rodent - hear me squeak!" - rAT   #include <disclaim.h>
  -rAT   \oo/   "I'll watch some TV... Maybe it'll help me to **RELAX!!!**"
        ==\/==          schilkk@[prism|mist|storm].cs.orst.edu
From: billc@Apple.COM (Bill Cockayne)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: INFO: Virtual Worlds on America Online
Date: 6 Nov 92 22:45:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov7.020112.7467
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu



Announcing the America Online VR Folder
- Sponsored by Virtus Corporation

Virtus Corporation has begun a dicussion on virtual worlds technology in 
its folder on America Online. As well as opening up an area for 
spreading knowledge about VR, this area has also given the VR community 
an area to discuss virtual worlds related files and events within the AOL 
and Macintosh community.

And coming soon will be Virtus Walkthrough for Windows and America Online 
for Windows. (At present, only DOS and Macintosh users can access AOL.)

Come join us!

thanx
bill cockayne
Apple Computer, Inc.
internet: billc@apple.com
AppleLink: COCKAYNE
AOL: Dr. Phish

________________________________________________________________________

ABOUT VIRTUS CORPORATION

Virtus Corporation, based in Cary, North Carolina, develops and markets 3D 
drawing and design products. Only two years after its formation, Virtus is 
an acknowledged leader in the field of 3D design. 

The Virtus story began in 1987 when David A. Smith completed a real-time 
3D computer adventure called "The Colony". A few months later at the 1988 
MacWorld Expo in Boston, The Colony was labeled by the New York Times as 
the hot new technology at MacWorld, and it was awarded Best Adventure Game 
of the Year by MacWorld magazine.

Recognizing design applications for the real-time 3D technology his game 
was based on, Smith left his job as a research scientist in robotics and 
founded Virtus Corporation with the intention of bringing this technology 
to the Macintosh community.

Joined by David Easter, Mark Uland, David Sink, and Booth Kalmbach, Virtus 
Corporation released Virtus WalkThrough eleven months after initial 
development began. It was immediately awarded Breakthrough Product of the 
Year by MacUser magazine. Virtus WalkThrough, used by graphic artists, set 
designers and directors, architects, engineers, illustrators and 
advertisers, is sold world-wide as a 3D drawing and design tool.

Virtus Corporation
117 Edinburgh S.
Cary, NC  27511

Telephone: 919-467-9700
Fax: 919-460-4530
AppleLink: VIRTUS
For Online Support, America Online: Virtus, VirtusTech

=================

[Co-mod (Mark):  I will soon be uploading to the newsgroup archive a set
        of four Mac Virtus Walkthrough demos I received from Virtus for
        your enjoyment.  I'll post them when I get them uploaded.]
From: harrison@cs.ubc.ca (James Harrison)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: TECH: `Passive' tracking of participants in a free space?
Date: 13 Nov 92 22:20:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov14.012126.12724
Organization: Computer Science, University of B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


We are designing an interactive-participant oriented exhibit that will
present the illusion of an audio and visual space to a participant.

To present these illusions we will be using spatially distributed
audio and visual sources (speakers and monitors) whose position,
orientation, etc will be well known and defined.

Knowing the position of the participant we will drive the audio and
visual sources to present the illusion of objects (invisible) through
the audio channels and the illusion of windows into a virtual-world
with the monitors.

The problem is in aquiring and tracking the position of the
participant.  We would eventually like to move to a system which did
not require the use of a active source carried by the participant.  A
passive reflector would be acceptable if it's cost was low enough, as
we may want to give the objects away as souvenirs.

The resolution of the tracker should be below 10 centimeters, and have
an update rate of at least 10/sec.  The system should be robust in the
presence of acoustically hard environments (echos or noise).  Be
useful in a large room (15m by 15m  by 3m at least).  Not require
extensive installation or calibration (beyond that which we will have
to do for the audio and visual sources).  And not require high
computational costs or special hardware (cheap, uniform, replaceable).

We're open to solutions using passive or active means, but we'd like
to limit the cost of the hardware/devices that the participant might
walk out of the door with.

I know that it seems like we're asking for a lot.  But we're looking
for suggestions and solutions that might require refinement.

If you have any suggestions, we'd appreciate hearing them.

Thanks in advance.

James Harrison
From: jlb31348@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jim Brain)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: TECH: U of I Call for Specification Discussion
Date: 5 Nov 92 20:02:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov6.034310.4526
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


This is a follow up article to U of I PGSI Update 11-2-92, so please read if 
you need any more info.

The University of Illinois ACM Chapter is currently working on the PowerGlove
Serial Interface. Although the unit is still in preproduction beta, the time
has come to discuss a standard for functions to be used in user's programs
that incorporate the PGSI.  As chief designer of the unit pertainig to this
discussion, I would like to foster a discussion about a standard interface
to allow all users of the unit, regardless of machine or configuration or
compiler to recompile the programs across platforms without much difficulty.
Maybe this is futile with all the choices and problems, but if anyone is in
a position to make a standard, the manufacturers of the device are the best
hope.  My appeal to this newsgroup is that all readers take an active interest
in the discussion and cross-post to other interested.  There are a few 
guideleines and hopes I have about this discussion:

I would like to end up with a working description of the needed functions.

I would like to have functional yet simple functions.

And a final (maybe too dream-filled, but...):

It would be nice to build a set of commands that would work for more than just
the PowerGlove and Sega Glasses.  A description that would include the Data Glov
e, Polhemus Tracker, and other such things.  I doubt the Sega Glaases have
a contemporary.

Please help us out with some answers.

Jim Brain

-- 
Jim Brain, Power Glove Serial Interface Project Leader (for the summer)
brain@cs.uiuc.edu
Yes, my last name REALLY is BRAIN!
From: stgprao@st.unocal.COM (Richard Ottolini)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: TECH: Annoucing-- Musical Glove Program!
Date: 12 Nov 92 15:26:58 GMT
Organization: Unocal Corporation
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


Old technique.
Several decades ago there was an analog electronic music generator that
used hand motion to generate tones.   It used attennas that sensed the
capacitance of the body.  I think I built one once from a Popular Science
description.  With good hand control you could generate anything from traditiona
l
scales to special sound effects.  With several attennas you could do chords.
From: frankc@netcom.com (Frank Crowell)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: INFO: MUDS
Date: 11 Nov 92 17:58:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov12.021959.23345
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


Since this question comes up rather frequently I will post 
some answers here.

There are a couple of ways to learn about muds: reading and experiencing.

for reading:
Published and available: 
        Cyberspace, editor Benedikt
        -all that stuff about Habitat; its a mud.

Published in some form not not easily available:
        -faq
        -social implications
        -business stuff
        -sources for clients and servers
        -implementation notes, ideas
        -notes for a graphical interface
        -objects, database
        probably key locations include:
        ftp.lysator.liu.se (poke inside pub directory)
        ucbvax.berkeley.edu (poke inside pub directory)
        parcftp.xerox.com (poke inside pub/MOO directory)

for experiencing (Uncle-approved types):
        There are probably a couple hundred known mud sites; and they come
        in several delicious flavors: Tinymud, MUCK, MUSH, MUSE, MOO,
        LpMUD, dikuMUD, Unter, and a few others.  Since they all
        share a common ancestor, its kind of like lisp and scheme
        dialects.  But there are some notable differences.

        so for Uncle approved muds, try:
        LambdaMOO @lambda.parc.xerox.com 8888 (its a MOO)
        MicoMUSE @chezmoto.ai.mit.edu 4201 (is a ...)
From: v067rcyf@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (AARDVARK)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: INFO: existing vr technology (W Industries' Virtuality)
Date: 13 Nov 92 14:38:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov14.011921.12360
Organization: University at Buffalo
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


        Recently there was a VR demo (the game _Dactyl Nightmare_ by 
Virtuality...not bad, but only a game) at a few local colleges and i got to 
interview the guy running it.  Here's some of what i got from him and Mondo.

        W Industries, a British R&D firm, has come up with the EXPALITY
(Experience Provider for Virtual Reality) computer as its core.  It's made up
of a modified Amiga 3000 with a 25MHz 68030 processor and 68882 math
coprocessor which drives to parallel TI 34020 graphics processors beefed
up with dual 40MFlop TI 34082 RISC math coprocessors.  Graphically, the view 
produced is 30,000 shaded polygons per second at 30 frames per second on the
twin stereo liquid-crystal color head-mounted-display (HMD) screens. 
(Some scientists figure real life to be at roughly 80 million polygons per
second)  The joystick and HMD have Polhemus 3D sensors to track your 
movements.  The entire database (voice, visuals, sound effects) is stored
on a 553MB CD-ROM and 100MB hard disk.  A dozen Virtuality units can be
linked together....each at $65,000

        The American distributor is Horizon Entertainment.  It's now
in several shopping malls in Chicago, LA, New York, Boston, Texas, about 
four pods each at about $4-$6 for 3-4 minutes.  I believe Chicago also
has the Battletech center from some other company.

        W Industries is coming out with a workstation model where you
can create your own graphics and the like.  It comes with a visette
and engine, and some software.  Cost is about 17,000 pounds (i don't 
know the transfer rate...).

        Also, slightly related, _The Virtual Reality Playhouse_ by Nicholas
Laibroth, or something like that, gives you tips on how to do the home-brew
VR project.  You get a disk, a demo program, you can measure your computer's
display rate for 3D objects, you can demonstrate 3D effects, you can modify 
the Sega 3D glasses and Powerglove into your parallel port, etc...

        Please post any corrections or additions and try to send myself
a copy, as i don't subscribe to sci.virtual-worlds.   Cross post to other
groups that may be interested... as i'm still unfamiliar with this
whole spooky-ass thing.

                                --------------aardvark

                   "Storm the reality studio and retake the universe."
                                                 William S. Burroughs
From: buxduac@dct.ac.uk
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: TECH: More gesture recognition
Date: 10 Nov 92 16:49:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: dct.1992Nov10.164927.1238
Organization: Dundee Institute of Technology
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu


Thanks to thinman who pointed me to a site at 
emsworth, (E-mail if you want more) but unforntunatly
it was not quite what I was looking for.

What I need is some software that takes a static guesture
made inside a data glove (preferably VPL) and will convert it
to some code.

Any more ideas ?
From: blom@husc15.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.math
Subject: Extended Fermat primes
Date: 7 Nov 92 22:22:07 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc15.1992Nov7.172207.17207
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

Fermat primes have the form

  n
 2
2  + 1.

One extension of this form could be

     n
    2
(2a)  + 1.

The largest prime of this form I have encountered is

    7
   2
120  + 1.

Does anyone know of any larger primes of this form?
From: john@aquarius.unm.edu (John Prentice)
Newsgroups: sci.math
Subject: Looking for scientific contacts in Argentina
Date: 8 Nov 92 21:50:09 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Physics & Astro, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

I will be visiting Argentina from about 10 Jan to 10 Feb, primarily for
the purpose of climibing Aconcagua.  However, I am anticipating having
one or two weeks free after the climb, during which I hope to tour the
country a bit.  I would very much like to visit one or more universities
during that time, find out what research is going on, and make some
friends.  I don't have any contacts in Argentina however, so if you have
any suggestions for people to talk to, I would much appreciate it.  If
anyone in Argentina would be interested in helping arrange a visit to
a university, I would also much appreciate that! 

My scientific interests are fairly broad, I am currently doing research in 
quantum mechanical scattering from surfaces, computational solid mechanics, 
and constitutive modeling of solids.  I am also doing some work with the
use of symbolic algebra packages for automatic code generation and do
alot of work in supercomputing, both vector and parallel.  I would 
certainly be interested in meeting scientists working in related fields, 
but I would also be extremely interested in meeting and talking to scientists
working in other disciplines.  I am extremely curious about what research
is being carried out in Argentina and South America in general.

John
-- 
Dr. John K. Prentice                      
Quetzal Computational Associates    
3200 Carlisle N.E., Albuquerque, NM   87110-1664  USA
Phone: 505-889-4543  E-mail: quetzal@pinet.aip.org -or- jkprent@cs.sandia.gov
Xref: sparky sci.math:14677 alt.politics.kibo:257