HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mesm@netcom.com (Mary E. S. Morris)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: TECH: U of I PowerGlove update 9-8-92
Date: 9 Sep 92 05:40:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Sep12.000012.9481
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



jlb31348@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jim Brain) writes:

: New info on the PGSI:
: 
:         I have been getting together the documentation on the
: PowerGlove Serial Interface.  I am doing it on Word for Windows 2.0,
: but many expressed an interest in getting a PostScript version out.  I
: think I can do that, but does anyone know which printer driver in
: Windows does the best PS output.  I have had some replies, but I want

Windows only has one PS driver to my knowledge

: to make sure I get it right the first time.  Also does anyone care if
: I put up the docs while they are still bbeing worked on.  I may not
: have the whole manual done this week.
: 
:         I am getting into the groove of school now, so expect a
: stepped up report system soon.
: 
:         I believe that is all.  I appreciate the person who reposts
: these to Compuserve and the Well (What is the Well), but the person
: who relayed the info about the posting said that it takes a month to
: get the posts.  Is there any way I could help speed that up?

I have a high speed modem and an account on Compuserve.  Maybe I could
help some...

--
Mary E. S. Morris    |  The future exists first in imagination, then
mesm@netcom.COM      |  in will, then in reality. -- Galivan Burwell
=====================================================================
Netcom - Online Communication Services San Jose, CA
From: pdoneill@cs.tcd.ie (O'Neill Paul)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: TECH: Hand Display Software?
Date: 7 Sep 92 14:23:59 GMT
Organization: Computer Science, Trinity College Dublin
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



I need software to display hand pose (position and orientation) and
posture (joint angles).  Can anyone point me in the direction of
public domain software for this?  The code is to run on a UNIX machine
equipped with X11 (but no PeX).  However software does not have to use
the X libraries.  The machine I have is equipped with an RGB
framestore with an overlay plane (upon which the hand could be
displayed).  Thus source code which I could modify at the level of
pixel access would be useful.

Please reply (by email) if you have any useful info as the display
system is needed quite urgently.  If appropriate, I will summarise
gathered info to the net.

Thanks in advance

Paul O'Neill
From: vespern@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (nicholas vesper)
Subject: TECH: Powergloves available (not many though)
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 06:35:57 GMT



Well, this is the third and probably last post for Nintendo
Powergloves.

I have a source for Nintendo Power Gloves, size large, right handed
models.  The supply is dwindling, and depending on demand, may not
last much longer.

They cost $39, plus whatever it costs to ship (from Indiana, USA).  I
plan to use UPS ground for USA, and whatever method you choose for
outside USA.  USPS seems the least expensive outside the US.  If you
want to get yours more quickly, tell me and can send it using a
quicker method.

Send a mail message to vespern@silver.indiana.edu and tell me how many
you need, along with your state/province/country, etc.  I'll send you
a reply back with the cost + shipping.  If the price is ok, reply to
that message with your mailing address and I'll send the order COD.

Chris Vesper                          |  "An unexamined life is not
vespern@silver.indiana.edu            |   worth living" - (Don't know)
   (used to be copper.indiana.edu)

[MODERATOR'S NOTE:  Commercial postings are offered on sci.virtual-
worlds as a public service.  Their appearance here does not 
necessarily indicate endorsement by the moderators or by the USENET or 
its administrators. -- Bob Jacobson]
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: jlb31348@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jim Brain)
Subject: TECH: U of I PowerGlove update 9-8-92
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 23:07:21 GMT



Sorry for the lateness, but I enjoyed Labor Day by watching comedies
all day.

New info on the PGSI:

        The legal matter with AGE has been resolved.  All boxes
manufactured will have a 5-10 dollars royalty fee.  Not sure yet
whether that will up the price or not.  I still am holding to 85
dollars, but it is not my decision alone.

        Ben Gross has an email address:  b-gross@uiuc.edu

        I intend to turn over this posting stuff to him as soon as I
meet with him.  You can start mailing stuff to either of us, but he
will start getting it all soon.

        A reminder that my address is now:

Jim Brain
1005 West Gregory #364
Urbana, IL  61801

        Make a note of that.  It is not the same as on the PGSA doc at
KARAZM.

        I have been getting together the documentation on the
PowerGlove Serial Interface.  I am doing it on Word for Windows 2.0,
but many expressed an interest in getting a PostScript version out.  I
think I can do that, but does anyone know which printer driver in
Windows does the best PS output.  I have had some replies, but I want
to make sure I get it right the first time.  Also does anyone care if
I put up the docs while they are still bbeing worked on.  I may not
have the whole manual done this week.

        I am getting into the groove of school now, so expect a
stepped up report system soon.


        I believe that is all.  I appreciate the person who reposts
these to Compuserve and the Well (What is the Well), but the person
who relayed the info about the posting said that it takes a month to
get the posts.  Is there any way I could help speed that up?

All for now.

Jim

-- 
Jim Brain, Power Glove Serial Interface Project Leader (for the summer)
brain@cs.uiuc.edu
Yes, my last name REALLY is BRAIN!
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: slb96@cc.usu.edu
Subject: ADMIN: FTP Sites for VR files?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Utah State University
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 23:19:51 GMT



Does anybody know any good FTP sites for VR stuff?  Like games, docs,
or misc.  files?  I have found a good one (sugrfx.acs.syr.edu), but am
looking for more.  Help would be appreciated.  Along with some help
for writing messages! :)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: jew5001@venus.tamu.edu (WILLIAMSON, JOHN EDWARD)
Subject: PHIL: William Safire on Virtual Reality
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 16:25:32 GMT



William Safire's syndicated column, _On Language_, tries to make sense
of the term "virtual reality" in Sunday's paper.  He defers to Howard
Rheingold for definitions of virtual reality, artificial reality and
cyberspace.

According to Rheingold, "Virtual reality, the illusion of being in an
artificial world, differs from alternative reality, which could be a
hypnotized state.  [Cyberspace is] a larger, abstract space that
virtual reality allows you to enter, which also includes the
communications field."

Peggy Well makes a plea for a "linguistic referee."  As Safire does
not appear interested in the position, are there any language majors
out there interested in the job?

John W.
From: chand@nyx.cs.du.edu (Chris Hand)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: PUBS REQUEST: Info on "Virtual Reality Playhouse"
Date: 8 Sep 92 23:23:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Sep9.052450.26403
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



In article <1992Sep7.062128.23770@u.washington.edu> magick@iastate.edu
(Magick Man) writes:

>In article <1992Sep5.084551.5335@u.washington.edu>
>russ@skorpio.USask.ca (Russ Muzzolini) writes:
>
>Virtual Reality Playhouse
>By Nicholas Lavroff
>ISBN#1-878739-19-0

I looked at this in a bookshop recently.

There's nothing in there that you can't get for free from the
internet.  Just another sad case of people cashing in on other
people's Public Domain efforts, in my opinion.

You'd do better to put your money towards a powerglove or some LCD
glasses.  Then get REND386 for free.

Chris

cph@dmu.ac.uk
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: "Tyrie J. Grubic" <tyrie@cs.washington.edu>
Subject: TECH: mist films?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 19:03:59 GMT



I was listening to the radio the other morning, and they were
mentioning a new exhibit in DisneyLand where they project the film
into water vapor.  They've incorporated other special-effects so that
when the whale waves its tail water gets splshed out.  They mentioned
it had been developed in a small city in France.

---------
Tyrie J. Grubic tyrie@lynx.cs.washington.edu
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: megazone@cs.uq.oz.au (Aubry Thonon (A.L.G.))
Subject: Re: TECH: Use of EMG as input to VR systems?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 13:04:53 GMT



In <1992Sep4.123814.54182@qut.edu.au> barker@qut.edu.au writes:

>G'Day Netters,
>
>I have been keenly reading all the various combinations of apparatus
>and display systems which are discussed in this group.
>
>Just wondering if any has used EMG signals (monitoring of electrical
>signal produced by active muscles) as inputs to their VR systems.
>
>One that comes to mind is the use of EMG signals from the muscles
>which control the eye to give an indication of where the subject is
>looking.
>
>Look forward to your reply.

I saw an article on a TV Science Show (Australian, Beyond 2000),
talking about Drs Hugh Lusted and Ben Knapp, two Electrical Engineers
from Stanford U.S.A.  They'd developed a system they called "Biomuse"
(sp?). Used skin electrodes and read eye muscles as well as arm
muscles. Good demo is given by a local (USA) all female musical group
called "D'Cuckoo".  'Fraid I don't know much more than that...

P.S.: if you get anything good, please post, couldn't find them
myself. Tnx.
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: prossi@nyx.cs.du.edu (Pete Rossi)
Subject: Re: TECH: U of I PowerGlove update 9-8-92
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 02:53:25 GMT



Jim,

You have obviously done some excellent work with this glove/glassses
interface, and for this I salute you.  However, one question still
remains in my mind as to whether or not I should buy this thing, and I
think that it is one that everyone should consider before purchasing
an interface.

The question is: How reliable is it -- that is, how consistent is it?

In this I mean -- does it have bugs or glitches?

Are there any tests or benchmarks we could see?

How about a comparison with the original AGE box on accuracy of
samples and positioning?  Is there any way to test the box's accuracy?

I ask this because I think that no product should reach market without
proper benchmark testing and this, while admittedly not an everyday
product that has a benchmarking suite published for it, is no
exception.

I ask everyone to consider what I have said here, and play devil's
advocate with the purpose of a better end result for everyone, a
better product.

Pete
prossi@nyx.cs.du.edu
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: wixer!wixer.cactus.org!pacoid@cs.utexas.edu (Paco Xander Nathan)
Subject: PUBS: What do you want in Mondo 2000?  Tell it to the editors!
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Real/Time Communications
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 06:01:06 GMT



Recently noticed, with dire interest, the discussion on Mondo 2000.  I
don't speak on behalf of the zine, but I write tech articles for it
and scout stories and talent.  In short: we're listening.

So let's have it.  What /do/ you want to see in the zine?  No
promises, but if you rant at me, I'll summarize and pass along to the
sr. eds, who are busy at work and not on Netnews..  Rant it, let the
bytes fly.  PLUS, if you have cool tech or leads that /ought/ to be
covered in the press, email:

   pacoid@well.sf.ca.us

future + now.
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: ut-emx!jking@emx.cc.utexas.edu (Joey King)
Subject: Re: TECH: Use of EMG as input to VR systems?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Southwestern University and HITL
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 02:00:04 GMT



Warner was probably one of the two; he is in a MD/PhD program there
developing novel rehabilitation systems.  They were using the
BioControl Systems Biomuse in the gaze (EOG) and arm movement (EMG)
applications.  They have developed some other rehabilitation systems
using the DataGlove, pressure sensors, EEG devices, and MIDI
controlled synthesizers.

Joey King

Cognitive Psychology Lab                         Human Interface Technology Lab
Southwestern University                          Washington Technology Center
jking@emx.cc.utexas.edu                          jking@hitl.washington.edu
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: geoffrey@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz (Geoff Thomas)
Subject: TECH: Looking for Tom Coull's (Sense8) email address
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 04:43:55 GMT



I'm trying to get hold of Tom Coull at Sense8, but the address in the
FAQ archives is UUCP and I can only send to internet addresses. Can
you help out?

Thanks,

Geoff Thomas.


[MODERATOR'S NOTE:  My address is outdated too!  If anyone has a current
address with email, please post it publicly and we'll archive it.  Thanks.
-- Bob Jacobson
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: geoffrey@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz (Geoff Thomas)
Subject: Re: TECH: Linking VR glove and synthesizer?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Computer Science,University of Canterbury,New Zealand
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 08:23:39 GMT



pvanheus@frodo.cs.uct.ac.za (P A van Heusden) writes:

>Firstly, has anyone tried linking a VR glove and a synthesizer to make
>an instrument? I was thinking along the lines of one finger for
>amplitude, another for pitch, etc. Also, I realise this will not be
>very controlled, but the application I am thinking of is in the realm
>of CyberPoetry, essentially a multimedia surrealist show, where the
>art is directly related, via a physical interface, to the artist.
>(Stuff deleted)

I'm poking about with a PowerGlove (soon to be a kludge(TM) glove),
connected to a PC and a MIDI synth for a MSc. At the moment, the glove
is just your normal run-of-the-mill adapted PG, but I'm hoping to add
tactile feedback to it later, and its being modified to have an RS232
output, so that it can be used on a whole bunch of machines. The
system is for a science centre, and I'm trying to give visitors to the
centre an idea of VR.

Geoff.
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: John Eagan <76130.2225@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Re: PHIL: Virtual Worlds discussion
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 22:45:56 GMT



Dan D. Gutierrez <73317.646@CompuServe.COM> writes:

>The various forms you've mentioned could indeed be considered virtual
>worlds in today's terms.  But the fact remains that those mentioned
>are also old-technology VR.  Movies and TV could be considered VWs,
>but I think what most here are looking forward to is advanced VR; an
>eye to the future if you will.  I think most will agree that the
>secrets that VR holds shall be realizable via computers, hence the
>computer slant on discussions here.  It is a matter of classification,
>as much can be termed VR now, whereas in 10-20 years, VR shall be
>solely the domain of the computer.

I think that Dan hits on an essential point in this discussion of
semantics. That being, simply that whatever your view of what "virtual
reality" means and what constitutes it, that basically all media are
being digitized gradually. So really, even if your view of the status
quo includes a definition of VR that doesn't necessarily include
computers (the most prominent example I can think of offhand being
Myron Krueger's work), everything is moving toward the digital domain
anyway.

******************************************************************
*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: John Eagan <76130.2225@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: ADMIN: Postings to CompuServe (Was Re: TECH: U of I PowerGlove update 9
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 01:43:06 GMT



Jim Brain writes:

>....I appreciate the person who reposts these to Compuserve and the Well
>(What is the Well), but the person who relayed the info about the
>posting said that it takes a month to get the posts.  Is there any way I
>could help speed that up?

Yeah...get me a secretary! :-) (actually that only applies to
CompuServe...I don't do the relay to the WELL...)

******************************************************************
*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: slb96@cc.usu.edu
Subject: TECH: PGSA2
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Utah State University
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 03:08:54 GMT



    I just read a file called PGSA.doc and was wondering if anybody
had any other information about it.  Has anybody bought a Power Glove
Serial Adapter, and does it work?  I posted it on this area because I
saw a message about it once here.  If someone did buy it, and it
works, please tell me how much it costs.  I am thinking of buying one.
From: claude+@cs.cmu.edu (William Welch)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: TECH: FLY! VR Software
Date: 5 Sep 92 17:34:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.Bu48tK.BAu.2
Organization: Cranberry Melon
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



In article <1992Sep4.043656.12959@u.washington.edu> ismail@pci.ists.ca
(Karim Ismail) writes:

>Many of you have requested some background information on FLY!. David
>Stanley, the creator of FLY! has supplied this:
>  [...hints about top-secret algorithm deleted]
>I don't have much experience in 3-D work but have a lot of experience
>in Remote Sensing (Satellite imaging).  The Fly! algorithms were
>basically developed from scratch without reading much (any?) of the
>available literature.  I just looked up how to do general projections
>out of a pretty basic geometry book.  Most of the coding and thinking
>was done at night at home (on paper).  I don't think this algorithm is
>used by anyone else but who knows...  I couldn't even tell what parts
>might be similar to known algorithms.  Ignorance is the mother of
>invention? :-).

Re-invention.

Happy reading,

-- will

[MODERATOR'S NOTE:  Will, want to explain?  Is there similar software
already available, or what?  Thanks for revealing your Secret. -- Bob
Jacobson]
From: dudley@cebaf4.cebaf.gov (John Dudley)
Subject: Re: TECH: Virtual Desktop?
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: CEBAF
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 19:15:52 GMT



In article <1992Sep9.000757.21035@u.washington.edu>,
magick@iastate.edu (Magick Man) writes:

> I heard a rumor that Virtual Desktop was going to be released as PD.
> Anyone heard any further info on this?

What exactly is Virtual Desktop?? What platforms is it available for?
From: g88b7912@hippo.ru.ac.za (Shaun Bangay)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: TECH: Building HMD from LCD televisions
Date: 15 Sep 92 12:23:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Sep15.215312.6504
Organization: Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



Hi

I am trying to construct a head mounted display from a pair of LCD
television sets. Is there anyone else out there who has succeeded with
a similar project? Any help concerning methods of construction, signal
conversion methods (I suspect the TV's will use PAL but relevant NTSC
tips are welcome) and optical techniques would be appreciated.

I believe construction of a similar device is described in the journal
PCVR - I'm still waiting for my copy to arrive so any hints mentioned
there would be appreciated as well.

I'll post a summary of replies if there is sufficient interest.

Shaun
g88b7912@beta.ru.ac.za
-- 
         Shaun Bangay - Computer Science Department - Rhodes University 
                      Internet: g88b7912@hippo.ru.ac.za
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
From: agri@pa.itd.com (/usr/spool/mail/agri)
Subject: APPS: MUDS and sci.virtual-worlds
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 18:26:50 GMT



Greetings.

I've only recently subscribed to this group.  I've come across a few
conversations concerning MUDS in general.  However generally they seem
to be discounted.  True, they are text based at the moment but I'm
sure work is on going to incorporate both sound and graphics into the
servers.  I'm also sure that many people who become interested in
these MUDS, end up discouraged after reading the rec.games.mud.*
newsgroups due to the extremely high noise ratio there.

I'd like to take the time to invite you to help me evaluate my MUD.
Its named AfterFive and runs at pa.itd.com on port 9999 The numbers
for pa are 128.160.2.249 9999 Hours of operation are from 5 pm until 8
am CST.

This system was built to simulate Bourbon St. in New Orleans,
Louisiana.  In addition to the simulation I incorporated a Citadel
style BBS.  I'm sure that my database could use a considerable amount
of improvement.  At the moment I'm more concerned with the user
interface and usability of the software.  Items I'd like to expand on
are the incorporation of high quality sound and graphics, speech
recognition and synthesis, and of course enhancing the text interface.

If you are interested drop in and check AfterFive out.  I'd be VERY
interested in hearing constructive comments about the system.  My
e.mail address is howard@pa.itd.com and I can be found online as
"Howard".

******************************************************************************
*                              Howard                                        *
*               Howard or Dark_Lord on most MUDS and BBSs                    *
*       Admin of AfterFive at af.itd.com 9999   128.160.2.249 9999           *
*   "An unused CPU cycle is a wasted CPU cycle.  You can't save them up!"    *
******************************************************************************

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Standard disclaimer here.  I do NOT in any way shape
or form speak for ITD, SRSC, NASA, nor any other organization.
Everything contained in this mail are my own personal thoughts and
opinions.  Flame away.
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds