From: diego@minerva.st.dsi.unimi.it (Diego Montefusco)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: HELP?: What system would you assemble for $70,000
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 16:56:14 CET
Organization: University of Washington
NNTP-Posting-Host: stein.u.washington.edu
Originator: hlab@stein.u.washington.edu



In <9301250414.AA24542@ghost.dsi.unimi.it>, on Jan 24, you wrote:

> From: demasco@glinda.asel.udel.edu (Patrick Demasco)
> Subject: HELP?: What system would you assemble for $70,000
> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 01:37:30 GMT
> Organization: AI duPont Institute
> 
> I'm a bit of a dilema. I'm in the process of submitting a grant
> proposal that will include a project in virtual reality (applied to
> disability), and have an equipment budget of approximately $70,000 for
> a complete system. From descriptions of the VPL Microcosm system (that
> I downloaded from the archive) I thought that I was pretty set, but
> calls to VPL have not been encouraging. So my question is what system
> would any of you put together for this amount of money. My
> requirements are:
> 
>   1. Helmet w/head tracking
>   2. One (maybe two) gloves
>   3. High performance graphics (sorry, no numbers)
>   4. 3D sound (somewhat optional at this point, but hey I've got the money)
>   5. Development software (C++ preferred) <- IMPORTANT
>   6. Potential for expansion to two users
>   7. USA based (I'm not patriotic, but have just had a lot of problems with
>       customs red-tape when stuff needs to be serviced)
> 
> I'm not real picky about computing platforms although for Unix I would
> prefer Suns (our systems administrator gets real grouchy when anyone
> talks about heterogeneous workstation environments).
> 
> I'm very new to the field, so please forgive any naive statements or
> assumptions that I've made. I hope some of you take a moment to help
> me dream about fun toys.

I don't want to be discouraging (sp?) but you won't get TOO far with
$70,000.  I think your better bet would be a couple of 486 with
Sense8's system, if you want a ready-to-use system, or a low cost
Indigo, but equipped with a hardware graphics engine, and program
everything by yourself.

1. Helmet                              ~$6-7,000

2. Tracking systems:
             
          mechanical (adl-1)            $1,500
          ultrasounds (logitech)       ~$1,000
          magnetic (polhemus or bird)  ~$3,300
                    polhemus fastrak   ~$5,500

3. Glove (cyberglove)                   $6,500 each (without tracking system)

    Each glove needs a tracking system too. If you have a fastrak, it's only
    $750 (or $500?) for additional sensor, otherwise buy from scratch.

4. 3D Sound 

          Focal Point                   $1,500 (1 channel)
          Convolvotron                 $15,000 (4 channels, with reflection)
          Beachtron                    ~$3,000 (not sure)
          Acustetron                    TOO MUCH (maybe >$20,000)

A basic configuration (1 helmet, 1 glove w/ magnetic trackers, a low
cost 3D audio) is about $22,000. And you don't have the CPU and the
software, yet.

I think you should turn toward a network/parallel Sense8 system: two
486 (parallel option) for one person, plus the network code, to share
worlds between 2 or more.

Hope this helps,

Diego Montefusco
VR Consultant


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