From: blau@.ist.ucf.edu (Brian Blau)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: WHO: VE research at the Institute for Simulation and Training, Update
Date: 26 Aug 92 17:23:36 GMT
Organization: VSL, IST, UCF, Orlando
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



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Bob and Mark,

I have enclosed an updated description of the work being done here at IST/UCF.
Please post this to the group and also update our section of the faq.  

Thanks,
Brian
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                        The Visual Systems Laboratory 
                     Institute for Simulation and Training
                        University of Central Florida

                                August 26, 1992


Institute for Simulation and Training

The University of Central Florida's (UCF) Institute for Simulation and Training 
(IST) is an interdisciplinary organization conducting research in fundamental 
areas central to the simulation and training field.  IST represents a 
tripartite relationship between academia, government, and industry.  Major 
funding comes from the State of Florida, the Department of Defense, and 
private industry.

IST is located in the Central Florida Research Park in Orlando, Florida. The 
simulation and training community is strongly represented in Orlando.  The 
Naval Training Systems Center, Army PM TRADE, Army STRICOM, Army Research
Institute and the Kennedy Space Center are located in central Florida, as well 
as simulation industry leaders such as General Electric Simulation Systems,
Martin Marietta, Loral, Harris and AAI.

One of the active areas of research at the Institute for Simulation and 
Training is in developing basic technology for the creation and use of virtual 
environments (VE).  Virtual environments are graphical computer simulations 
which allow participants to interact with a synthetic world.  These worlds 
start with a three dimensional computer model, or database, of an environment, 
which can be based on reality (such as the design for a new building) or on a 
totally imagined scenario (such as a role playing adventure game).  Interaction
with this 3D environment is multi-sensory in nature - the world is seen, heard,
and experienced through inputs which permit the participant to navigate through 
and obtain feedback from these worlds.

Virtual Environments

IST is presently working on several VE-based projects.  Low cost virtual worlds 
(at a personal computer level) are being designed and implemented with funding 
from the Florida High Technology and Industry Council and Micron/Green from 
Gainsville FL.  Called "Navigator", this project will permit architects to 
experience the spatial qualities of their designs before they are built.  
Starting from original CAD drawings, a virtual environment can be generated.  
By "walking through" this space, designers can view and manipuate objects at a 
very early and cost-effective stage.  These changes plans can then be taked back
to the CAD environment.  Other design applications, such as amusement parks, 
interior design, and space stations, for example, will also be able to utilize 
this low cost VE technology.

Recently, the capabilities of Navigator were demonstrated at SIGGRAPH '92 in
Chicago.  This technology demonstration used Autodesk's Cyberspace Development
Kit as the base simulation component. The software shown demonstrated a
connection between AutoCad, the simulation environment and the ability to 
manipulate objects that were built in CAD.  In addition, Navigator will also 
support the WorldToolKit from Sense8.

A second project, for the Army Research Institute, explores the psychological 
factors associated with the use of virtual environments.  As these worlds 
become more widespread, their effects on the participants need to be determined.
This type of research is in its infancy.  The results of these two IST projects 
will serve as the basis for future VE efforts in areas as diverse as K-12 
education and individualized mission rehearsal for the military.

Another research area at the VSL to investigate the applicability of Virtual 
Environments (VEs) in training situations.  The development of the Virtual 
Environment Real-time Network (VERN) protocol has provided a generic platform 
for the development of mass-participation distributed simulations.  VERN is 
based on a dead-reckoning paradigm that was introduced in SIMNET, the first 
large-scale networked training simulator.

IST is a leader in many research areas which enable virtual environment 
technology.  This includes graphics displays, database design, networking, 
human factors, and new object oriented approaches to simulation.  Resources 
at UCF, such as the Computer Science Department, with its Center for Parallel 
Computation and its award winning programming team, help support these research 
efforts.  The Toy Scouts of America (TM), a group of dedicated volunteer 
students, are building the innovative devices needed for the special 
requirements of VE research.  Other disciplines, such as UCF's new Film and 
Animation program, also contribute to VE technology.  These talented artists 
can design new worlds, and our scriptwriters will be instrumental in developing 
the significant new forms of narrative necessary to provide a structured but 
open user-defined experience.

Resources at VSL

    Hardware
        Silicon Graphics 4D/25 (2), 4D/70GT, 4D/240GT, Crimson w/Reality Engine
        VaxStation 3100
        Macintosh IIx
        NeXT

    Software
        CAD and Modeling
            Multigen 
            Alias and Full Color Studio
            ElectroGiG 
            NeoVisuals
            AutoCAD
            S-1000 Simnet Database Tool 
        VE and Software Simulations
            WorldToolKit (PC and SGI) from Sense8
            NPSNET from Naval Post Graduate School
            ANIM from IST/VSL
            MR ToolKit from University of Alberta 
            Flight Visualization from Naval Training Systems Center

    Image Generation and Simulation Computers
        ESIG 500 (2 channels)
        SIMNET M1A1 (8 channels), Stealth (3 channels)
        486/50 PCs with Intels Action Media II
        Harris NightHawk Realtime System (2 processor)

    Head Mounted Displays
        Eyephones from VPL
        Flight Helmet from Virtual Research
        Cyberface II from Leep

    Position Tracking and Manual Input Devices
        Isotrak and Fastrak from Polhemus (5 sensors)
        Logitech 2D/6D tracker (2)
        Spaceball (2)
        IST DataPaw instrumented glove

University of Central Florida
     
The Computer Science Department of UCF offers M.S. and Ph.D degrees, based 
on a curriculum rich in courses in parallel computation, computer graphics, 
and machine vision.  Several students are now pursuing degrees in VE-related 
areas.  Research assistantships are available for highly qualified candidates. 
For information about the CS program, contact Dr. Moshell at the address below.

UCF/IST has become internationally recognized as having achieved a critical 
mass of knowledge and resources in virtual environment technology; it it poised 
to be a leader in future developments of VE and its applications.

Contacts in the VSL are :

    Art Cortes                  Dr. J. Michael Moshell
    Director                    Chief Scientist
    cortes@ist.ucf.edu          Moshell@ist.ucf.edu

    Curtis Lisle                Brian Scott Blau
    Assistant Director          Visual Systems Scientist
    lisle@ist.ucf.edu           blau@ist.ucf.edu

    Mark Kilby                  Jacquelyn Ford Morie
    Visual Systems Scientist    Visual Systems Scientist
    kilby@ist.ucf.edu           morie@ist.ucf.edu

Our US mail address is :

    Institute for Simulation and Training
    12424 Research Parkway, Suite 300
    Orlando, FL 32826

    phone: (407) 658 5073 / 5074
    fax: (407) 658 5059


###########################################################################
# Brian Blau                             ## Phone :                       #
# Visual Systems Laboratory              ##     (407) 658-5513 or (5073)  #
# Institute for Simulation and Training  ## Email :                       #
# 12424 Research Parkway Suite 300       ##     blau@ist.ucf.edu          #
# Orlando, Florida 32826                 ##     blau@osceola.cs.ucf.edu   #
###########################################################################