From paradigm@netcom.com Wed May 31 17:13:31 1995 Return-Path: Received: from mx4.u.washington.edu by stein2.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW95.05/UW-NDC Revision: 2.33 ) id AA26437; Wed, 31 May 95 17:13:31 -0700 Received: from hitl-new.hitl.washington.edu by mx4.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW95.05/UW-NDC Revision: 2.31 ) id AA12996; Wed, 31 May 95 17:13:30 -0700 Received: from relay1.UU.NET (relay1.UU.NET [192.48.96.5]) by hitl.hitl.washington.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id RAA24414 for ; Wed, 31 May 1995 17:13:29 -0700 Received: from netcom8.netcom.com by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP id QQysea13126; Wed, 31 May 1995 20:13:26 -0400 Received: by netcom8.netcom.com (8.6.12/Netcom) id RAA06947; Wed, 31 May 1995 17:12:30 -0700 Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds Path: paradigm From: paradigm@netcom.com (Allan R. Lamb) Subject: VR Starter Kits For Sale Message-Id: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 00:12:28 GMT Lines: 94 Apparently-To: sci-virtual-worlds@uunet.uu.net Status: OR From: "Allan R. Lamb" To: paradigm@netcom.com Subject: Starter Virtual Reality Kits and Componets For those who want to get started in VR I have put together two kits. VR-PC 101: Head Mounted Display set, NTSC Adaptor, s/w, games, cables, pinouts for $150 + $10 shipping. VR-PC 202: Head Mounted Display set, Power Glove, NTSC Adaptor, s/w, games, cables, and pinouts for $235 + $15 shipping. * All items available separately. What do you get (assuming you have a 386 or better)? 1. HMD: VictorMaxx "Virtual Reality - StuntMaster" Head Mounted Display 2. GLOVE: Mattel Power Glove with Parallel Interface Adaptor (202 kit only) 3. NTSC CONVERTER: GameZapper VGA->TV Convt. (display PC screen inside HMD) Includes: DOOM Game and DOS Drivers 4. Custom 15-pin cable to connect video and sound to the HMD. 5. A copy of AVRIL 2.0 and GLOVE(202 Kit)VR development software and source code. Note that this software is free on the net and I only include it to save you having to download it. 6. Pinouts for the HMD (so you can hack if you like) OPTIONAL textbook (Garage VR) for an additional $35.00 Send check or money order to (VR-PC-101 $160, VR-PC-202 $250, Text $35) Allan Lamb (paradigm@netcom.com) 1601 N. Sepulveda Blvd. # 254 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Note: Add $6 for COD order VictorMaxx and StuntMaster are trademarks of VictorMaxx, Inc. GameZapper is a product of Advanced Digital Systems (ADS). Mattel is a trademark of Mattel. Any other trademarks are trademarks of the respective companies. VictorMaxx HMD "virtual reality" looks just like you would expect a classic VR HMD to look - gogglelike. It's a stereo sound, color binocular non-stereoscopic (can be stereo with s/w) and great for games (i.e don't try to read microdots). Uses a simple fresnell lens system. Has volume, brightness, color tint controls. It was originally built for Nintendo or Sega games and comes with two "sets" of cables for this purpose with instructions on how to hook up to these systems. The HMD alone is ready to go and you don't need anything else to use it with the games (Sega / Nintendo) Res: 720X252 We hackers use them on our PC's. To do this I tap into the sega cable (you could use the nintendo cable, but I used sega). There is the classic 15 pin connector and I can provide all the pin-outs to you that I received from VictorMaxx. I made a "jumper cable" (included) between the 15 pin HMD connection and the Sega cable for sound and video. For the PC you will need the NTSC adaptor (included) (PC to TV) that converts your VGA output signal to a TV (video signal). This also allows simultaneous monitor/HMD viewing and can be used with a VCR to record sessions. The unit is a portable "pocket-size" style and connects directly to the VGA port (res: 640X256). I have used this on both my laptop and stand alone PC's. All components (except the 15-pin jumper cable and the GLOVE/AVRIL s/w) is new. Great for games and it's the next best thing to the $2500.00+ range of VR gear. I use it with AVRIL and my VR glove and have a great time. The glove is a Mattel Power Glove that has been adapted with a parallel interface to connect up to the PC. It measures x,y,z and roll. This system is intended to be for the starter in Virtual Reality. It contains the lowest cost components that can give the necessary functionality. Primarly it's for the hacker in us and thats who I put this together for, however, everything is ready to go and you don't need to buy anything else or solder a resister. Finally, I recommend picking up a copy of Garage VR. This 440 page text is a great introduction to VR and all the functions and capabilities of most VR components. It is written at a very basic-beginner level. I have copies so if you what one in the kit add another $35 (to cover book/shipping) and I'll include it. It also comes with VR Studio1 s/w (normally a $70 value). To get components separtely: Email me what component(s) you are interested in and I'll get you the price and availability Allan