From: Toni Emerson Subject: EPUB: Virtual Reality Update Date: Wed, 04 Aug 93 15:19:02 -0700 This is a prototype of a newsletter that I am starting, it will be posted to sci.virtual-worlds bi-monthly (every two months). You canNOT subscribe to it yet, it will be posted to sci.v-w only. Ideas, suggestions and contributions will be more than welcome. As the format matures, with my contacts, this listing will be comprehensive...by keyword. At the moment, it is simply alphabetical by first author. Thanks. Toni Emerson diderot@hitl.washington.edu HIT Lab - UW Seattle, Washington ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- VRU: Virtual Reality Update July/August, 1993 by Toni Emerson Human Interface Technology Laboratory diderot@hitl.washington.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- Magazine Articles ----------------- Brill, L. (1993, June). _Kicking the Tires of VR Software_. Computer Graphics World. 16(6):40-53. Clark, R.S. (1993, August 23-27). _Virtual Reality: A World of Applications_. OE Reports, number 116. pp. 1, 6. Part one of a two-part series. Also available electronically via anonymous ftp: ftp.u.washington.edu/public/VirtualReality/misc/articles/OE_Reports-part1.txt Coull, Tom and Rothman, Peter. (1993, August). _Virtual Reality for Decision Support Systems_. AI Expert. pp. 22-25. -Tom Coull is the president of Sense8, Peter Rothman is founder and senior partner of Avatar Partners and host to the WELL VR conference. The article is introductory level, discussing possible applications of VR in the presentation of data. Gradecki, Joseph D. (1993, August). _An Introduction to PC-based Virtual Reality_. The Computer Applications Journal. Issue 37:12-19. Haverstock, Mark. (1993, July). _Virtual Gaming_. PCM: Personal Computer Magazine. XI(1):16-23. Lurins, S.L. (ed.) (1993, August). _Virtual Reality in the Real World_. [issue on virtual reality] CADalyst. 10(8):37-58. Jacquemart, Christian. (August, 1993). _Imagina 93: A Time for Real Times_. PixelVision. Number 9:29-27. Kelly, K. and Rheingold, H. (1993, July/August). _The Dragon Ate My Homework_. Wired. pp. 68-73. --This article discusses online virtual worlds, Also Known As MUDs. Shaw, Julie. (1993, August). _Virtual Reality Resource Guide_. AI Expert. pp. 34-43. --This guide is updated annually (yes, in August). There are 67 companies and products listed in this version. Marchand, Giles. (1993, August). The Virtual Revue: Two Americans in Paris [interview with Karl Sims and Scott Fisher]. PixelVision: The Computer Image Magazine. Number 9:11-24. --PixelVision is an interesting magazine. Bilingual, french and english, it has great pictures. This issue has over 12 pages of glossy samples of the computer graphics from Imagina '93. --------------------VRU ITEM of INTEREST--------------------------- Wellner, P., Mackay, W. and Gold, R. (guest editors) (1993, July). _Computer-Augmented Environments: Back to the Real World_ [special issue]. Communications of the ACM, 36(7). --This issue describes various computing projects, such as Karma, Chameleon, Charade, and Mosaic, that fall under the umbrella of "almost VR". To quote the _Editorial Pointers_ by Diane Crawford... "...combinations of artificial reallity, ubiquitous computing, embodied virtuality, embedded environments and augmented reality....'Virtual Reality -- NOT!'" These projects, instead of immersing the user in a virtual world, augment computer graphics onto the real world. See-through displays and desktop workstations are part of the technology discussed. Below is a table of contents that presents the research covered. This issue is valuable in that it explains the grey area that always bothered me in virtual interface technology. The argument regarding "presence" in the virtual environment, if the user isn't immersed in a virtual environment then it wasn't VR. Well, it's not...it's AR. _Computer-Augmented Environments: Back to the Real World_ Table of Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sprelzer, M. and Theimer, M. _Scalable, Secure, Mobile Computing with Location Information. p. 24-27. Baudel, T. and Beaudouin-Lafon, M. _CHARADE: Remote Control of Objects using Free-Hand Gestures_. p. 28-35. Krueger, M.W. _Environmental Technology: Making the Real World Virtual_. p. 36-37. Fitzmarurice, G.W. _Situated Inforamtion Spaces and Spatially Aware Palmtop Cmputers_. p. 38-49. Azuma, R. _Tracking Requirements for Augmented Reality_. p. 50-51. Feiner, S., MacIntyre, B., and Seligmann, D. _Knowledge-Based Augmented Reality_. p. 52-63. Resnick, M. _Behavior Construction Kits_. p. 64-71. Gold, R. _This is not a Pipe_. p. 72-73. Weiser, M. _Some Computer Science Issues in Ubiquitous Computing_. p. 74-83. Elrod, S., Hall, G., Costanza, R. et. al _Responsive Office Environments_. p. 84-85. Wellner, P. _Interacting with Paper on the DigitalDesk_. p. 86-95. Mackay, W., Velay, G., Carter, K. et. al _Augmenting Reality: Adding Computational Dimensions to Paper_. p. 96-97. *end of table of contents* ----------------------------- VRU Net: ---------------------------------------- NCSA - ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu ----------------------- The new NCSA info-base of VR: ./VR Currently, there is one paper - on the integration of VR into dataflow packages. Also, there are two SGI binaries for VR devices simulation. The VR directory will contain data written and/or developed at NCSA is now available on the ncsa anonymous ftp machine. If you have the XMOSAIC software, check out the NCSA's VR Lab document. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator)= http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/VR/vr_homepage.html. Human Interface Technology Lab *new* ftp site --------------------------------------------- ftp.u.washington.edu ./public/VirtualReality/HITL This site is still under construction. However, there are technical reports (./public/VirtualReality/HITL/papers/tech-reports) and masters theses (./public/VirtualReality/HITL/papers/Thesis) available. The HIT Lab is also collecting documents in the ./public/VirtualReality area. There are a couple UNC technical reports, the Virtual Education Bibliography, and more. SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering) - OPTOLINK Online Services ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPIE has quite a few relevant conference reports related to virtual interface technology. It is quite a service to now be able to find out about meetings, SPIE listservers, abstracts of SPIE proceedings and a calendar of upcoming events. The files are available via anonymous ftp at "mom.spie.org" and also via an email server (info-optolink-request@mom.spie.org) Below is an excerpt from "HELP.TXT" file. To get the full text of this file either ftp to mom.spie.org, login anonymous and "get HELP.TXT" from the top directory or you can also email "info-optolink-request@mom.spie.org" and put "help" in the body of the message. abstracts This directory contains hundreds of ASCII text files of abstracts for SPIE Proceedings volumes. Retrieve the read_abs.txt and ab_index.txt files from the ABSTRACTS directory for further information. meetings This directory contains the following set of sub- directories: calls This directory contains the call-for-papers for upcoming SPIE conferences. gen-info This directory contains a current calendar of world events in optics, as well as information specific to upcoming conferences (e.g., travel, hotel, registration, etc.) programs This directory contains the advance technical programs for upcoming SPIE conferences. oereports This directory contains selected articles from recent issues of OE Reports, the optics industry's premier news publication. forms This directory contains forms pertaining to purchasing SPIE products/services, becoming a member of SPIE or adding your name to SPIE's database. These forms are available in WordPerfect and (in future) PostScript format. ------------- To Come: ------------- Jerry Isdale is writing a review of Autodesk's CDK to be published in "Software Development" in December, 1993. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- VRU: Virtual Reality Update July/August, 1993 by Toni Emerson Human Interface Technology Laboratory diderot@hitl.washington.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- Magazine Articles ----------------- Brill, L. (1993, June). _Kicking the Tires of VR Software_. Computer Graphics World. 16(6):40-53. Clark, R.S. (1993, August 23-27). _Virtual Reality: A World of Applications_. OE Reports, number 116. pp. 1, 6. also available electronically via anonymous ftp: ftp.u.washington.edu/public/VirtualReality/misc/articles/OE_Reports-part1.txt Coull, Tom and Rothman, Peter. (1993, August). _Virtual Reality for Decision Support Systems_. AI Expert. pp. 22-25. -Tom Coull is the president of Sense8, Peter Rothman is founder and senior partner of Avatar Partners and host to the WELL VR conference. The article is pretty basic, discussing possible applications of VR in the presentation of data. Gradecki, Joseph D. (1993, August). _An Introduction to PC-based Virtual Reality_. The Computer Applications Journal. Issue 37:12-19. Haverstock, Mark. (1993, July). _Virtual Gaming_. PCM: Personal Computer Magazine. XI(1):16-23. Lurins, S.L. (ed.) (1993, August). _Virtual Reality in the Real World_. CADalyst. 10(8):37-58. Jacquemart, Christian. (August, 1993). _Imagina 93: A Time for Real Times_. PixelVision. Number 9:29-27. Kelly, K. and Rheingold, H. (1993, July/August). _The Dragon Ate My Homework_. Wired. pp. 68-73. Shaw, Julie. (1993, August). _Virtual Reality Resource Guide_. AI Expert. pp. 34-43. --This guide is updated annually (yes, in August). There are 67 companies and products listed in this version. Marchand, Giles. (1993, August). The Virtual Revue: Two Americans in Paris [interview with Karl Sims and Scott Fisher]. PixelVision: The Computer Image Magazine. Number 9:11-24. --PixelVision is an interesting magazine. Bilingual, french and english, it has great pictures. This issue has over 12 pages of glossy samples of the computer graphics from Imagina '93. Wellner, P., Mackay, W. and Gold, R. (guest editors) (1993, July). _Computer-Augmented Environments: Back to the Real World_ [special issue]. Communications of the ACM, 36(7). --This issue describes various computing projects, such as Karma, Chameleon, Charade, and Mosaic, that fall under the umbrella of "almost VR". To quote the _Editorial Pointers_ by Diane Crawford... "...combinations of artificial reallity, ubiquitous computing, embodied virtuality, embedded environments and augmented reality....'Virtual Reality -- NOT!'" Table of Contents for _Computer-Augmented Environments: Back to the Real World_ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sprelzer, M. and Theimer, M. _Scalable, Secure, Mobile Computing with Location Information. p. 24-27. Baudel, T. and Beaudouin-Lafon, M. _CHARADE: Remote Control of Objects using Free-Hand Gestures_. p. 28-35. Krueger, M.W. _Environmental Technology: Making the Real World Virtual_. p. 36-37. Fitzmarurice, G.W. _Situated Inforamtion Spaces and Spatially Aware Palmtop Cmputers_. p. 38-49. Azuma, R. _Tracking Requirements for Augmented Reality_. p. 50-51. Feiner, S., MacIntyre, B., and Seligmann, D. _Knowledge-Based Augmented Reality_. p. 52-63. Resnick, M. _Behavior Construction Kits_. p. 64-71. Gold, R. _This is not a Pipe_. p. 72-73. Weiser, M. _Some Computer Science Issues in Ubiquitous Computing_. p. 74-83. Elrod, S., Hall, G., Costanza, R. et. al _Responsive Office Environments_. p. 84-85. Wellner, P. _Interacting with Paper on the DigitalDesk_. p. 86-95. Mackay, W., Velay, G., Carter, K. et. al _Augmenting Reality: Adding Computational Dimensions to Paper_. p. 96-97. ---------- On the Net: ------------------------------------------------------- NCSA - ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu ----------------------- The new NCSA info-base of VR: ./VR Currently, there is one paper - on the integration of VR into dataflow packages. Also, there are two SGI binaries for VR devices simulation. The VR directory will contain data written and/or developed at NCSA is now available on the ncsa anonymous ftp machine. If you have the XMOSAIC software, check out the NCSA's VR Lab document. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator)= http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/VR/vr_homepage.html. Human Interface Technology Lab *new* ftp site ----------------------------------------- ftp.u.washington.edu ./public/VirtualReality/HITL This site is still under construction. However, there are technical reports (./public/VirtualReality/HITL/papers/tech-reports) and masters theses (./public/VirtualReality/HITL/papers/Thesis) available. The HIT Lab is also collecting documents in the ./public/VirtualReality area. There are a couple UNC technical reports, the Virtual Education Bibliography, and more. SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering) - OPTOLINK Online Services ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPIE has quite a few relevant conference reports related to virtual interface technology. It is quite a service to now be able to find out about meetings, SPIE listservers, abstracts of SPIE proceedings and a calendar of upcoming events. The files are available via anonymous ftp at "mom.spie.org" and also via an email server (info-optolink-request@mom.spie.org) Below is an excerpt from "HELP.TXT" file. To get the full text of this file either ftp to mom.spie.org, login anonymous and "get HELP.TXT" from the top directory or you can also email "info-optolink-request@mom.spie.org" and put "help" in the body of the message. abstracts This directory contains hundreds of ASCII text files of abstracts for SPIE Proceedings volumes. Retrieve the read_abs.txt and ab_index.txt files from the ABSTRACTS directory for further information. meetings This directory contains the following set of sub- directories: calls This directory contains the call-for-papers for upcoming SPIE conferences. gen-info This directory contains a current calendar of world events in optics, as well as information specific to upcoming conferences (e.g., travel, hotel, registration, etc.) programs This directory contains the advance technical programs for upcoming SPIE conferences. oereports This directory contains selected articles from recent issues of OE Reports, the optics industry's premier news publication. forms This directory contains forms pertaining to purchasing SPIE products/services, becoming a member of SPIE or adding your name to SPIE's database. These forms are available in WordPerfect and (in future) PostScript format. ------------- To Come: ------------- Jerry Isdale is writing a review of Autodesk's CDK to be published in "Software Development" in December, 1993.