From: diaspar@nic.cerf.net (Diaspar Virtual Reality Network)
Subject: Re: CONF: Reports from SIGGRAPH
Date: 8 Aug 1993 07:14:09 GMT
Organization: CERFnet Dial n' CERF Customer



Here are some of my impressions and finds from SIGGRAPH (I will write
up more on it next week - and am not including any of the "big stuff"
likely to be reported by others):

Best booth:
  
  1. A booth with massage machines for your back. Cost was $169 to buy
one - I did! I am firmly convinced that I will open a booth at every
show to rent use of such machines <grin> Those things were increbile.
If I can wire up one for Virtual Reality control on Diaspar, we might
quickly have a huge membership <just joking> But, the point was in one
way serious - this booth had a major positive impact on a sense
totally ignored by almost everyone else - touch. And, it put me in a
better frame of mind for the rest.

Shortest line with the most fun:
  
  2. Prometeus(?)  had a double ring and HMD and shoot-em up VR game.
One of my associates with me tried this one. She had a blast. Her only
complaint was the limits in movement on the rings as she would happily
have spun fully.  Of course, she knew full well that would not be
feasible at a convention.

Best buy (most Vr for the buck):

  1. VRontiers MATE chess game. Their show special put it under $20.
Using The Rend386 engine, the game plays via modem between two players
and allows you to fly through the chessboard and see any point of
view. Expect news about the games availability on an up and coming VR
online network soon.  <grin> This game is great - chess and a first
step towards VR.

  2. Simalabim's (?) Plastic hood for full stereoscopic vision on a
standard VGA monitor. At $169 - you can have stereoscopic vision using
your current VGA color monitor. This was also at Meckler.

Best Head Mounted Display for under $10,000:

  1. Virtual Research's new unit was excellent. At one world-builder's
booth, I drove them nuts because I didn't just walk through the office
they made - I moved all the furniture around. Ended up with plants in
seat of the car, table on couch, etc. But, I was having so much fun
with the light, high resolution unit it was great. Virtual Research
has done a great job on this unit. The unit uses b&w crt's and
spinning color wheels.  The result is flicker free, very high quality
images and small, light weight. And, spinning-wheel color technoligy
has been in use since Apollo moon landing days. Its reliable. A real
winner and highly recommended.


David H. Mitchell
Diaspar