From: scivw@hitl.washington.edu Subject: DIGEST: Virtual Interface Marketplace [01.07] Organization: Human Interface Technology Laboratory, U of Washington, Seattle ############################################ ### Virtual Interface Marketplace Digest ### ### volume 01, number 07 ### ############################################ Contents: FOR-SALE: Great Equipment for Sale WANTED: powerglove WANTED: Can i still get SEGA glasses?? WANTED: PowerGlove: Where to order? NEW-PROD: Immersion Probe NEW-PROD: Immersion Interface Box NEW-PROD: FVT announces SAPPHIRE price reduction See the Sci.Virtual-Worlds Meta-FAQ, posted monthly and available by anonymous ftp (ftp.u.washington.edu:/public/virtual-worlds/Meta-FAQ), for more details on digests and suggestions on how to read them. _^_ Toni Emerson, Mike "Squish" Almquist, Aaron Kaleva Pulkka, et al. <(===)> \|/ HITL Sci.Virtual-Worlds Moderating Group H Fluke Hall FJ-15, U of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195 == cut here ==== cut here ==== cut here ==== cut here ==== cut here == From scivw@u.washington.edu Mon Dec 13 19:50:59 1993 Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 03:21:51 +0000 (GMT) From: VR LAB ACCOUNT Subject: FOR-SALE: Great Equipment for Sale Organization: University of Arizona ATTENTION: VR EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Software: Autodesk's Cyberspace Developer's Kit MAKE OFFER 3.5" disks - PC Hardware: FVT's Saphire Video Board - PC ISA MAKE OFFER Drivers for Cyberspace Developer's Kit and World Tool Kit Both items are in perfect condition! Please respond to: vr_lab@bigdog.engr.arizona.edu ------------------------------ From scivw@u.washington.edu Mon Dec 13 19:51:18 1993 From: "Andrew G. Kriger" Subject: WANTED: powerglove Date: 6 Dec 1993 23:23:23 -0800 Organization: "A World of Information at your Fingertips" i'm looking for a powerglove. anyone who has one for sale, or knows of where i can get one, please send email. thanks andrew kriger akriger@halcyon.com ------------------------------ From scivw@u.washington.edu Mon Dec 13 19:51:20 1993 From: 806sansonchi@gw.wmich.edu Date: Tue, 7 Dec 93 19:17:06 EST Subject: WANTED: Can i still get SEGA glasses?? Organization: Western Michigan University Does anyone have any info where to get or is willing to sell SEGA3d glasses? Thanks Enrique ------------------------------ From scivw@u.washington.edu Mon Dec 13 19:51:22 1993 Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 14:14:23 +0100 From: Stefan Pantke Subject: WANTED: PowerGlove: Where to order? Yesterday, I heard of US companies selling PowerGloves for about $ 20. Is that true? Where may I buy a PowerGlove for that price? Are there any companies located in FRG ( :-> )? Since I do not live in the USA, I need exact email-addresses or snail-mail addresses. Thanks for your help, Stefan ------------------------------ From scivw@u.washington.edu Mon Dec 13 19:51:09 1993 From: Jeff Bryer Subject: NEW-PROD: Immersion Probe Organization: IMBB, Simon Fraser University Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 21:58:25 GMT NEW PRODUCT RELEASE. . . Better resolutions and new model of IMMERSION PROBE: The PROBE-MD >>> THE IMMERSION PROBE <<< 3-D (6 DOF) HUMAN INTERFACE TOOL Immersion Human Interface Corporation is proud to introduce the Immersion Probe*, a unique new human interface tool for natural manual interaction with three-dimensional computer environments. This inexpensive desktop system includes a stylus mounted on the end of a series of mechanical linkages. The stylus is held between the fingers like a pencil, allowing the user to dexterously convey spatial position (x, y, and z) and orientation (roll,pitch, and yaw) information to a host processor. The Probe's lightweight mechanical linkage system provides support to the stylus, reducing the fatigue typically resulting from three-dimensional manipulation and providing physical resistance to enhance a user's manual control of fine motions. This ergonomically designed human interface uses mechanical sensor elements and does not suffer from the noise, interference, or shadowing problems associated with magnetic or ultrasonic tracking devices. The Immersion Probe is the ideal human interface tool for comfortable and convenient interaction with three-dimensional computer environments. It is well suited to a wide range of applications, including Computer Aided Design (CAD), Virtual Reality interfaces, medical imaging, and telerobotics. The Immersion Probe comes with a friendly software library which can be easily integrated into your current hardware and software system. The Immersion Probe also supports digital input commands through a button or pedal interface. While other companies are manufacturing unsupported, free-flying tracking devices which are fatiguing to hold up in the air, difficult to hold steady, and awkward to grasp, Immersion Human Interface Corporation has redefined the state of the art in human interface tools for 3D manipulation. The Immersion Probe 3D manipulation system is not simply a 2D mouse converted to move around in three- space. It is an entirely new approach to human interfacing, specifically designed for dexterous three-dimensional interaction. THE PROBE-MD: Although the Immersion Probe IC and Immersion Probe IX are more than adequate for most applications, certain applications require extra high precision. This is true for certain medical, robotic, and aerospace applications. The Immersion Probe-MD is constructed with a rugged, precision aluminum frame for maximum performance. Enhanced electronics provide superior resolution and accuracy. ======================================================================= FEATURES: -Easy to wield pen-like stylus allows for dexterous 3D manipulation. -Mechanical support enhances manual control and reduces fatigue. -Self-calibrating sensors make it fast and easy to use. -Sensors are immune to noise, interference, and shadowing. -Friendly programming library makes it easy to integrate. -Small, attractive unit requires no more desk space than a mouse pad. ======================================================================= SPECIFICATIONS: Position Resolution: (central region) 0.05" (Probe IC), 0.025" (Probe IX), 0.012" (Probe MD) (fringe region) 0.10" (Probe IC), 0.050" (Probe IX), 0.025" (Probe MD) Angular Resolution: 0.7 deg (Probe IC), 0.35 deg (Probe IX), 0.25 deg (MD) Latency: 1.0 ms (all models) Workspace Size: 34"x15"x17" Interface: RS-232C Max Baud Rate: 115 kbps ======================================================================= For more information, please contact: Immersion Corporation (415) 960-6882 email: immersion@starconn.com ======================================================================= * patent pending Copyright (c) 1993 Immersion Human Interface Corporation ------------------------------ From scivw@u.washington.edu Mon Dec 13 19:51:11 1993 From: Jeff Bryer Subject: NEW-PROD: Immersion Interface Box Organization: IMBB, Simon Fraser University Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 21:57:28 GMT NEW HUMAN INTERFACE PRODUCT: Allows you to plug a variety of FOOT PEDALS and HAND CONTROLLERS into your SERIAL PORT for quick and effortless custom systems. >>> The Immersion INTERFACE Box <<<< ======================================================================= The NEED: computer users are stuck in a mouse / keyboard world The recent proliferation of powerful computer displays has created a strong need for more powerful and appropriate HUMAN INTERFACE peripherals. From interactive MULTI-MEDIA to full blown VIRTUAL-REALITY, high fidelity graphics and audio have changed the way people interact with computers. While display technology has improved greatly, most computer users and software developers are stuck using the standard KEYBOARD, MOUSE, and JOYSTICK to interact with computers. Computer systems simply do not provide a means for quickly and easily introducing unique human interface solutions to software needs. In addition, software developers writing interesting new applications for today's high-performance systems are often forced to settle with the same old interface hardware that has been around for years. ======================================================================= The SOLUTION: open the door to a wealth of human interface tools The Immersion Interface Box is a small, very inexpensive module that plugs into the serial port of most computer systems. On the front panel of the box are eight sockets into which you can connect up to four DIGITAL and four ANALOG input signals simultaneously. The friendly C software library makes it a trivial task to read data from all 8 of the input devices. Immersion Corp. provides a wide variety of unique human interface peripherals which can plug into these sockets. Or you can easily develop your own interface devices to plug into the interface box. ======================================================================= EXAMPLE: Immersion Interface Box puts users in the Drivers Seat Imagine you are a VIRTUAL REALITY software developer and you want to make a unique system for moving through virtual environments using a GAS PEDAL and BRAKE PEDAL as the metaphor for controlling your speed. Right now it would be very expensive and time consuming to develop the interface electronics and hardware to achieve such a system. But just PLUG-IN the Immersion INTERFACE box into your serial port, and plug-in two standard analog pedals provided by Immersion Corp, and you can add this capability to your current system in a matter of minutes! The possibilities are endless. ======================================================================= The SPECIFICATIONS: - Allows up to 4 digital inputs - Allows up to 4 analog inputs - Interface: RS-232C - Baud Rates up to 115 kbps supported - Sampling Rates: up to 14.4 kHz - Analog Resolution: 8 bits on all four channels - Dimensions of Box: 5.0" x 1.75" x 5.25" - Advanced Model: adds support for 6 optical encoder inputs - List Price of Standard System: $299, includes standard foot pedal. - Includes software library. (available for MAC, PC, SGI, UNIX) ======================================================================= Input PERIPHERALS available from Immersion Corp: Digital Hand Pendants, Analog Hand Grips, Digital Foot Pedals, Analog Foot Pedals, Analog Knobs, Analog Sliders, Analog Pressure Pad We also produce custom interface hardware upon request. ======================================================================= For MORE INFORMATION: For product literature: email: Immersion@starconn.com voice mail: 415-599-5819 FAX: 415-960-6977 To talk to sales representative: voice: 415-960-6882 ======================================================================= Immersion Human Interface Corporation P.O. Box 8669 ------------------------------ From scivw@u.washington.edu Mon Dec 13 19:51:14 1993 From: frerichs@well.sf.ca.us (David Frerichs) Subject: NEW-PROD: FVT announces SAPPHIRE price reduction Organization: The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 16:24:24 GMT Future Vision Technologies announces a dramatic price reduction in the SAPPHIRE IME. SAPPHIRE is now available for US $3495! This price includes all the standard features plus driver software. SAPPHIRE is also now sold bundled with Autodesk's Cyberspace Developer Kit for US $4995. (A $1,000 savings.) Contact FVT for more information: Future Vision Technologies, Inc. 701 Devonshire Drive Champaign, IL 61820 217.355.3030 217.355.3031 (fax) SAPPHIRE is the first next generation interactive multimedia engine. Built in features including 48 bits per pixel, NTSC and S-VHS output, and DAT quality sound I/O, make Sapphire a complete multimedia solution on a single board. Whether your application is industrial simulation, location-based entertainment, computer-aided design, education, scientific visualization or immersive synthetic environments, Sapphire has the power to make your project come alive. SAPPHIRE is versatile. Users can start out with monoscopic graphic environments and upgrade to stereoscopic interactivity with Stereographics CrystalEyes (TM) LCD shutter glasses. Sapphire supports CrystalEyes (TM) directly, providing the viewer with a high resolution display and eliminating the need for an expensive converter box. A multi-board configuration allows more than one user to participate in the same synthetic environment without adding PCs. When configuring a multi-user environment, the boards can be configured independently or in stereo-pairs providing maximum flexibility. SAPPHIRE is easy to use. The system currently supports Autodesk's Cyberspace Developer Kit (TM), Sense8 WorldToolKit (TM) and FVT's Sapphire Developer Library. In the future Sapphire will support other standard software packages such as VREAM, the Autodesk Device Interface and Microsoft Windows (TM). FEATURES - 48 bits per pixel graphics - Hardware Gouraud shading - Hardware Z-buffer processing - Hardware A-buffer processing - Quadruple frame buffer - 32 Million pixels/second Gouraud shaded fill - 16 Million pixels/second bitblt - Less than 100 microsecond clear - VGA, NTSC, PAL and S-VHS output - DAT quality sound I/O GENERAL DESCRIPTION - Single Slot ISA board for IBM-compatible PCs - Fully programmable for 3D graphics and stereo audio applications VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS - RGB output to VGA style monitors with VGA passthru - NTSC, PAL and S-VHS color composite output - Support for custom refresh rates (72 Hz, 120 Hz, etc.) - CrystalEyes (TM) stereo glasses support @ 120 Hz - Resolution - up to 512 x 384 quadruple buffered - up to 640 x 480 triple buffered - up to 768 x 576 double buffered - up to 1152 x 864 single buffered - 48 bits/pixel: - 16.7 million simultaneous true colors - Z-buffered pixels to provide hidden surfaces - A-buffered pixels to provide transparency and anti-aliasing GRAPHICS PROCESSOR - Gouraud shading processing with A-buffer processing - Polygon drawing processing with Z-buffer processing - Line drawing processing - Texture mapping processing - 1 to n-bit pixel expansion; n to 1-bit pixel compression - Hardware zoom and clipping - 32 million pixels/second Gouraud shading - 16 million pixels/second bitblt - 50 million pixels/second fill - Less than 100 microsecond screen/buffer clear FLOATING-POINT CO-PROCESSOR - 32-bit digital signal processor - 40 MFLOPS, 20 MIPS sustained - 64K bytes to 1M byte zero wait-state SRAM - 4M, 8M, 16M, or 32M bytes of one wait-state DRAM - Fully integrated DMA channel AUDIO - Stereo line inputs - Stereo line outputs - Up to 44.1K, 48K samples/second at 16 bits/channel (CD and DAT quality) SOFTWARE - FVT Sapphire Developer Library - Autodesk Cyberspace Developer Kit (TM) - Sense8 WorldToolKit (TM) - VREAM (future) - Autodesk ADI 4.2 (future) - Microsoft Windows (TM) 3.x and NT (future) CONTACT Future Vision Technologies Inc. 701 Devonshire Drive Champaign, IL 61820 217.355.3030 217.355.3031 fax ------------------------------