From: pgm@world.std.com (Paul G Matthews)
Subject: EVENT: Public Can Tour BCS VR Group's "CyberSculpture Garden"
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1993 05:43:48 GMT
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA


Cambridge, MA - March1, 1993 - The public will be able to sample true
virtual reality at the Boston Computer Society MegaMeeting computer show,
April 3-4 at UMASS-Boston. The Virtual Reality Group of the Boston
Computer Society is preparing several VR systems with various
configurations designed to show the range of this emerging technology.

At the MegaMeeting, the Virtual Reality Group (VRG) will exhibit a range
of VR systems based on both Silicon Graphics and PC platforms, using the
latest software and display technology.  Worlds shown will be developed
especially for the show by BCS VRG activists, as well as by leaders in the
field. 

At the high end, visitors will be able to become immersed in a
computer-generated environment created with Sense8's WorldToolKit, using a
LEEP Systems Cyberface3 boom mounted display. It will be possible to
navigate through, and interact with a computer-generated environment in
real-time.  Networked virtual worlds wil also be demonstrated with users
able to interact with a single interconnected environment through either a
Silicon Graphics Inc. workstation or a PC. 

In addition, low-end "home-brew" VR capabilities will be demonstrated by
Rob Santiago on a stand-alone PC operating with a Mattel Power Glove, .
Videos about VR will be running continously.  For those interested in
pursuing the subject further, books, tapes and software disks will be on
sale at the booth. Talks on VR will be given by Paul Matthews of World's
Best, Ron Mourant of Northeastern University and Rob Santiago, a system's
analyst for the National Science Foundation. 

The BCS VRG "world" will be a "Garden of CyberSculpture" in which
participants will play with interactive, animated entities that will
occur in the space. The entities will have some persistance, meaning
that, once they happen, they'll remain in the space for some amount
of time so they can be toured by other participants.  This effort
is being led by Eben Gay of ERG Engineering.  The BCS VR Group's
space is being coordinated by Paul Matthews, group director and VR
Producer at World's Best.

The annual MegaMeeting is the largest PC expo organized by a non-profit
user group.  This year it is expected to attract 5,000 people. .  There
are over 100 booths featuring hardware and software vendors from both PC
and Mac platforms, lectures, demonstrations and show specials. 
Corporations involved include MicroSoft, Lotus, Adobe, WordPerfect,
Borland, Broderbund, Media Vision, as well as the BCS itself.  The BCS is
the largest personal computer group in the world, with over 20,000 members
worldwide. 

For more information, contact Paul Matthews, pgm@world.std.com.