From: diaspar@nic.cerf.net (Diaspar Virtual Reality Network)
Subject: COMM: The Diaspar Virtual Reality Network
Date: 12 Mar 1993 09:14:57 GMT
Organization: CERFnet Dial n' CERF Customer Group


The Diaspar Virtual Reality Network was founded in 1991 to promote
information sharing and experimental online virtual reality. The
long term goal is to help bring about low cost home virtual reality
for quality EduTainment purposes and online education.

At present, there are self-publishing areas as well as virtual
office areas where groups may have a virtual bbs or online system
without the need to deal with hardware or datacomm.

A real-time 2D graphics telecom program, called Dmodem, allows
for vector graphics transmission and display - in email, conference
board posts and talk/chat sessions. Dmodem graphics operate over
direct telephone modem links, data carriers and Internet telnet
sessions.

Diaspar often grants no charge membership and 10 hours of no charge  
access via Internet per month for serious VR devotees who contribute
useful information to be shared with other members.

Each Friday evening from 10:30 pm until midnight (US Pacific Coast
time) a real-time talk session is held to discuss Virtual Reality.
Recent topics have included VR and safety. The sessions are held
for review for a full week, making it possible to review the sessions
at hours more convenient for members in other time zones.

The Dmodem communications program is offered at no charge. There is
a 30 day free trial membership period but internet access is $1.00
per hour. Membership fee is $10 per month after the free trial period.

Diaspar is the originating sponsor of the VOID CD-rom project to
publish low cost CDroms with object data bases and other utilities
to help make low cost home VR possible. The project is not tied to
one online system, however, and has members from many different
online systems. The goal being to distribute a low cost CD rom
useable by people on many online systems and computer platforms.

In about 2 weeks Diaspar will announce an experimental teleoperations
project called LTM1. Details will be posted on many online systems
and on internet newsgroups.

Diaspar may be reached by telnet session on Internet at
   diaspar.com  or  192.215.11.1

Via phone, Diaspar may be reached as follows:

   Voice  (714) 831-1776
9600 baud (714) 376-1234
2400 baud (714) 376-1200