From: Greg Newby Subject: APPS: Virtual GIS discussion, from GIS-L Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1993 13:22:41 CST Crossposted from VIRTU-L VIRTU-L netters, Since I am a Geographer interested in both Virtual Reality and GIS, I thought that I would pass on some of this VR-GIS discussion from the GIS-L. Perhaps some of you might like to enlighten the GIS-L people. Mike ----------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Rose | (407) 687-6342 voice | South Florida Water Management District | (407) 687-6442 FAX1 | 3301 Gun Club Road | (407) 687-6436 FAX2 | West Palm Beach, Florida, USA | | 33416-4680 ------------------------ michael.rose@sfwmd.gov "SAVE THE EVERGLADES.....SAVE OURSELVES!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1993 09:42:00 LCL Reply-To: Geographic Information Systems Discussion List From: S.Tomlinson@GEOGRAPHY.SALFORD.AC.UK Subject: VR, GIS and all that ! Re: Discussions on e-mail I wanted this message posting to the VIGIS-L bulletin board, but I have hade problems so I have posted it GIS-L. Can anyone tell me what the address is for VIGIS-L ? I have tried VIGIS-L@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU. I hope you find this interesting ! If GIS is to use VR ( I apologise for the acronyms ) then has anyone really considered how it is to be incorporated it an already large and segmented discipline ? This may sound negative, but I am in favour of introducing new techniques and technologies to GIS, especially VR. If VR is to be used in GIS, then is it as one of a number of tools which the user can use to examine their data or will the introduction of VR cause a more funamental rethink of how we use GIS ? VR as a tool ------------ VR as a tool can be used in two ways: 1) As a visualisation tool ( 3D, animation etc ) Exploration of 3D space, temporal domains large maps ( desinged as maps not as images for computer screens ) 2) As an interface to the GIS system. A Fundamental Rethink ! ----------------------- If VR is more than just a tool and will become the dominant method of interface/visualisation it must force GIS users and developers to rethink their attitudes to GIS. For example, if we can exist as users in a multidemensional representation of reality ( in VR ) in both a spatial and temporal sense, then how do we interact with our data ? We probably won't use a keyboard or mouse, will we walk about, fly or devise other metaphors for interaction ? I hope you find this interesting ! Steve Tomlinson GIS Unit Peel Building University of Salford Tel +44 61 745 5000 x4137 Manchester M5 4WT Fax +44 61 745 5700 U.K Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1993 09:04:18 -0500 Reply-To: Geographic Information Systems Discussion List From: Steve Brown Subject: Re: VR, GIS and all that ! Content-Length: 1938 Steve Tomlinson writes . . . > If GIS is to use VR ( I apologise for the acronyms ) then > has anyone really considered how it is to be incorporated it > an already large and segmented discipline ? > I hardly believe that it is being negative to be in favour of such things. When any technology begins to be satisfied with what there already is, it will stagnate and become irrelevant. That's why most of GIS users who use software like ARC/INFO are using unix workstations instead of PRIME computers. I believe it would be great to see some application of VR to GIS. The possibilities to me are vast. If a picture says more than a thousand words then it seems to me that being in the middle (multi-dimensionally) what speak tens of thousands of words. I can't help but believe someone has already done something in this field or at least given strong consideration to it. If someone has it would be interesting to hear. Unfortunately as we had previous dialogue concerning GIS in a capitalist society, it may only be the wealthy who could cash in on the developement and initial use. Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1993 07:36:37 -0800 Reply-To: Geographic Information Systems Discussion List From: "T. M. Edwards" Subject: VR and GIS Content-Length: 2059 Greetings everyone. I for one am very interested in the topic of merging VR and GIS. Yes, there are many issues that need to be pondered, not the least of which is how the GIS establishment is going to react to incorporating this new technology. I can give you my current assessment that the biggies like ESRI and Intergraph are not ready for it (unless someone out there from said companies can correct me). However, that doesn't stop some of us from pushing onward. I've been interested in this topic for four years now and have been trying to push forward through various channels. From experience, funding for this new area of research is scarce, if existent at all. I have yet to be successful procuring some. It's not that the issues are difficult to research (the conceptual ones), it's that you need a VR system and a GIS somewhere in close proximity to try out some of these ideas. That's not always easy to find. I've been fortunate by being close to Dr. Furness' Human Interface Technology Lab at the Univ. of Washington, but when it comes down to the base issue of research money, they won't pursue it unless the industry shows some interest in it. Those folks who brought up this topic on GIS-L and anyone else are welcome to bring it over to VIGIS-L. The address is VIGIS-L@UWAVM.BITNET. I for one believe that VR is going to play a unique and important role in future GIS activities. It may not solve the total GIS human interface issue, but for some applications I'm confident that it will be an indispensible method for spatial visualization. So far, I have come across almost no one who is working specifically on this linkage between an operating VR system and a working GIS. It seems surprising but I have yet to find them. There are many 'near-VR' applications in the works that concentrate primarily on terrain modeling, but nothing I've heard of is working on the database linkage (i.e., how about generating an Arc/Info to VEOS converter? Sounds good to me...) Tom Edwards VIGIS-L Moderator navanax@u.washington.edu