From: bkuo@aludra.usc.edu (Benjamin Kuo)
Subject: VR happenings
Date: 29 Aug 91 00:31:06 GMT
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA



I've been insulated from this newsgroup for four months, able to read all
the posting but unable to reply, and I find it interesting that the debate
over technical vs. philosophical discussions continues to rage... I think
the problem is in part the wide variety of platforms that laboratories
are operating from--and also from the fact that many of the "technical"
discussions about powergloves and Sega glasses may be considered small
potatoes by those working with multimillion dollar RISC machines,
VPL Datagloves, Polhemus sensors, and much of the other academic and
laboaratory based systems. VR seems to be a very "wide" field, but also
very sparse--a lot of people claim research into virtual worlds, etc. (whatever
buzzword you want to use), but no one seems to be doing the same things
(with the exception of widespread use of certain hardware items...).

I propose a "roll call" like Bob Jacobson has done in the past, except
with some sort of guide to who is interested in what aspects (ie. different
PC platforms, philisophical questions, interfacing designs, etc.). I
think that would help define common ground for further technical or non-
technical discussions...

Benjamin Kuo

(If this is a bit unclear, its because I've just skimmed over 5000 articles
of news that I didn't have a chance to read this summer...:-)


[MODERATOR'S NOTE:  If people want to post SHORT descriptions of their
interests and addresses, that would be fine.  I have promised not to
release the private Roll Call's sent to me.  However, a public directory
is a pretty good idea, if it can be kept within managable memory con-
straints.  Opinions?  -- Bob Jacobson]