From: dc <CROOKALL@UA1VM.UA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Short VR definition
Date:         Thu, 05 Sep 91 19:40:51 CDT
Organization: University of Alabama, USA (S+G, IDEALS)


On Thu, 5 Sep 91 15:34:30 -0700 you said:
>From: Antoni Diller <A.R.Diller@cs.bham.ac.uk>
>Subject: Re: Short VR definition
>Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1991 15:39:19 GMT
>Organization: Birmingham University Computer Science
>
>
>In article <1991Aug29.043345.17584@milton.u.washington.edu>
> resst11@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Ryk E Spoor) writes:
>>
>>
>>        Here we go, my definition:
>>
>>        Virtual Realities: a world that is NOT the real one (i.e., not the one
>>in which your body resides) that you can interact with (i.e., your actions can
>>change that world).
>
>Given that definition how do you work out which is the real world?
>And for your definition to work you need to be able to give a definition
>of `world' which includes both the real one and virtual ones...there's
>probably a fancy latin phrase describing this sort of definition.
>
>Personally, I think that there's little point trying to define VR.
>I know what an oak is but I cannot give a definition of it
>and I know what an elephant is (I can individuate elephants from
>their background and re-identify them) but I cannot define an elephant;
>so, I guess most of us know VR when we meet it; the definition seems
>superfluous.
>
>Antoni Diller
>A.R.Diller@cs.bham.ac.uk

All that makes a whole lot of sense to me.  The same goes for simulation
(which is one way in which VR can be conceived, esp. if the reality
component in simulation is considered real!).  If anyone would like to
submit an article on VR and simulation to my journal, please be in touch
by snail-mail, with a self-addressed label and a few stamps (for a copy
of the Guide for Authors).
Best wishes, d

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