From: blake@milton.u.washington.edu (Blake Hannaford)
Subject: Parachute VR
Date: Sat, 7 Sep 1991 06:22:32 GMT
Organization: University of Washington



On a recent visit to LA I saw an interesting example of a commercial 
product which could be considered an example of a VR system.

The system consists of a 386PC and an aluminum box of similar size.  From
two holes in the box come ropes which pass over pullies overhead and hang
down about eye level in front of where the user stands.  Weights and springs
inside the box give the ropes a springy an intertial "feel" when they are
pulled.  About knee level and facing up at the user is a large VGA monitor.  
Software in the 386 simulates parachute jumping.  

The CRT shows a simple rendering of the scene below with two silouettes 
of the users virtual feet giving a visual reference.

A detailed aerodynamic model derives the velocity of the parachute as 
a function of the user's control inputs and simulates the resulting 
scene below.  The developers of the system, STI incorp. of Hawthorne, CA,
sell this system (low $10k's) for pre-first jump training of parachutists.
They claim that use of the system reduces first-jump injuries by a 
factor of three.

Unfortunately, I was not able to "fly" a demo but will try on my next visit.
They claim to have sold the system to such customers as the forest service
of Outer Mongolia! as a low cost training aid.

This strikes me as one of the few end user, commercial VR systems on 
the market although they haven't used that hype in describing their
product.  If I ever get to try it I will post a user's report (or if 
anyone beats me to it please describe).