From: fontenot@ravl.rice.edu (Dwayne Jacques Fontenot)
Subject: Re: TECH: REND386: adding motion
Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1992 18:49:04 GMT
Message-ID: <1992Feb5.184904.13481@rice.edu>
Organization: Rice University



In article <1992Feb4.000105.29555@watserv1.waterloo.edu> dstamp@watserv1.
waterloo.edu (Dave Stampe-Psy+Eng) writes:

>I thought I'd put before you the next step in the REND386 saga before it's
>begun, in the hopes of sparking some feedback and discussion.  Basically,
>it involves moving and animating objects, either autonomously or under
>direct user input.
>
[lots of stuff about a hierarchical graphics system deleted]
>
>I realize this may seem a bit unclear, but it's in "middle" planning
>stages.  Not that difficult to program, but the demo must be done
>from scratch.  However, the potential advantages are obvious, I think.
>The problem of animated figures, bodies, Gloves, etc. become much
>simpler once there's a standard to follow in terms of how to do it.
>Eventually, this could lead to a complete set of interface guidelines
>to network distant systems together in a shared VR world (This is
>Bernie's hobbyhorse, and I've taken many a ride on it.)

You have just described PHIGS (Programmer's Hierarchical Interactive 
Graphics System). 

Well, to be correct, you have just described the general idea behind
hierarchical graphics systems, of which PHIGS is one. I mention this
because a) you mentioned standards, and PHIGS is an ANSI/ISO standard,
and b) I happen to work in PHIGS.

I too am working on shared VR worlds, in PHIGS, so I guess we are
working on similar projects.

Looking forward to hearing more discussion on this,

Dwayne Fontenot (fontenot@comet.rice.edu)
Rice Advanced Visualization Lab (RAVL)