From: "Joe P. Hopkins" <jph7153@aw2.fsl.ca.boeing.com>
Subject: WHO: Joe P. Hopkins
Date: Wed, 6 May 92 7:58:34 PDT



In response to your request for information regarding sci.virtual-world 
participants:

1)    Joe Hopkins

2)    P.O. Box 3707   M/S 96-05
      Boeing Company
      Seattle, WA  98124
                  
      jph7153@aw2.fsl.ca.boeing.com

      work phone: (206)237-5285

3)    Senior Simulation Software Engineer for Boeing Flight Systems Lab (FSL)

      I specifically support the 737 autopilot avionics bench
      providing simulation and troubleshooting support. I have
      provided support for 757/767, 737 and 747 autopilots, autothrottles,
      and displays development. I have also worked on the Boeing space
      station, supporting automation and robotic technology needs (from
      a conceptual viewpoint).

4)    At present I am not working in VR, but I have been conceptualizing
      using VR to design/debug software (in particular avionic systems).

5)    I would like to define, design and implement a VR system to assist
      in specifying, designing and testing software systems.

6)    I have been corresponding via E-mail with Kevin Sahr of Kaman Sciences
      in Colorado. I responded to a posting he recently placed in sci.virtual-
      worlds.

      He and I are thinking along similar lines. He is more theoretical 
      oriented, myself more application oriented - which may be a good match. 
      He does have a specific interest in representing knowledge base 
      structures, which is also a side interest of mine.

      I should add (I'm not very good with this editor) to question 5 that I 
want to integrate any VR system of the nature I'm conceptualizing to expert 
systems and utilize hypermedia concepts and electronic signal flow analysis 
approaches.

7)    I'm glad that there is a forum on VR (and that my office is allowing it 
on the net). I have no support from my management for my work, even though at 
some point I believe they will be compelled to make use of it. I am concerned 
that VR does not get over hyped - the over hype of expert systems and hyper-
text (hypermedia) has made it very difficult for me to persuade my management 
to step into new areas.

      I believe that VR promises some major advances in computing applications
and my experience with other new technology areas says that anytime the "hype"
exceeds the reality then when the reality is realized it takes me a lot longer
to get a management buy-in because of the early-on false promises. Let's not 
repeat those mistakes with VR.