From: demasco@glinda.asel.udel.edu (Patrick Demasco)
Subject: HELP?: What system would you assemble for $70,000
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 01:37:30 GMT
Message-ID: <1993Jan22.013730.1482@udel.edu>
Organization: AI duPont Institute


I'm a bit of a dilema. I'm in the process of submitting a grant
proposal that will include a project in virtual reality (applied to
disability), and have an equipment budget of approximately $70,000 for
a complete system. From descriptions of the VPL Microcosm system (that
I downloaded from the archive) I thought that I was pretty set, but
calls to VPL have not been encouraging. So my question is what system
would any of you put together for this amount of money. My
requirements are:

  1. Helmet w/head tracking
  2. One (maybe two) gloves
  3. High performance graphics (sorry, no numbers)
  4. 3D sound (somewhat optional at this point, but hey I've got the money)
  5. Development software (C++ preferred) <- IMPORTANT
  6. Potential for expansion to two users
  7. USA based (I'm not patriotic, but have just had a lot of problems with 
      customs red-tape when stuff needs to be serviced)

I'm not real picky about computing platforms although for Unix I would
prefer Suns (our systems administrator gets real grouchy when anyone
talks about heterogeneous workstation environments).

I'm very new to the field, so please forgive any naive statements or
assumptions that I've made. I hope some of you take a moment to help
me dream about fun toys.

Thanks in advance

pat
-- 
Patrick Demasco (demasco@udel.edu)
Applied Science & Engineering Laboratories
A.I. duPont Institute / University of Delaware
P.O. Box 269, Wilmington, DE 19899