Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds, sci.answers, news.answers From: "Sci.Virtual-Worlds" Followup-To: sci.virtual-worlds Subject: sci.virtual-worlds Education and Research FAQ Summary: research centers and education programs in VR Archive-name: virtual-worlds/ed-faq Posting-frequency: monthly Last-modified: 1996/01/12 URL: http://www.hitl.washington.edu/knowledge_base/virtual-worlds/ed-faq.html sci.virtual-worlds Education and Research Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) The latest edition of this FAQ can always be retrieved from This Education and Research faq is meant to assist the VR person in finding information on educational resources in virtual reality. Research Centers, Directories and bibliographies and also educational opportunities are listed. This FAQ is written as an introduction to the newsgroup sci.virtual-worlds. It is meant to be posted monthly on the 13th. It is therefore written to be short and informative regarding subscribing and posting to the newsgroup Questions, comments, or suggestions should be sent to: Snail-mail may be sent to: Sci.virtual-worlds c/o Toni Emerson, HITLab University of Washington, Human Interface Technology Laboratory PO Box 352412 Seattle, WA, 98195-2412 USA Topics covered in this FAQ: --------------------------- -1- Research Centers and Educational Opportunites -2- Directories -3- Credits ------------------------------ Subject: -1- Research Centers and Educational Opportunities Date: 13 Jul 95 00:00:01 PST **Asia**: _ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL (ATR)_: (JAPAN) _KOREA ADVANCE INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KAIST)_: VIRTUAL REALITY GROUP (KOREA) _NARA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY_: NAIST IMAGE PROCESSING LAB. (JAPAN) _SINGAPORE, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY O_:F (SINGAPORE) Institute of Systems Science Contact: Dr. Gurminder Singh Institute of Systems Science Kent Ridge Singapore 0511. Email: gsingh@iss.nus.sg or issgs@nusvm.bitnet FAX: (65)778-2571 Phone: (65)772-3651 Program: Opportunities for MSc and PhD through this research are available. The institute provides financial assistance to graduate students. Specialties: In terms of vr research, we are looking at the application of vr to the training and practice of architecture design. Our emphasis is much different from typical solid modeling approaches; instead we are looking at languages for architecture design. In the first phase we are focusing on the training aspects of architecture design. The resulting system will be used to teach architecture design at the graduate and undergraduate levels. _TOKYO, UNIVERSITY OF_: (JAPAN) Institution: Hirose Lab _TACHI LABORATORY_ : (JAPAN) Institution: Cybernetic Systems Laboratory, Rcast. _TSUKUBA, UNIVERSITY OF_: (JAPAN) Institution: Iwata Lab, Virtual Reality Laboratory. **Canada**: _ALBERTA, UNIVERSITY OF (CANADA)_ Institution: University of Alberta Computer Graphics Research Group Contact(s): Mark Green, Professor (mark@cs.ualberta.ca) (403) 492-4584 Program(s): MSc, PhD Computer Science Specialties: The Computer Graphics Research Group specializes in three major areas: Visualization and Modeling and Rendering and Virtual Reality research. Visualization of high-speed ATM network traffic data/events. Investigate and implement 2D techniques and 3D techniques. Visualization is carried out using HP /IDACOM 75000 Broadband Series Test System. The Volume Rendering research has concentrated on 3D filtering techniques for 3D textures. The Virtual Reality research has concentrated on developing software tools for the production of virtual reality applications. Since 1988, the VR group has been collaborating with researchers at the Banff Centre, providing computer tools that can be used by artists to produce 3D interactive art. One of the main products of the laboratory is the MR Toolkit, which is a software package for the production of VR applications. This software has been distributed to over 300 sites in 34 countries over the past three and half years. _TORONTO, UNIVERSITY OF_ (CANADA) Institution: Computer Science Department University of Toronto Contact(s): Computer Science (416) 978-6025 Graduate Studies Admission (416) 978-5369 General Information (416) 978-2011 **Europe** _BATH, UNIVERSITY OF_: Contact Phil Willis (P.J.Willis@maths.bath.ac.uk) INSTITUTION NAME: Media Technology Research Centre, University of Bath, UK (COUNTRY) WWW address and other applicable Internet information http://www.bath.ac.uk/Centres/MEDIA Institution: Department Computing Group, School of Mathematical Sciences Institution University of Bath Postal Address BATH BA2 7AY, UK Phone number +44 (0) 1225 826964 Fax number +44 (0) 1225 826492 Contact(s): Name of contact person, Title (internet address) Philip Willis (Director)/Professor of Computing (P.J.Willis@bath.ac.uk) Program(s): Degree(s) or program(s) offered. PhD Masters (in planning for 1996/7 start) Specialties: Description of research being performed (and by whom). Animation Multimedia and Visualization Sound and Music Speech Virtual Reality Vision and image processing Dr Michael Brooke Professor John Fitch Dr Martin Oliver Dr Claire Willis Professor Philip Willis Resources: Hardware, software, and human resources. Largely SGI-based _DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHOLOGY_: the Virtual Environments Research at Delft _DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY_ (UK) Contact Chris Hand (cph@dmu.ac.uk). _EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY_: (SCOTLAND) Virtual Environment Laboratory Contact Simon Rushton (skr@castle.ed.ac.uk) _EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY_ : (SCOTLAND) Institution: Centre for Communication Interface Research, Contact Liam Parker (liam@ccir.edinburgh.ac.uk) _GERMAN NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE_: (GERMANY) Institution: Digital Media Lab _HULL UNIVERSITY_: (UK) Institution: Computer Science Dept. (CS) - VERC Contact Rob Macredie (R.D.Macredie@computer-science.hull.ac.uk) _LEEDS UNIVERSITY_: (UK) Contact Prof Peter Dew (dew@scs.leeds.ac.uk) Tel: +44 113 2335449 _LEICESTER UNIVERSITY_: (UK) Institution: Psychology Dept. Contact Paul Wilson ( pnwl@leicester.ac.uk). _LONDON UNIVERSITY_: (UK) Institution: Queen Mary & Westfield College - London University Contact Professor Mel Slater (mslater@dcs.qmw.ac.uk). _LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERVERSITY_: (UK) Contact SeanClark (S.M.Clark@lut.ac.uk). _READING UNIVERSITY_: (UK) Institution: Cybernetics Virtual Reality Research Group Contact David Roberts (cybdjr@cyber.rdg.ac.uk) _FRAUNHOFER INSTITUTES_: (GERMANY) IAO VR-Lab of the Fraunhofer-Institute for Industrial Engineering IPA Demonstration Center Virtual-Reality Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics (IGD) <"http://www.igd.fhg.de/> _GENEVE, UNIVERSITE DE_: (SWITZERLAND) Institution: : Miralab Computer Animation Research Lab _LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY_: (UK) Institution: Lutchi Research Centre, Based Within The Dept. Of Computer Studies _ MANCHESTER, UNIVERSITY OF_: (UK) Institution: Advanced Interfaces Group, Dept. of Computer Science < http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/aig/ > Contact Dr. Adrian West (ajw@cs.man.ac.uk) Program: Projects underway include: Visualisation of volume data, especially 3D medical images (in conjunction, with the University Medical School and local teaching hospitals) , The development of a VR interface for a large CAD system (in a, collaborative project with CADCentre, Cambridge) , Generation of high resolution 3D images (in a collaborative project with, Sharp Research Laboratories, Oxford) , A variety of undergraduate and postgraduate projects ranging from, playing virtual musical instruments to VR interfaces for computer, animation. Resources: Silicon Graphics `Crimson' workstation (rex). , Silicon Graphics `Indy' workstation (raptor). , EyeGen3 head-mounted display. , 2 Division 3D mice. , Polhemus Fastrak with 3 spatial sensors. , StereoGraphics CrystalEyes stereo glasses. , Sharp large-screen stereoscopic video projection system. , Roland `Sound Canvas' MIDI sound module. , Sun4 Colour workstations (2). , Colour X terminal. _MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN, UNIVERSITY_: (UK) Institution: Computer Science Contact Bill Mitchell (b.mitchell@doc.mmu.ac.uk). Program: Department of Computer Science _MEDIALAB_: (FRANCE) Contact: Medialab, 104 avenue du President Kennedy, 75016 Paris, France Tel: 33 (1) 44 30 44 30 /Fax: 33 (1) 44 30 44 60 E-mail (General): info@mlab.fdn.org _NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY_: (UK) Institution: COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH GROUP Contact Dr. Steve Benford (sdb@cs.nott.ac.uk). No undergraduate courses, but research studentships at MSc & PhD level are available. _NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY (UK)_ Institution: VIRART Contact John Wilson (+44 115 9514004). _SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY_: (UK) Contact Robin Hollands (r.hollands@sheffield.ac.uk). _STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY_: (SCOTLAND) Institution: Virtual Construction in Simulation Group < http://www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/Civeng/conman/cm.html> Contact :Dr A Retik Senior Lecturer in Construction Management Department of Civil Engineering University of Strathclyde GLASGOW G4 4NG tel. + 44-141 552 4400 (x3420)/ fax. + 44-141 553 2066 Program: Application of VR in Construction Management Resources: PCs, HMD (Virtual I/O), Superscape VRT (*2), Superscape Network + SDK _SWEDISH INSTITUTE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE (SICS)_: (SWEDEN) _SWISS FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY_: (SWITZERLAND) Last Upate: Sept. 13, 1995 Institution: COMPUTER GRAPHICS LAB _VALENCIA, UNIVERSITY OF_: (SPAIN) Institution: ARTEC (ADVANCED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXPANSION IN COMPUTER GRAPHICS) _WALES, UNIVERSITY OF_ (UNITED KINGDOM) University of Wales, College of Cardiff (UK) WWW address and other applicable Internet information Institution: School of Psychology UWCC PO Box 901 Cardiff UK CF1 3YG Phone number +44 (0) 1222 874000 x5030 Fax number +44 (0) 1222 874858 Contact(s): Name of contact person, Title (internet address) Roy Ruddle Ruddle@CARDIFF.AC.UK Program(s): Degree(s) or program(s) offered. Specialties: Description of research being performed (and by whom). Research into a number of areas concerning human factors of VR systems. Current investigations include research into navigation and orientation in large-scale VEs and multi-modal and multi-task workload studies. Contact Roy Ruddle for more information Resources: Hardware, software, and human resources. Unix based laboratory (two SGI Reality Engines), HMDs, 3D trackers, Extensive audio + video labs + editting/production facilities, Macs + PCs for general work. In house resources for Human Factors research (Cognitive Ergonomics, HCI Workload + Vision) and software development (C++, C, Fortran, Performer etc) United States of America: _CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERISTY_ Last Update: 8-5-95 Contact: Carl Loeffler Studio for Creative Inquiry Project Hippocrates, robot assisted surgical system VASC Virtual Reality Research at Vision and Autonomous System Center _CENTRAL FLORIDA, UNIVERSITY OF _ Institution: Visual Systems Laboratory Institute for Simulation and Training University of Central Florida 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 300 Orlando, FL 32816 phone: (407) 658 5073 / 5074 fax: (407) 658 5059 Contact(s): Dr. J. Michael Moshell, Director (moshell@cs.ucf.edu) Curtis Lisle, Assistant Director (lisle@ist.ucf.edu) R. Dunn-Roberts, Visual Systems Scientist (richard@ist.ucf.edu) Brian Scott Blau, Visual Systems Scientist (blau@ist.ucf.edu) Jacki Morie, Visual Systems Scientist (morie@ist.ucf.edu) Program(s): MS / PhD Computer Science -- based on a curriculum rich in courses in parallel computation, computer graphics, and machine vision. Research assistantships are available for highly qualified candidates. Specialties: * automatic generation of terrain databases from multiple sources, such as satellite imagery, stereo imagery, digital terrain elevations, digital feature information, maps, etc. * real-time dynamic geometric and physical modeling, such as constraint based physics and dynamic terrain. * research into advanced display technology, including video-switching technology, head-tracking technology, and head-mounted displays. * research into networking protocols to support simulations distributed across heterogenous computational platforms. The development of the Virtual Environment Real-time Network (VERN) protocol has provided a generic platform for the development of mass-participation distributed simulations. Resources: The VSL is split into four groups: Dynamic Environments Group, Virtual Environments Group, Visual Testbed Group, and Systems Group. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (USA) Institution: Department of Computer Science Columbia University 500 West 120th St., 450 CS Building New York, NY 10027 Contact(s): Prof. Steven Feiner feiner@cs.columbia.edu (212) 939-7083 (212) 666-0140 (fax) Program(s): B.A., B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science Specialties: Augmented reality, in which a see-through HMD is used to overlay a virtual world on the user's view of the physical world. Application areas that we are exploring include: * maintenance and repair documentation that is integrated with the equipment being maintained; * personal information spaces that embed arbitrary X11 applications within the 3D environment; and * architectural "see-throughs" that allow a user to examine a real building's hidden infrastructure. Virtual worlds for data visualization, including knowledge-based design of effective worlds for visualizing and exploring multivariate scientific and business data, and for representing computer network topologies and interactions. Knowledge-based generation of 3D multimedia presentations that combine speech, text, and 3D graphics to communicate medical data. Resources: Virtual worlds projects are conducted within the Computer Graphics and User Interfaces Lab in the Department of Computer Science. We have research relationships with the Department's Natural Language Processing Lab, Knowledge Representation Lab, and Mobile Computing Lab; the Center for Telecommunications Research; the Building Technologies Group in the Graduate School of Architecture; and the Medical Informatics Department in the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. The Computer Graphics and User Interfaces Lab has HP, SGI, and Sun workstations with 3D graphics accelerators; Pentium PCs and PowerPC Macs; 3D interaction devices (a VPL DataGlove, a Digital Image Design Cricket, and several Logitech 3D mice); 3D tracking systems (including a four-receiver extended range Ascension Flock of Birds and eight Logitech ultrasonic trackers); 3D displays (StereoGraphics CrystalEyes stereo eyewear, locally-built and Virtual i.O see-through head-mounted displays); and 3D audio (Crystal River Beachtron sound processor). Students also have shared access to a 4-processor SGI Onyx with Reality Engine 2 and an 8-processor HP 9000/735 cluster with FDDI interconnect. Prerequisites: C.S. background and the inquiring mind of an experimentalist. We are particularly interested in students with a strong background in AI, who would like to explore the knowledge-based generation of graphics, text, speech, and audio in virtual worlds. GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (USA) http://www.seas.gwu.edu/seas/eecs/Research/Graphics/GGGmain.html Institution: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 801 22st. NW Washington, DC 20052 (202) 994-5924 (202) 994-0227 Contact(s): Name of contact person: James K. Hahn, Associate Professor, Director of the Computer Graphics Laboratory, hahn@seas.gwu.edu Program(s): Degree(s) or program(s) offered. DSc, MS in Computer Science with a specielty in computer graphics Specialties: Description of research being performed (and by whom). VE technology is being used to explore motion control, rendering, and sound synthesis and synchronization in three domains: medical simulation/training, virtual museums (with the Simthsonian Institution), and military simulations (with the Naval Research Laboratory). Resources: Hardware, software, and human resources. The resources of the GW Computer Graphics Laboratory is augmented by the resources of the NRL VE Laboratory. The peripheral devices include: Cyberglove, Flock of Birds, BOOM3C, Cyberface2, Sound Cube, Convolvotron, CrystalEyes Stereo, Logitech tracker. Computing resources includes a large number of SGI workstations including an eight processor SGI Onyx. GEORGIA TECH (USA) Institution: Graphics, Visualization And Usability Center -Virtual Environments Group. Institution: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering- Virtual Reality, Engineering Simulation, and Animation Last Update: 8-5-95 HAYWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE (USA) Institution: Department: Regional High Technology Center 10 Industrial Park Drive Waynesville, NC 28786 Voice: (704)452-1411 Fax: (704)452-3353 Contact: Tony Gaddis, Computer Systems Coordinator E-mail: tony@daystrom.haywood.cc.nc.us Programs: AAS Degrees in Electronic Engineering Technology and Manufacturing Engineering Technology Specialties: Undergraduate courses in Virtual Reality offered regularly. VR workshops and presentations conducted for educators. Research and development conducted in mechanical assembly visualization, 3D design visualization, and virtual reality training for rescue workers. Research conducted by Tony Gaddis, Ryan Parker, and Barret Krupnow. Resources: Hardware: Pentium computers, SPEA i860 Fire boards, General Reality Cybereye 100S HMD, Cybertrack sourceless tracker, CrystalEyes stereoscopic goggles, 5DT gloves (right and left handed). Software: Sense8 WorldToolKit i860 and Windows, Autodesk Cyberspace Developer Kit, VREAM. _ILLINOIS, UNIVERSITY OF (USA)_ Institution(s): Electronic Visualization Lab University of Illinois at Urbana Champain 1304 West Springfield Avenue Urbana, IL 61801 WWW: University of Illinois at Chicago M/C 154 851 South Morgan, Room 1120 Chicago, Il 60607 312.996.3002 312.413.7585 fax Contact(s): Tom DeFanti, Electronic Visualization Laboratory, Director Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department tom@eecs.uic.edu Maxine Brown, Associate Directory, maxine@siggraph.org Institution: Computer Science Dept.: Phone: (217) 333-3527 Fax: (217) 333-3501 Contact(s): Graduate Admissions (acad@cs.uiuc.edu) Barb Cicone, Admissions Officer (cicone@cs.uiuc.edu) Professor Michael Faiman, Graduate Advisor (faiman@cs.uiuc.edu) Program(s): MS, PhD and MFA degrees through the UIC Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department and the UIC School of Art and Design. Specialties: The Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) advances research in computer graphics and interactive techniques through its unique interdisciplinary blend of engineering, science and art. IOWA STATE VISUALIZATION LABORATORY JOHNSON SPACE CENTER - NASA: Graphics Research and Analysis Facility, GRAF Lab Software Technology Branch _ MASSACHUSETS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT)_ (USA) Institution: Media & Robotics Lab Contact: For additional information about the academic program contact Santina Tonelli (santa@media.mit.edu). Please include a postal mailing address in your email. Program: The Program in Media Arts and Sciences The Program in Media Arts and Sciences offers graduate studies leading to the Master of Science in Media Arts and Sciences, and the Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Media Arts and Sciences. Students from a wide variety of backgrounds, including electrical engineering, computer science, cognitive science, and learning sciences are encouraged to apply. Specialties: Interactive cinema, future television, others. MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AEROSPACE-HOUSTON DIVISION: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AEROSPACE-HOUSTON DIVISION: MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY, INTELLIGENT MACHINES LABORATORY, CS373 GRAHICS AND VIRTUAL REALITY MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY: VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT/INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS PROGRAM NAVAL RESEARCH LAB (NRL): ADVANCED DISTRIBUTED SIMULATION NASA AMES Intelligent Mechanisms Group _NEW YORK, STATE UNIVERISTY OF - SUNY PLATTSBURGH_ INSTITUTION NAME State University of New York at Plattsburgh (COUNTRY) USA Institution: Department Institution SUNY Plattsburgh Postal Address Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Phone number 518.564.5165 Fax number 518.564.7986 Contact(s): Name of contact person, Title (internet address) William D. Graziadei, Ph.D. Professor of Biology graziawd@splava.cc.plattsburgh.edu Program(s): Degree(s) or program(s) offered. BS & MA/MS Specialties: Description of research being performed (and by whom). Resources: Hardware, software, and human resources. URL: http://137.142.42.95/ http://137.142.42.95/Slides/SlideUVM.html#PLA State University of New York at Plattsburgh and High Techsplanations, Inc. of Rockville, Maryland are collaborative partners on The IV Simulator project. The faculty at SUNY Plattsburgh use a variety of interactive teaching methodologies incorporating Macintosh and IBM platforms, desktop video conferencing capability, internet connections and screen sharing software. In January of 1994, the Nursing Department made a virtual classroom out of nine counties via fiber optic telephone lines and audio visual equipment at both sender and receiver sites. The latest development is in Nursing Education where we will be using the "IV Infusion Simulator". This virtual reality teaching tool will provide a realistic and controlled environment for performing venipunctures in both normal and complicated physical conditions. The IV Simulator, one of seven modules targeted for development, is designed around the capabilities of the Teleos (TM) Virtual Reality Authoring System developed by High Techsplanations, Inc. The IV Simulator will be the most advanced simulator available to teach this commonly executed procedure. NCSA Virtual Reality Lab NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY'S VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS LAB _NORTH CAROLINA, UNIVERSITY OF_ (USA) The UNC-Chapel Hill general web site (rather than the UNC Dept. of Computer Science web site) has the listing of computer science courses in the graduate school catalog. That URL is: http://www.unc.edu/pubs/academ/gb/index.html Institution: Department of Computer Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Campus Box 3175, Sitterson Hall Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3175 Telephone: 919-962-1700 FAX: 919-962-1799 Contact(s): Admissions and Graduate Studies (admit@cs.unc.edu) 919-962-1900 General Department Information (geninfo@cs.unc.edu) 919-962-1700 Program(s): MS / PhD in Computer Science Specialties: The GRAPHICS AND IMAGE LABORATORY supports research and teaching in computer graphics, image processing, virtual environments, computer vision, and pattern recognition. Resources: Specialized image-generating systems include two of UNC-CH's unique Pixel-Planes 5 machines, scalable 3D graphics multicomputers each containing more than 250,000 processors; two Silicon Graphics Onyx computers with Reality Engine2 graphics; a Silicon Graphics Power Series 460VGX computer; a Silicon Graphics Indy workstation; several DEC 5000 graphics workstations; a larger number of Hewlett Packard 700 series workstations; and high-precision color monitors. Most displays can be viewed in stereo. Interaction devices include an Argonne Robotic Manipulator, a Sarcos Telerobotic Arm, a Phantom force display device, an optical ceiling tracking system, Virtual Research and Kaiser head-mounted displays, head-mounted displays that were designed and built by this department, Polhemus and Ascension 3D tracking systems, a voice recognition system, joysticks, mouse devices, data tablets, and other commercial and in-house-designed manual input devices. The laboratory has extensive facilities for recording, editing, and producing high-quality video. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: VOLUME GRAPHICS RESEARCH GROUP PENNSYLVANIA, UNIVERSITY OF: DEPT. OF COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE CENTER FOR HUMAN MODELING AND SIMULATION(HMS). PURDUE UNIVERSITY: Project Isaac: simulating virtual environments RAPID DEVELOPMENT LAB (RDL) _RENSSELEAR POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE_, Troy, NY 12180, USA Contacts: Robert O'Bara (obara@rdrc.rpi.edu) Postal Address: Robert O'Bara Rensselaer Design Research Center Rensselear Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 12180 USA Research: The Center was involved in the development of the PHIGS and PHIGS+ standards. Naturally, our focus has been towards the visualization aspects of VR. A graphics toolkit for Virtual Environment purposes is being developed that emphasizes the time-critical aspect of the rendering process. Benchmarking of the graphics hardware is performed to evaluate time allocation among renderable objects obtaining constant rendering time frame updates. There is also a project that is being involved with novell input devices. Force feedback is also considered. The project is also looking into ways of homogeneously integrating the programming interface and interaction techniques of the various input devices to a graphics environment. We are also working in visual fusion, which is the annotation of the real world with computer generated graphical information. _ROCHESTER, UNIVERSITY OF_ Dept. of Computer Science University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627 USA Contact: Polly Pook pook@cs.rochester.edu (716)275-8479 Program: MS / PhD in Computer Science For gradute admissions info write to the admissions secretary, Peggy Frantz, at frantz@cs.rcochester.edu or phone 716-275-5478 Specialties: The Univ. of Rochester is using virtual reality in human psycho-physical studies. Our VR Lab is in the Computer Sci Dept and is a center of inter-disciplinary work among pychologists, cognitive scientists and computer scientists. For us computer scientists, these studies inform computational models of vision, attention, planning, goal interaction, manipulation, motor tasks, etc. Resources: The lab has a VR helmet and eye-tracking device, head and hand position sensors (flocks), a go-cart for virtual-world driving, an EXOS dextrous hand master, 2 VPL datagloves, an SGI and a few sparcs. There are also two puma robot arms, a Utah/MIT robot hand and a robot "head" with color binocular vision. SRI VIRTUAL PERCEPTION PROGRAM Last Update: Sept. 13, 1995 STANFORD UNIVERSITY: DesignSpace Dextrous Manipulation Laboratory SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, UNIVERSITY OF: Last Update: Sept. 13, 1995 USC's collaborative WWW Project-- Robotic Tele-Excavation (RTE) _SYRACRUSE UNIVERSITY_ (USA) Institution: Virtual Reality Laboratory Last Update: 6-5-91 Syracuse University Contact(s): Specialties: We've started working in the areas of robotics, military intelligence, information retrieval, 3D sculpting, and geographic imaging. Another project on the drawing board is to hook the VR equipment into the parallel machines located across campus in NPAC (the Northeast Parallel Architectures Center) -- perhaps to the Connection Machine... There is great potential for faculty and student involvement in projects. For the future, I hope to work with faculty and students intested in education, sensory research, scientific visualization, and other areas, in addition to computer scientists, engineers, and other more traditional participants in VR research. I am personally interested in exploring the ergonomics of VR, and also in identifying the issues for multi- user virtual environments. Resources: Right now [June 5, 1991] the lab equipment includes a DataGlove (version 1) with a Polhemus tracker, several PowerGloves and serial converter boxes, and some LCD shutter glasses. We're hoping to have some VPL EyePhones soon. Located in the Advanced Graphics Research Laboratory at SU, the VR lab makes use of Silicon Graphics IRIS workstations, also Sun and Dec workstations. Amigas, Macs, PCs, and so forth are all in abundant supply, in addition to connections to campus and off- campus mainframe resources. _VIRGINIA, UNIVERSITY OF (USA)_ Last Update: 6-5-91 Institution: Computer Science Department, User Interface Group University of Virginia Program(s): MS or Ph.D. in computer science Specialties: basic research in human perception development of architectures and toolkits to support real-time, immersive interfaces working with partners in other dept.s to develop demonstration applications Resources: 2 SGI VGXs many SUNS several Polhemus, Bird, and ultrisound trackers 12 grad & undergrad students researchers from CS, EE, and psychology WASHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF (USA) Last Update: 8-6-95 Institution: University of Washington Graduate Program: Virtual Environments and Interface Design College of Engineering Program Description The College of Engineering at the University of Washington offers three degree programs focusing on Virtual Environments and Interface Design. The Master's level degrees are administered within the College of Engineering Inter-Engineering Program. All applicants to the programs should have a programming background in C or C++. Courses in computer graphics and mathematics through linear algebra is highly desirable. Master of Science (M.S.): The M.S. degree is for applicants with a non-engineering background (e.g., behavioral science). Students with non-engineering degrees must have a strong and mathematics preparation Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.): The M.S.E. degree is designed for applicants with engineering degrees. Ph.D. in Engineering: The Ph.D. with a specialty in Virtual Environments and Interface Design is offered through Mechanical Engineering, and supervised by Industrial Engineering faculty. In addition, coursework and research opportunities in telepresence and robotics are offered through the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Environmental Health. Labs involved are: Human Interface Technology Lab: Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HITLab) PO Box 352412 Seattle, WA 98195-2412 Phone: (206) 543-5075 Fax: (206) 543-5380 Contact(s): Program(s): MS, PhD in Engineering or Computer Science Specialties: Virtual Retinal Display; GreenSpace (Distributed VR) Sci.virtual-worlds (Virtual Communities) ; US West Virtual Reality Roving Vehicles Program (VRRV); AFOSR Situation Awareness; CEDeS Lab (Architecture and VR) Resources: Industrial Consortium (including Boeing, US West, Tektronix, Microsoft and many more); Silicon Graphics Iris, Indigo; Dec Alpha; Sun 4, Sparc; Macintosh; PCs; Division ProVision; The Bird and Polhemus 3D tracking systems; spaceball; voice recognition system; and more. Sensory Engineering Lab Contact: Woodrow Barfield, Associate Professor, Head, Graduate Program in Virtual Environments and Interface Design Industrial Engineering Office Phone: (206) 543-3350 Fax: (206) 685-3072 Room: MEB G-12 Sensory Engineering Lab Mail Stop: FU-20 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 Specialties: Presence and Performance in Virtual Environments; Spatialized Sound Research; MIDI as Output and Music Visualization; Augmented Reality; Virtual Environments; Stereoscopic Display Design; Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS) ------------------------------ Subject: -2- Directories Cyberguide: The Virtual Reality Industry CD-ROM. (1995). Winter Garden, FL: Third Planet Publishing. An interactive multimedia "Who's Who"-style overview of the VR and simulation industries. Helsel, S. and Jacobson, J. (Eds.). (1994). Virtual Reality Market Place. Westport, CT: Meckler Corporation. This publication is updated annually. Panos, G. (Ed.). (1992). Virtual Reality Sourcebook. Published by SophisTech Research, 6936 Seaborn St., Lakewood, CA 90713-2832. Telephone: 310-421-7295. [Print and CD-Rom]. Thompson, J. (Ed.) (1993). Virtual Reality Research & Development: A Directory of Research Projects. Westport, CT: Meckler Corporation. ------------------------------ Subject: -3- Credits Comments about, suggestions about or corrections to this posting are welcomed. If you would like to ask me to change this posting in someway, the method I appreciate most is for you to email me the proposed change. Make sure to indicate the section; preferably attaching the original "text" that you propose to change as well. The following people assisted in the creation of this article: Aaron Pulkka for his work in writing the _MetaFAQ_. Mark DeLoura for his work on the original FAQ, _TheRealFAQ_. This article was originally written by: Toni Emerson, . ------------------------------