VR Educational Opportunities FAQ Last Update: June 28, 1995 Asia: Singapore, National University of Institute of Systems Science Contact: Dr. Gurminder Singh Institute of Systems Science National University of Singapore 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. 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 _VIRGINIA, UNIVERSITY OF (USA)_ 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 United States of America: _Central Florida, University of (USA)_ 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. _Illinois, University of (USA)_ Institution(s): Electronic Visualization Lab University of Illinois at Urbana Champain 1304 West Springfield Avenue Urbana, IL 61801 Institution: Electronic Visualization Lab 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. _ 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. _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. _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. _Syracruse University_ (USA) Institution: Virtual Reality Laboratory 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. WASHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF (USA) Institution: Human Interface Technology Lab: University of Washington Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HITLab) Seattle, WA 98195 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 Environment Operating System (VEOS); Retinal Display; Sci.virtual-worlds; Virtual Classroom; Many projects with industrial partners. 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; VPL eyephones; VPL dataglove; The Bird and Polhemus 3D tracking systems; spaceball; voice recognition system; and more.