From: cdshaw@cs.ualberta.ca (Chris Shaw) Subject: ONLINE: The MR Toolkit Version 1.4 is Now Available Organization: Computing Science, U of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada The MR Toolkit Version 1.4 (April 1995) (this file last changed April 4, 1995) New in Version 1.4 ================== Hewlett Packard (HP) workstation support - using HP Starbase graphics library Logitech 2D/6D mouse support Polhemus Isotrak II support added New version of Environment Manager (EM) New version of Object Modeling Language (OML) New HMDs supported: General Reality CyberEye Virtual I/O I.Glasses Summary of Version 1.4 ====================== The Minimal Reality (MR) Toolkit is a subroutine library that supports the development of Virtual Reality (VR) applications and other forms of three dimensional user interfaces. The MR Toolkit is currently licenced by more than 300 sites in 33 countries, with users on every continent except Antarctica. Software included to assist in developing virtual worlds is: OML (Object Modeling Language) a special purpose programming language for object geometry and behavior. Allows the designer to produce object descriptions that run on a wide range of platforms, without modification. JDCAD+ a highly interactive 3D modeling system using six-degrees of freedom input devices to make 3D models. Both object geometry and behavior can be created using JDCAD+, removing the need to program object descriptions. The MR Toolkit provides support for common VR devices, such as 3D trackers: Polhemus Isotrak, Isotrak II, Tracker and FASTRAK, Shooting Star ADL-1, Ascension Technology Bird and Flock of Birds, Logitech 2D/6D mouse. A MOTIF pseudo-tracker to replace any trackers you don't own Gloves: VPL DataGlove, Virtual Technologies CyberGlove. Head-mounted displays: VPL EyePhone 1, Virtual Research Flight Helmet, Virtual Research EyeGen 3, General Reality CyberEye, and Virtual I/O I.Glasses. Support for SGI Videosplitter, SGI Multi Channel, and sound synthesis equipment. The MR Toolkit supports the distribution of the user interfaces over multiple workstations, data distributed over several workstations, numerous interaction techniques, physical and virtual geometry management, and real-time performance analysis tools. The current version of the MR Toolkit is callable from C, C++ and FORTRAN programs on HP, SGI, DEC, and IBM RS6000 workstations. Some elements of the MR Toolkit also run on Suns, Alphas and other UNIX platforms. The experience of our users indicates that working GL programs can be converted into working VR programs in about an hour. The features available in this release are: New MOTIF hand calibration program for gloves A MOTIF pseudo-tracker to replace any trackers you don't own Simple VR viewers for Wavefront .obj and Alias Separated .tri files The Panel Package - User can use glove to interact with buttons, menus, sliders & text on a 2D rectangle placed in 3D space. The Peer package - allows intelligent multi-person VR interaction. Comes with a Multi-Player HANDBALL game that allows you to play virtual handball with other people on the Internet. Includes texture-mapped faces. OML - the Object Modeling Language - is a procedural programming language for describing the geometry and behavior of 3D objects used in computer animations and virtual worlds. A platform-independent graphical programming language which allows intelligent event management. JDCAD+ can be used to generate OML code for the geometry, provides a quick tool for geometrical design. JDCAD+ - is a highly interactive 3D modeling system (no coding) using six-degrees of freedom input devices to make 3D models. Provides a quick tool for geometric design. JDCAD+ can be used to generate OML code for the geometry. OML can be used add behaviors and/or add/change geometry of 3D objects. Current Documentation List ========================== Revised - Environment Manager (EM) User Manual - 18 pg. - The Tracker Driver Software - 19 pg. - Close to 10 demonstrations (documented in their own directories) - Minimal Reality Toolkit Programmer's Manual - 61pg.+index - Minimal Reality Toolkit Reference Manual - 77pg.+index - Object Modeling Language (OML) Programmer's Manual - 17pg.+index - JDCAD+ User's Manual - 19pg. (includes Animation Tutorial & Behavior Editor Tutorial) - JDCAD+ to OML Translator (JT) User's Guide - 3pg. - The Virtual Technologies (VT) CyberGlove Driver Software - 10pg. - The MR Toolkit Peer Package - 16pg. - Man Pages Obsoleted by "The Tracker Driver Software" - Shooting Star Technology's ADL-1 Driver Software - The Ascension Technologies' Bird Driver Software - The VPL DataGlove Driver Software The toolkit is available at no cost to licenced academic and research institutions. To get version 1.4 of the MR toolkit, you must sign the licence form and mail it back to the University of Alberta. The person signing it should be a full-time "responsible person" at your organization, with a title such as Professor, Director, Manager, etc. If you are interested in the MR Toolkit, you can either ftp the PostScript copy of the licence from ftp.cs.ualberta.ca ... Address: 129.128.4.241 cd pub/graphics and get the file "licence.ps" Or, you can email lloyd@cs.ualberta.ca, and he will email you the PostScript licence form. Mail the signed licence form to: Professor Mark Green Department of Computing Science 615 General Services Building University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6G 2H1 The MR Toolkit is distributed by blind FTP, so please include your email address in the licence form so we can tell you how to get the MR Toolkit. There is also a commercial licence for the MR Toolkit. This licence covers the use of the MR Toolkit in commercial organizations, the sale of applications developed using the toolkit, and the distribution of part, or all, of the MR Toolkit as part of a bundled software package. Information on commercial licences for the MR Toolkit can be obtained for Professor Mark Green at the above address. If you're using MR Toolkit, we're interested in your opinion. Ideas for new features or critiques are welcome. We would like to know of applications using the MR Toolkit. How are you using the Toolkit? -- Chris Shaw University of Alberta cdshaw@cs.UAlberta.ca CatchPhrase: Bogus as HELL ! http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~cdshaw