From: marcus@scb3.larc.nasa.gov (Kenneth L. Dudley)
Subject: TECH: VR for under $500
Date: Sat, 8 Feb 1992 04:18:16 GMT
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA



A friend of mine has designed and constructed a Virtual Reality system.
It is standalone (computer is built in) in a tower-like casing.  It comes
with:

     A.R.M. (Artificial Reality Manipulator) A device which tracks x,y,z.
     ------ (no rotation) and its glove detects grip on each finger
     ------ (no flex. Just grip/no grip/point/etc.) One nice thing is
     ------ that the software allows the system to interpret sign language
     ------ letters, thus, you can "type" a document without the keyboard

     VueHood - A device that fits over the monitor.  It uses freznel lenses
     ------ to wrap the image "around" your face, and the physical blockings
     ------ limit your peripheral vision. (this device is used in place
     ------ of the more common Head Mounted Displays)

     Impress (current version 1.1) The operating software with a workbench-
     ------ like windowing interface (totally VR)

     IVision (still under development) An Environment creation kit
     ------ (object-based programming language)


	  The computer comes with 1meg of memory (possibly 2) and a 3 1/2" 
disk drive. Other models should include Ramdisks or Harddisks.  The computer
comes with a keyboard (detatched) but the operating system for VR
does NOT make use of it.  The computer is capable of running other software 
(at this time, i'm not sure what it is compatible with, but it's safe to say 
that it is NOT MS-Dos).


	  My friend has built this and is considering starting a small 
company to market it.  If so, it should be sold for under $500.

          Oh, almost forgot.
	
          You can use this system over standard telephone lines to 
communicate in a VR-World with someone else with the system.  This feature 
was under development.  The software does not yet support it.  Also, 
Force-Feedback (not tactile) should also be available)

	  Right now, he wants to see what kind of interest this project 
generates. If you would possibly be interested in such a VR-System (it is 
VERY low end) please send me E-Mail.  He's not selling yet.  He just wants 
to see how many people would be interested.  If sufficient interest is seen, 
then he will print up some literature and prepare to mail it to some 
interested people LATER.
	   
	   marcus@scb3.larc.nasa.gov