From: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson) Subject: New Publications about Virtual Worlds for 1992 (LONGish) Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1992 19:05:57 GMT Organization: Human Interface Technology Lab, Univ. of Wash., Seattle Several new publications deal with virtual worlds technology from a variety of perspectives: * * * 21st CENTURY MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE STRATEGY, a new report from the Iacocca Institute at Lehigh University, cites the virtual interface as a major component of tomorrow's "virtual enterprises" capable of "agile manufacturing." The virtual enter- prise is a collaborative of existing firms who band together to quickly design, manufacture, and market new products; thus the "agile" appellation. The virtual interface is employed to manage the virtual enterprise, to design and manufacture new products, and to demonstrate products to customers who can then customize these products prior to actual construction. This report was funded by the U.S. Defense Department's Office of Manufacturing Technology and features the input from a variety of today's leading firms. Copies are available at $45.00 postpaid from: Iacocca Institute Harold S. Mohler Laboratory #200 Lehigh University Bethelem, PA 18015 USA (215) 758-4086 telephone * * * The Multi-G Project, Sweden's national project to develop a high-speed, broadband telecommunications network and applica- tions, has released a new report, PROCEEDINGS OF THE 3rd MULTI-G WORKSHOP. The report presents papers from a workshop held at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm on December 17, 1991. Among the papers of special note to virtual worlds researchers are Lennart E. Fahle'n's "The Multi-G TelePresence System" and Kai-Mikael Jaa-Aro's "The X-Ray Factory: Some Experiments with Three-Dimensional Iconic Control Displays." The report is available from: Professor Yngve Sundblad IPLab, NADA Royal Institute of Technology Email: yngve@nada.kth.se (46) (8) 790 71 47 telephone * * * The Banff Art Centre, in Alberta, has released BIOAPPARATUS, a report on the "Virtual Seminar on the Bioapparatus." The seminar was held October 28-29, 1991, during the fall session of the Art Studio and Media Arts residency program at the Banff Centre for the Arts, on the nature of new arts technology and its implications for artists and society. Featured are such artists and developers as Warren Robinett, David Rockeby, Catherine Richards, and others. This is an important book. A typical exchange (excerpted): WARREN ROBINETT: I have heard much criticism of technology and of virtual reality but, though I strain to understand and ask the critics for clarification, I am left with abstract and incomprehensible phrases echoing in my mind. I am utterly unable to relate these criticisms to the choices I must make as I work to develop virtual reality. If you want to influence what I do, you will have to offer concrete suggestions of what to do or what to do differently. You will also have to talk in a language that we technoids can understand. If I hoped to argue convincingly in art theory or feminism, I would have to speak in terms that art theoreti- cians or feminists understand. If you wish to change what I do, you have to convince me, and you cannot do that using language I do not understand. ... MIREILLE PERRON: ... I still do not think that enough scientists go to bed with bedtime stories that are similar to those of artists or philosophers. Until we do, we won't share the same dreams and probably not the same virtual realities. The coordinates in virtual realities, like in dreams, consist of very sophisticated electrical impulses called desires, pleasures, and lies. Desires and pleasures, like lies, are devices designed to measure the differences between peoples. The desires of some people can easily fry the brains of others. "I'd like to see a utility called Donna Matrix who periodically appears on your screen, cracks her whip, and says, 'Get to work, you gutless turd!'" BIOAPPARATUS is available from: Douglas MacLeod Project Director Art and Virtual Environments Media Arts Department The Banff Centre for the Arts Banff, Alberta CANADA T0L 0C0 (403) 762-6410 telephone (403) 762-6659 fax Email: doug.macleod@cpsc.calgary.ca The Banff Art Centre recently received a CAN $500,000 grant from the Canadian government to fund additional activities in this area. The Banff Centre has also put out a call for proposals from artists wishing to work in virtual environments at Banff. Deadline is JANUARY 31, 1992. Contact MacLeod immediately for details. * * * A dissertation by Jack Gerrissen, at the Institute for Percep- tual Research (IPO), Technical University of Eindhoven, Netherlands, is entitled, ON THE EMULATION OF THE HUMAN VISUAL SEARCH. The nicely packaged monograph discusses "emulation as a means to integrating fragmentary knowledge" and the use of information technology to emu- late the activities of the eyes and mind as they work together. You can get a copy from: Institute for Perceptual Research (Instituut voor Perceptie Onderzoek) Postbus 513 NL-5600 MB Eindhoven, NETHERLANDS (31) (40) 77 38 73 telephone (31) (40) 77 38 76 fax Email: secr@heiipo5.bitnet Telex: 35000 phtc nl * * * Finally, in his column, "Smithsonian Horizons," in the most recent (December 1991) issue of SMITHSONIAN, Secretary Robert McC. Adams rhapsodizes on the changes brought on in museology by the appearance of new technologies of presentation. He concludes, Perhaps, as epitomized by the Smithsonian [the U.S. national cultural museum], we should recognize that museums are not only multiplying but diversifying. As they seek to meet the needs of growing, more-differentiated audiences, it will not be a tragedy if only a declining proportion (not necessarily number) of museums forever regards reproduced objects, and even reproduced works of art, as anathema. One alternative, with which we and others have only begun to experiment, involves introducing "virtual reality." This can confront the visitor on an overwhelming scale, as demands for judgement simultaneously, as in the even more enclosing environment of a flight simulator for pilots. In either case, the educational and emotional impact -- dependent upon context setting -- can be at least as positive and drama- tic as the contemplation of a prized original for its own sake. * * * Good reading for 1992! Bob Jacobson Moderator