From: Roberto Puzone Subject: Re: DESIGN: 3D computing vs. virtual reality: what's the difference? Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 11:38:30 +0100 Just in these days I did a short presentation about VR & apps. I gave this my definition that I liked a lot: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- VR is one of the best interface between brain and computer It is not necessary full immersion, neither 3D: It is sufficient that can be present an EXPLORATION of data represented in a computer as a WOLD directly or ANALOGICALLY related to a known (MINDLY) existing one. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data can be real or not, computer can be also connected or not to ambient, interface can be immersive or even only by keybrd (a virtual museum for example). The very new contribute of VR is IMHO to have focused that deeper brain-computer interfacing can be done by structuring computer data as wolds (as said in the definition). As men mind is flexible, mindly existing world can explode (by VR worlds) in new referenciable worlds, thus giving also a real computer contribute to mind. So, VR comprends LOTS of applications (robotics, networking applications, sensor devel, virtual cities, all the amazing stuff we read on this list...). Between applications, interfacing 3D computing to the user is top realized by VR. And using 3D representation is a good tool for VR applications. 3D is the mother of VR but today VR is extending much much more. Roberto Puzone ----------------------- Roberto Puzone National institute for Cancer Research- Biophysics v.le Benedetto XV,10 . 16132 -Genova -ITALY Phone +39-10-358001 <-also fax) 3534813 puzone@cisi.unige.it ( -or-worst-case> puzone@genova.infn.it) -----------------------