From: ROBIN HOLLANDS <R.Hollands@sheffield.ac.uk>
Subject: REV-PUB: VR Homebrewer's Handbook
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 14:41:17 -0700


From ROBIN HOLLANDS <R.Hollands@sheffield.ac.uk>

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's some 'off-the-top-of-my-head' information about the book. I
guess the publishers will eventually come out with some blurb of their
own, but this is probably more honest!

The book's title is "The Virtual Reality Homebrewer's Handbook" and
should be on the shelves either late December, or January 1996. It
contains 26 hardware projects and about 260 illustrations. Topics
covered include software, hardware and enhancing virtual
worlds. Contents (from memory) are as follows:

Chap. 1 - Introduction - background & basic skills

Chap. 2 - Introduction to 3D Graphics - *easy* step-by-step guide to
3D graphics, rendering transforms etc.

Chap. 3 - VR Software - features of VR software - survey of low-cost
virtual world creation software - tutorials on AVRIL and VROOM (also a
free fully working personal version of Virtek's 3D-Ware software on
CD-ROM)

Chap. 4 - Head Mounted Displays - features of HMDs - survey of low-
cost HMDs - programming instructions for CyberMaxx - 3 HMD projects
(monocular, biocular, head-coupled)

Chap. 5 - Trackers - features of trackers - survey - projects
(mechanical, head-coupled-display tracker, sourceless orientation,
optical position)

Chap. 6 - Gloves - features - survey - projects (switch, mechanical,
optical, strain gauge, conductive ink, pressure feedback, temperature
feedback)

Chap. 7 - Other Input Devices - mice, joysticks, forceballs etc. -
survey - projects (2 x 2D flying joysticks, 6D digital joystick, data
pen, virtual sidewalk, various exercise bike, rowing machine & other
interface projects)

Chap. 8 - Projection virtual reality - background - 2 projects

(1 by Sean Clark)

Chap. 9 - Terrain Mapping (by Chris Hand) - overview of terrain
mapping techniques - survey of various software

Chap. 10 - Simulation - physical and behavioural modelling

Chap. 11 - Into the future - summing up

The surveys in most chapters give comparitive details of low-cost
products available, prices and pictures. Most of the projects are also
followed up by a section on a professional product using the same type
of technology. The features section usually provides an overview of
the theory behind the technology, and/or explains the various features
of the devices.

All projects are easy to build, use standard components (e.g. from
Radio Spares, Maplins etc.), and are intended to provide an insight
into the workings of professional systems, in addition to providing
cheap VR kit or starting points for further projects.

A CD-ROM is included with the book containing a load of new(ish) VR
software including 3D-Ware, AVRIL and VROOM, plus various demos of
commercial VR software packages and other stuff :-)

Cheers,

Robin

Robin*****************************************************************
* Robin Hollands                   :                                 *
* Reply to:                        :   e-mail:                       *
* s-mail:                          :     R.Hollands@Sheffield.ac.uk  *
* AC&SE Dept.                      :---------------------------------*
* Sheffield University             : 'Just because something doesn't *
* Mappin Street                    :  do what you planned it to do   *
* Sheffield S1 4DU  -- UK --       :  doesn't mean it's useless.'    *
* voice +44 (0)114 2335622/2825186 :               - T.Edison        *
* fax   +44 (0)114 2731729         :                                 *
**********************************************************************