From: Bob Jacobson <cyberoid@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re:  ANNOUNCE: SGI Appoints VR Evangelist, etc....
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 00:53:32 -0800
Message-ID: <3135698C.585@u.washington.edu>
Organization: Worldesign Inc.


From: Bob Jacobson <cyberoid@u.washington.edu>

Sorry.  I have to disagree with Joshua Larson-Mogal's comments
regarding virtual worlds.

I think we have to draw a difference between "VR," defined by a set of
technologies, and the experience of virtuality, of *being there,* that
can be produced by any number of technological systems.  Virtuality
has been a common property of many applications ranging from
simulation to actual manipulation of physical objects.  That
visualization is an important element in generating virtuality is
given; that it is the sine qua non, the "be all" of virtuality, is
not.  Sound environments without any visualization are extremely
effective: witness the consequences of THE WAR OF THE WORLDS,
broadcast by Orson Welles in 1938.  Even less than perfect
visualization -- however that's defined, which obviously is different
for a poorly sighted person or someone functioning at night, to take
extreme examples -- is adequate for generating many convincing
effects.

As to the customers' attitude, again, it is difficult to agree.  There
is more activity now, in a range of fields, than there was five years
ago; much of it is quite sophisticated.  Worldesign, my firm, is
working with leading companies in the fields of travel, finance,
manufacturing, and "edutainment" on real (read, "money-making")
applications.  Maintaining a negative attitude regarding the use of
technology, whether SGI's or anyone else's, is not only
counterproductive at this point; it's also not in keeping with the
current industrial reality.

Having said that, let me express my admiration for Josh's devotion to
the field in the face of intense skepticism, in Mountain View as
elsewhere.  The fact that SGI is now working hard to get a leg up in
the field of virtual worlds is a tribute to his work.  He's entitled
to promulgating higher standards.  Perhaps he's not immodest enough to
admit all that he and SGI have accomplished.

Also, while I've praised the contributions other manufacturers are
making to the field -- which shouldn't be underestimated, some are
damn good -- Worldesign is working with SGI on several of the projects
I've alluded to above.  SGI's technology is superb.  My point is that
it's not the only path to virtual worlds success as was suggested by
the press release that instigated this exchange.

SGI can do more for the field by praising accomplishment, as it does
in its great online IRIS e-zine, regularly, than by harking back to
earlier times when our field was hampered by hype.  It's the 1990s and
this is the virtual worlds community's chance to shine.

Bob Jacobson
Worldesign Inc.
Seattle