From: "Simon Bore" Subject: EVENT: May lvrg meeting @ natural history museum Date: 15 May 1997 17:05:01 GMT Here is the complete agenda for the May LVRG meeting at the Natural History Museum. Please note the later starting date than usual. You can get to the venue via: - tube to South Kensington (Picadilly Line) and walk down Exhibition Road (5 mins) - buses no: 14, 345, 49, 74 and C1 There is a map at http://www.nhm.ac.uk/museum/map.gif As always the meeting is open to anyone, but please make sure they are on the members list ( this is free and can be done via the web site or by sending an email with name + vr interest + email address [not essential] to Sean Varney nexus@griffin.co.uk ). If you have no net access then give me a ring or fax your details on 0171 730 5797. If you have any questions regarding the meeting, please mail me or giver me a ring on 0171 739 0567. I will be mailing the title of the third speaker shortly. See you there! Simon The Natural History Museum meeting -------------------------------------------------- Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm Date: Wednesday 28th May Venue: The Natural History Museum Sponsors: Silicon Graphics Talks will be approximately 20 mins long with 10 mins for questions 6.30pm drinks 7.00pm introduction by Simon Bore 7.10pm Dr. Avon Huxor (Middlesex University) 'Issues in Collaborative Shared Worlds' - further details below 7.40pm Richard Brown (The Royal College of Art) 'Alembic - an interactive virtual reality installation' - further details below 8.10pm drinks 8.40pm James Johnson (The Natural History Museum) 'The Virtual Endeavour Experiment' - further details below 9.10pm drinks 9.30pm finish - - - - - - - - - - - - Richard Brown - 'Alembic' (The Royal College of Art) "Linking art, science, spirituality and technology, this interactive installation is the product of the artist's exploration of virtual reality as a sculptural medium, and is centered upon a floor based projection of computer generated 3D images. These virtual forms represent the content of an 'alembic retort', a device used by alchemists searching for the philosopher's stone, and are based upon the four alchemical elements of fire, earth, air and water. Via electric field sensing, the movement of the viewer effects the continual metamorphosis of these simulated forms, from geometric crystalline structures to amorphous liquid shapes, captivating the senses in a unique, powerfully mesmerising experience." Dr. Avon Huxor - 'Issues in Collaborative Shared Worlds' I will discuss some of the problems that arose in using desktop shared worlds for collaborative working, and suggest some design solutions that it is hoped will address these. James Johnson - 'The Virtual Endeavor Experiment' (Natural History Museum) The Natural History Museum is renowned for its world class educational exhibitions based on sound visitor research and incorporating an innovative thematic approach using diverse media. The Museum has also led in the use of Information Technology to provide out-reach to remote audiences. Since being the first UK Museum to develop access through the World-Wide-Web it has received acclaim for a number of on-line education projects. The Museum is now working on the ACTS funded SICMA project (Scaleable Interactive Continuous Media (Server Design and) Application) with several European partners. The Museum's involvement arises from its interests in the possibilities of bringing together innovative multimedia interpretation with outreach by providing remote access through high bandwidth networks. The project includes the development of a demonstrator 'virtual gallery', a 3D digital replica of Captain Cook's ship Endeavour. This virtual space is populated with digital objects derived from artefacts in Museum collections, each provides access to underlying levels of information. Press enquiries :- this story is currently embargoed. For more information, please contact Susan Barber (senior press officer) on 0171 938 8779. --------------- Simon Bore Managing Director okupi 28-30 Rivington Street London EC2A 3DU w www.okupi.com e simon@okupi.com t 0171 739 0567 f 0171 739 5797 Chair The London Virtual Reality Group w www.lvrg.org.uk