From: vrevnts@aol.com (Vrevnts) Subject: Re: INDUSTRY: Virtual Reality is Dead! Long Live Virtual Reality! Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 20:30:24 -0400 Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com On May 12th, Robin Holland wrote: <> This is actually the biggest problem facing VR today -- what the heck is it! And it's not just home VR companies having problems, many companies in the VR field are struggling. In fact, almost of all the entertainment VR companies have gone out of business or changed their focus. Expanding the definitions to make sure that VR will not die doesn't really seem to be the best way to go. In fact, it's almost the right time (or late even!) to create the true definition of VR. How many VRML web-sites meet the most standard VR criteria of being immersive AND interactive? Very few from what I've seen. "Text based VR??? Wouldn't that make all printed materials virtual reality? I would agree that there indeed has been a shift from the sexier entertainment applications to the less sexy R&D, training and development applications. (BTW, that is not to imply lack of importance of those fields!) This will continue and grow I'm sure. In terms of conferences discussing VR, who knows what that means. Many companies are merely riding the trend and using VR as a catchy phrase. The VR conferences have eith closed (Meckler, Stan's NYC show) or shruken considerably or added anything vaguely related, like 3-D technology. I'm not sure all the VR titled conferences means anything in terms og growth or lack thereof. Yes, it has been a bumpy road and I do feel that VR is finally finding some applications. As Tony Asch @ StrayLight used to say "What can be done better or cheaper in VR?" I think we're finally finding applications that will work. Anyway, that's my 2 cents! David vrevnts@aol.com (Vrevnts)