Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1993 14:52:09 -0500 (EST) From: Carl Loeffler Subject: Re: Virtual Art Museum Telecommunications and Virtual Reality Studio for Creative Inquiry Carnegie Mellon University The Telecommunications and Virtual Reality project at the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, CMU, investigates networked, multiuser immersion environments, with applications for immersive work stations, cultural and educational projects. Directed by Carl Eugene Loeffler, the project has completed the following networked applications: -The Networked Virtual Art Museum, a large scale environment supporting the display and distribution of artistic applications of virtual reality.Produced for Expedition 92, Munich, Germany. - The Fun House, an application designed for the museum which includes agents, mirrors, flying saucer and merry-go-round rides, and a game room articulating the attributes of physics. Produced for Expedition 92, Munich, Germany. - The Virtual Design Studio, a proof of concept demonstration for a networked virtual, industrial design studio. Produced for the FORD Motor Company. - The Virtual Showroom, an immersion environment featuring an automobile that can be entered, disassembled, and re-assembled. Multiple users. Produced for the FORD Motor Company. - The Virtual Test Track, an four mile in scale immersion environment for the test driving of automobiles. Multiple Users. Produced for the FORD Motor Company. New applications to be produced in 1993 include: -Virtual Ancient Egypt, the re-construction in scale of select Temples of Ancient Egypt. - Discover Virtual Reality, a series of educational applications to be produced for the Smithsonian Institute. *THE PROJECT The essential areas investigated through the project include world-building software; visual art and architecture in virtual environments; telecommunications; computer programming; human interface design and artificial intelligence; communication protocol; and cost analysis. *VISUAL ART AND ARCHITECTURE The fusion of disciplines is the basis for collaborative authorship of virtual worlds. The construction of worlds invites the participation of visual artists, architects, computer aided design teams, computer programmers, musicians and recording specialists as well as other disciplines. *WORLD BUILDING The project serves as a testing site for world building software and associated hardware. The programming teams have added considerably to the functions of the software tested. Public releases are in planning. *TELECOMMUNICATIONS Critical to the project is the development and implementation of networking approaches, including modem-to-modem, server, and high bandwidth connectivity. Telecommunications specialists collaborate with the design team to resolve problems of connectivity in immersion environments. Project achievements in this area are significant. *ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The application of artificial intelligence, in the form of agents (or guides) and information objects, is an essential area of development. The inclusion of investigators in the areas of interface design, smart objects, and artificial intelligence is a major component. *GROUPWARE AND COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL The project documents multi-user interaction and groupware performance, establishes protocols within networked immersion environments, and suggests standards. The contribution of communication specialists addresses appropriate aspects of qualification, documentation, and standardization. *COST ANALYSIS Other planned study will address the practical nature of networked immersion environments, and investigate the potency of information access for the end user, and typify the end user experience. The project invites the participation of cost analysis specialists and formulates a practical cost basis for networked immersion environments. *INFORMATION: Carl Eugene Loeffler Project Director Telecommunications and Virtual Reality STUDIO for Creative Inquiry Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. cel+@andrew.cmu.edu Tel: (412) 268-3452 Fax: (412) 268-2829