Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!ogicse!milton!fishwick@fish.cis.ufl.edu From: fishwick@fish.cis.ufl.edu (Paul Fishwick) Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds Subject: RE: what is a virtual reality ? Message-ID: <23731@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU> Date: 2 Jul 90 19:48:45 GMT Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu Organization: UF CIS Department Lines: 67 Approved: hitl@hardy.u.washington.edu This is in response to some of Peter Leaback's comments about the relationships between virtual reality and computer simulation. In short, I believe that simulation and virtual reality have strong interconnections in that people creating a simulation model will want to use many of the input devices and environmental/behavioral factors developing within the area of virtual reality (i.e. the data glove, body suits, helmet mounted displays). There are many exciting possibilities for research in combined simulation modeling while taking into account human factors and research in virtual reality. The relationship between virtual reality and simulation can be best seen by seeing the different emphasis: SIMULATION: Emphasis is on modeling and analysis of time dependent complex phenomena (real or imaginary). VIRTUAL REALITY: Emphasis is on human factors and psychological effectiveness. Here are some comments (below).... Paul Fishwick U. of Florida --------------------------------------------------------------- >From: peterl@ibmpcug.co.uk (Peter Leaback) Message-ID: <9006221738.AA20908@ibmpcug.CO.UK> >>I know this is a reply to an old message, but here goes... >>What is the difference between a virtual reality and a simulation? My >>answer is consistency. >>A stick model of a water molecule is a simulation of a real water >>molecule, but if you jump into a swimming pool full of stick water >>molecules, you won't get wet. The stick water molecules have many >>inconsistances compared to real molecules, so when one trys to interact >>the stick molecules with real ones, you have problems. >>But if a man made up of stick model molecules jumps into that same >>swimming pool, he WILL get wet. The issue of "reality" is a function of the fidelity of input and output devices. One is, in effect, trying to simulate an environment, real or otherwise. >>Saying that a global weather simulation is also a virtual reality is >>*useless*, because the whole point of writing a global weather simulation >>is to extract information to compare with the real world.So the global >>weather simulation will *always* be thought of as a simulation. Simulation and virtual reality are not at odds -- Simulationists can *use* technologies within virtual reality to create better simulations. In addition -- a computer simulation need not be of a "real" physical phenomenon. A simulation can define a model of some process, possibly unrealistic. The output of the simulation is then validated against data of some sort. We can see, then, that one can define simulations not only of physical systems, but also of mental models (in AI) and futuristic galactical adventures. The validation of science fiction scenarios usually involves face validation where a model is good if it generates greater degrees of interest from players/audience. Simulation methods in modeling and analysis are useful when one is trying to model time varying, complex systems (real or otherwise). Paul Fishwick University of Florida