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From: warren@debra.doc.ca (Warren Baird)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Types of VR
Message-ID: <10769@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 7 Nov 90 16:39:37 GMT
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Consider these two scenarios...

        I sit in my cyber-chair and log on.  I am immediately presented
        with an image of a psuedo-desk in front of me.  There are
        various three-dimensional icons (tricons???) on the desk,
        including a phone to access email, a newspaper to read news,
        and a box labeled "Lego" in case I need to do some modular,
        object-oriented programming.  I proceed with my day of work
        much as I would now, under any GUI.

                                ----

        I start in CAD mode and do a quick 3-D sketch of a bridge.  I
        fill in some details regarding construction techniques and
        materials, and stand in the centre of the bridge, feeling the
        grainy concrete under my feet.  Taking several steps back, the
        entire bridge lies before me, about a meter long.  I stamp my
        feet several times, and an earthquake starts.  I watch
        carefully when and where the bridge begins to fail, rebuild it,
        and repeat until the bridge reaches whatever standards I set.


>From my perspective (a small-time programmer with no simulation
experience), these scenarios seem to represent very different
phenomena.  Assuming they both are considered to be virtual realities,
are there any further distinctions among virtual realities or
standardized types of virtual realities?

It appears to me that the first scene is fairly close to our current
level of technology.  Would anyone care to speculate on how close such
an environment is? (I intentionally wasn't very specific about
details, I am interested in anything that _appears_ similar to this.)

I shudder at the complexity of a program able to accurately complete
the second scene.  How far from present technology is a virtual reality
that is real enough to actually test products and designs?

Warren


-- 
      Warren Baird              |        warren@dgbt.doc.ca
            ...utzoo!dciem!nrcaer!dgbt!warren
      Doing a Co-op term at Communications Canada, Ottawa