Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!lethe!yunexus!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!dali.cs.montana.edu!milton!cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu
From: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: W Industries Introduces First Working VR Entertainment Unit.
Message-ID: <14263@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 12 Jan 91 07:41:42 GMT
Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: Human Interface Technology Lab, Univ. of Wash., Seattle
Lines: 37
Approved: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu




Just received a brochure and spec book from W Industries, the VR
entertainment firm established in Leicester (pronounced "Lester"),
England.  Very impressive.  Beautifully packaged.  The "Visette"
uses LCDs in a cute, science-fictiony helmet.  The "Animette"
is a programming language that runs on a dedicated machine.  In
these materials, there isn't much that's revealed except the
action (and one rather misleading graphic that makes it appear as
if a laser image is being projected into the eye), but it's
all well designed, graphically.
 
W Industries is the brainchild of Dr. John Waldren, a student of
Ivan Sutherland, who did his Ph.D. 10 years ago on virtual imagery
and who established the company three years ago.  He deliberately
kept a low profile until his machine was ready.  Now he's selling
stand-alone amusement-park units, so he reports, with great
facility.
 
Other sources say the firm is backed by Japanese money, a claim
not surprising given that Fujitsu just bought out ICL, the largest
British computer company.  No necessary associations, could be
just coincidence.
 
John Waldren says that the firm will be coming out this week with both
glove and spaceball I/O units, the former with bladders to produce
a tactile sensation of mass.
 
I'll post more information as I read the brochure more thoroughly;
I'll also post an address, etc.

I should add that the equipment is genuine and the glossy
promotional pieces do have specs of a sort, just not any
exposure of what's inside.
 
Bob Jacobson