Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!milton!jcs@crash.cts.com From: jcs@crash.cts.com (John Schultz) Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds Subject: Re: New Systems: Avoiding "Cold Fusion" Message-ID: <7665@crash.cts.com> Date: 20 Feb 91 20:53:23 GMT References: <16594@milton.u.washington.edu> <166 <16654@milton.u. Sender: news@milton.u.washington.edu Organization: Crash TimeSharing, El Cajon, CA Lines: 60 Approved: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu In <16662@milton.u.washington.edu> cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson) writes: >The appearance of new VW systems could take the form of the Cold Fusion >debacle unless we exercise good judgment both in making claims and in >critiquing them. Perhaps we should also promulgate some parameters for >determining what is truly VW and what is something less or other than >VW. While technical parameters remain important as a way of benchmarking >systems, we also might want to employ more subjective tests in evaluating >claims for new VW systems (e.g., how inclusive is the experience of being >in the VW system?), as a virtual world is largely reconstructed in the mind >of the beholder/participant. >Any suggestions for parameterization? Sure. Use the Virtual World Turing Test. When the user can no longer distinguish "reality" from virtual reality, the device passes the test. Anything less is subVirtual, cartoonVirtual, spacedVirtual, etc. Most systems today (including mine) fall under the "cartoon" category. People are applying the term "virtual reality" to static images too (photo-realistic or not). Here are some classes: Graphics: Class 1: Static Images: 2D or 3D stereoscopic Class 2: Real-time 3D images on 2D screen Class 3: Real-time 3D images on 3D stereo screen Class 4: Real-time 3D images, head coupled with optics Sub classes include frame rate, color, and resolution. Sound: Class 1: Simple binaural stereo, no signal processing Class 2: Pinnae calibrated, signal processed- Users can located sounds in 3D (Can pass 3D sound Turing Test). Sub classes include sampling rate, bits per sample, and number of channels. I/O Devices:... I don't recommend using class numbers, but useful mnemonics (cartoon, photo-realistic, etc). This was just a quick on-line outline. Much more elaboration is possible, but I recommend keeping it simple and non-convoluted. Advertizements such as "subCartoon subTrueMotion superAural VR system" would translate to low rez, head-coupled/tracked system at 15 frames sec with excellent 3D sound. This is currently a state of the art description of systems used by VPL and NASA. Which brings up another category, lag time. Then there's input devices... and ... John Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com