Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!ogicse!milton!hlab
From: galt@es.com (Greg Alt - Perp)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: VR and CIG's
Message-ID: <1991Jun26.164251.15308@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 26 Jun 91 16:28:23 GMT
References: <1991Jun25.154814.27460@milton.u.washington.edu>
Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu (Human Int. Technology Lab)
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Lines: 31
Approved: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu



In article <1991Jun25.154814.27460@milton.u.washington.edu>, jraymond@BBN.COM 
(Jayson Raymond) writes:

|>         CIG's often are equipped with multiple channels. So instead of
|> utilizing two Silicon Graphics workstations per user (one for each eye,
|> as in VPL's system), one system can provide views for both eyes, or even
|> multiple participants. For example, Silicon Graphics' new Skywriter
|> provides 2 channels at resolutions greater then 512 lines, while BBN's
|> GT102 can provide 16 channels (though at lower, Eyephone resolutions). 

Just thought I'd mention that Evans & Sutherland's ESV can generate stereo
images even on the lower end systems.  The high end (~$90k) can do over
100,000 (10x10 pixel) shaded polygons/second, as well as over 1,000,000 
(4 pixel) vectors/second.  The low end (~$30k) can do around 20,000 polygons/sec
ond.

People keep quoting prices for machines > $200,000, but I would think that 
for around $50,000 you could get a high-quality VR system using an ESV, a
data-glove, and eyephones.  The graphics programming would be done using 
Phigs+.  

A while back, someone from Florida (Univ. of Florida?) said that they were
using an ESV for VR.  


       Greg

---------
I'm not an official spokesperson for anyone, so it's not my fault.