91-09/MaK.tech MaK Technologies was founded in October, 1990 by ex-SIMNET engineers. SIMNET is a network of full-crew combat vehicle simulators, funded by DARPA to the tune of a *quarter billion dollars*. In SIMNET, literally hundreds of soldiers can interact with over a thousand different simulated entities, with 15Hz real-time out-the-window graphics, at sites spanning over a thousand miles from Kansas to Massachusetts. As a result of such experience, MaK is versed in all aspects of VR systems (the military call them Distributed Interactive Simulations), but, most importantly, *NETWORKING*. MaK is continuing to carry out awarded DARPA research into SIMNET protocol extensions. Specifically, we are investigating how to implement distributed Newtonian interactions between VR entities, and we are investigating how to implement migratory and composite VR entities. Successful implementations will greatly improve the fidelity of the SIMNET Virtual Reality (often called "Planet SIMNET"). Additional areas of expertise include: - Graphics - Real-time out-the-window graphics. - Man-Machine Interfaces (GUIs, to the rest of us). - Real-time and large-scale SW engineering - VnR systems are code-intensive. - there are on the order of a *million* lines of SIMNET source. - High-fidelity VR systems must run meet tight, real-time deadlines. - C, Lisp, Ada (the dreaded "A"-word!) - Artificial Intelligence applications to VR - Including real-time and distributed computing considerations. - (using knowledge-based techniques to provide a primitive Turing test -- "is an AI or a person commanding that tank?") - Engineering simulation - Flight dynamics, ground vehicle kinematics. For further information, contact John Morrison (that's me) at: MaK Technologies, Inc. 32 Bristol Street, Suite 1 Cambridge, MA 02141 (617)876-8085