Date: Sun, 15 Sep 91 16:08:10 PDT From: aaronp@narrator.pen.tek.com (Aaron Pulkka) Subject: CG-VR Research Directory (long) ############################################################################# VIRTUAL REALITY RESEARCH DIRECTORY ################################## Editor: Aaron Pulkka Submissions: pulkka@lynx.cs.washington.edu Updated: September 12, 1991 Disclaimers: This is a "living" document; all information within this directory is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee, written or implied that this information is entirely correct (please notify editor of errors). This is not an official publication of Tektronix. The use of contacts' addresses is a privilage, not a right, so be considerate. A complete directory entry would be in the following format. ############################################################################# INSTITUION NAME (COUNTRY) ############### Institution: Department Institution Postal Address Phone number Contact(s): *** WARNING: DO NOT ABUSE CONTACTS *** *** Only contact person(s) listed *** *** for serious communication. *** Name of contact person, Title (internet address) Program(s): Degree(s) or program(s) offered Specialties: Description of research being performed (and by whom). Resources: Hardware, software, and human resources. Prerequisites: Defined prerequisites or desired background. ############################################################################# ALBERTA, UNIVERSITY OF (CANADA) ###################### Institution: University of Alberta Computer Graphics Laboratory Contact(s): Mark Green, Associate Professor (mark@cs.ualberta.ca) (403) 492-4584 Program(s): MSc, PhD Computer Science Specialties: Development of software tools to facilitate the development of highly interactive 3D user interfaces. Two generations of software tools have been produced. First generation: standard device drivers (for Polhemus digitizers, DataGloves, Eyephones, etc.) and an application skeleton (for quick prototyping); Second generation: Mininal Reality (MR) toolkit (subroutine library for the development of VR applications). Using MR toolkit to develop performance optimization tools, special filtering for Polhemus digitizer, and a UIMS for VR applications. Also working with Banff Centre to develop interactive graphics systems that will allow an artist to easily develop the geometry and behavior of virtual worlds. Resources: Currently [as of March 7, 1991] 1 faculty member, 4 PhD and 2 MSc students working on virtual reality related projects. ############################################################################# CENTRAL FLORIDA, UNIVERSITY OF (USA) ############################## Institution: Visual Systems Laboratory Institute for Simulation and Training University of Central Florida 12424 Research Parkway, Suite 300 Orlando, FL 32816 phone: (407) 658 5073 / 5074 fax: (407) 658 5059 Contact(s): Dr. J. Michael Moshell, Director (moshell@cs.usf.edu) Curtis Lisle, Assistant Director (lisle@ist.ucf.edu) R. Dunn-Roberts, Visual Systems Scientist (richard@ist.ucf.edu) Brian Scott Blau, Visual Systems Scientist (blau@ist.ucf.edu) Jacki Morie, Visual Systems Scientist (morie@ist.ucf.edu) Program(s): MS / PhD Computer Science -- based on a curriculum rich in courses in parallel computation, computer graphics, and machine vision. Research assistantships are available for highly qualified candidates. Specialties: * automatic generation of terrain databases from multiple sources, such as satellite imagery, stereo imagery, digital terrain elevations, digital feature information, maps, etc. * real-time dynamic geometric and physical modeling, such as constraint based physics and dynamic terrain. * research into advanced display technology, including video- switching technology, head-tracking technology, and head- mounted displays. * research into networking protocols to support simulations distributed across heterogenous computational platforms. The development of the Virtual Environment Real-time Network (VERN) protocol has provided a generic platform for the development of mass-participation distributed simulations. Resources: The VSL is in the process of developing resources to set up a Virtual Environment Test Bed (VETB). The VETB will be a multi-site distributed laboratory for the development and evaluation of new VE technology with respect to training. Participants in this project include UCF's Computer Science Department and IST/VSL, MIT's Media Lab, Georgia Tech's College of Computing and Visualization Graphics and Usability Lab, and University of Iowa's Computer Science Department and Center for Simulation and Design Optimization. ############################################################################# ILLINOIS, UNIVERSITY OF (USA) ####################### Institution: Department of Computer Science University of Illinois 1304 West Springfield Avenue Urbana, IL 61801 Phone: (217) 333-3527 Fax: (217) 333-3501 Contact(s): Graduate Admissions (acad@cs.uiuc.edu) Barb Cicone, Admissions Officer (cicone@cs.uiuc.edu) Professor Michael Faiman, Graduate Advisor (faiman@cs.uiuc.edu) Program(s): MS / PhD Computer Science Specialties: Information traversal? (Greg Newby?) VR "engine" demo-ed at Engineering Open House (March 1991) ############################################################################# MASSACHUSETS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) (USA) ########################################## Institution: Media & Robotics Lab Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Specialties: Interactive cinema, future television, others Cross project with Air Force concerning mission planning (David Zeltzer?) ? ############################################################################# NORTH CAROLINA, UNIVERSITY OF (USA) ############################# Institution: Department of Computer Science University of North Carolina Campus Box 3175, Sitterson Hall Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3175 Contact(s): Admissions and Graduate Studies (admit@cs.unc.edu) (919) 962-1900 General Department Information (geninfo@cs.unc.edu) (919) 962-1700 Program(s): MS / PhD in Computer Science Specialties: Advanced Technology for Portable Personal Visualization. Interactive Graphics for Molecular Studies. VISTAnet: A Very High Bandwidth Prototype Network for Interactive 3D Medical Imaging. Dynamic True 3D Display. Supercomputing Power for Interactive Visualization. Resources: Specialized image-generating systems include the unique UNC-CH Pixel-Planes 4 and Pixel-Planes 5 machines; a Silicon Graphics display computer; a Pixar Image Computer; an Evans and Sutherland Picture System; Adage/Ikonas display systems; and a vaarifocal mirror for 3D display. Interaction devices include Argonne remote manipulators, a voice recognition system, Polhemus 3D tracking systems, treadmill and bicycle, joysticks, mice, data tablets, and other manual input devices. The (Graphics and Image) laboratory has extensive facilities for recording, editing, and producing high-quality video. Prerequisites: Substantial background in both mathematics and computer science. A baccalaureate degree with an average grade of at least B. A minimum of 80th percentile on the verbal and 90th percentile on the quantitative and analytical sections of the GRE is expected. ############################################################################# SYRACRUSE UNIVERSITY (USA) #################### Institution: Virtual Reality Laboratory Syracuse University Contact(s): Greg Newby (gbnewby@rodan.acs.syr.edu) Specialties: We've started working in the areas of robotics, military intelligence, information retrieval, 3D sculpting, and geographic imaging. Another project on the drawing board is to hook the VR equipment into the parallel machines located across campus in NPAC (the Northeast Parallel Architectures Center) -- perhaps to the Connection Machine... There is great potential for faculty and student involvement in projects. For the future, I hope to work with faculty and students intested in education, sensory research, scientific visualization, and other areas, in addition to computer scientists, engineers, and other more traditional participants in VR research. I am personally interested in exploring the ergonomics of VR, and also in identifying the issues for multi- user virtual environments. Resources: Right now (June 5, 1991) the lab equipment includes a DataGlove (version 1) with a Polhemus tracker, several PowerGloves and serial converter boxes, and some LCD shutter glasses. We're hoping to have some VPL EyePhones soon. Located in the Advanced Graphics Research Laboratory at SU, the VR lab makes use of Silicon Graphics IRIS workstations, also Sun and Dec workstations. Amigas, Macs, PCs, and so forth are all in abundant supply, in addition to connections to campus and off- campus mainframe resources. ############################################################################# TORONTO, UNIVERSITY OF (CANADA) ###################### Institution: Computer Science Department University of Toronto Contact(s): Computer Science (416) 978-6025 Graduate Studies Admission (416) 978-5369 General Information (416) 978-2011 ############################################################################# VIRGINIA, UNIVERSITY OF (USA) ####################### Institution: Computer Science Department University of Virginia Program(s): MS or Ph.D. in computer science Specialties: basic research in human perception development of architectures and toolkits to support real-time, immersive interfaces working with partners in other dept.s to develop demonstration applications Resources: 2 SGI VGXs many SUNS several Polhemus, Bird, and ultrisound trackers 12 grad & undergrad students researchers from CS, EE, and psychology Prerequisites: Computer Science preferred, implementation skills (e.g. programming) is required EE is great. ############################################################################# WASHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF (USA) ######################### Institution: Human Interface Technology Laboratory Washington Technology Center 300 Fluke Hall, University of Washington FU 20, Seattle, WA 98195 Phone: (206) 543-5075 Fax: (206) 543-5380 Contact(s): Robert Jacobson (cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu) Program(s): MS, PhD in Engineering or Computer Science Specialties: Virtual Environment Operating System (VEOS); Retinal Display; Sci.virtual-worlds; Virtual Classroom; Many projects with industrial partners. Resources: Industrial Consortium (including Boeing, US West, Tektronix, and many more); Two Silicon Graphics display computers; VPL eyephones; VPL dataglove; DEC workstations; Mac II computers; NeXT workstations; The Bird and Polhemus 3D tracking systems; spaceball; voice recognition system; and more.