Giga Games 1/Giga Games.iso/net/vir_real/faq/other/tech2000.dc

Text File | 1991-12-30 | 1.8 KB | 54 lines

91-07/Tech2000.DC
From: ags <[e-mail]> (Gavin Spittlehouse)
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1991 19:26:51 GMT
Organization: GEC Marconi



Exhibition at Washington DC

I saw an exhibition last month which may be of interest to followers
of sci.virtual-worlds.

TECH 2000 is a permanent (but changing) 'gallery of multimedia' in
Washington DC (Techworld Plaza, 800 K St., [phone]). Most
of the exhibits are hyper-media information systems, with a variety
of i/o devices (from voice generation & recognition to blood pressure
sensors). However, upstairs had one exhibit which fits (loosely) into
the VR catagory (I think that there are sometimes more; exhibits are
on loan from manufacturers for limited periods).

The exhibit of interest (unfortunately I don't remember the name or
manufacturer) consists of a video camera and a large (wall size) screen.
You stand looking at the screen, with the camera in front of the screen
filming you. Your image is separated from the background (a blue screen)
and displayed on the screen. When you move, the picture of you on the
screen moves, and can interact with a computer-generated animation
on the screen.

Several 'games' were available. One involved playing a virtual drum kit
(move your arms to play the virtual drums and hear it through stereo
speakers). Another was a game of bursting bubbles which were rising
around you. (Sadly, no teledildonics :-)

TECH 2000 is connected with the IMA (Interactive Multimedia Association),
an industrial association with 180 members, formed from the IVIA
(Interactive Video Industry Association) in 1988.

Costs USD 4 (USD 3 consessions) to get in, worth a visit if you're in
the area.

Gavin.


-- (Standard disclaimers apply)
Gavin Spittlehouse, Software Engineering Group, GEC Marconi Research Centre,
Chelmsford, Essex UK CM2 8HN. [phone] x3215   [e-mail]