nebulus@uunet.UU.NET (Bruce McDiffett - no good) (05/22/91)
The Bay Area chapter of ACM/Siggraph - the Special Interest Group on
Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques - announces its May meeting:
VIRTUAL REALITY: TECHNOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL EFFECTS
Jaron Lanier
VPL Research, Inc.
Brenda Laurel
Telepresence, Inc.
8:00 pm
Tuesday, May 28
Xerox PARC Auditorium
3333 Coyote Hill Road
Palo Alto, CA
Virtual reality and telepresence have been the subject of a great deal of
coverage in both the popular press and professional literature. Many times
what has been discussed, however, has merely been the technology behind
today's virtual reality systems - e.g. "This is a head-mounted display, and
that is a 3-dimensional digitizer. Together they allow VR researchers to play
a mean game of virtual ping-pong." Less frequently analyzed is how virtual
reality might affect our lives. How will the next generation of computer user
interfaces be changed by VR? What will be the long-term effects of VR on the
technology of everyday life? And what kinds of basic social changes might
result from widespread use of VR and telepresence systems? Our speakers will
give their views on how VR and telepresence might change our culture.
> The Speakers
Jaron Lanier was born in 1960. He is a computer scientist, businessman, and
composer. In 1984 he founded VPL Research, Inc., a Silicon Valley research
company. He is still VPL's CEO. VPL is the developer of the first
commercially available virtual reality system, as well as the PowerGlove
(licensed to Mattel), and Swivel 3D, a popular Macintosh 3D tool (licensed to
Paracomp).
Brenda Laurel has worked in the personal computer industry since 1976 as a
programmer, software designer, marketeer, and researcher. Her academic
background is in theater. She holds an MFA and Ph.D. in Theater from Ohio
State University. She is the editor of "The Art of Human-Computer Interface
Design," and the author of "Computers As Theater." Most recently she has
formed Telepresence, an R&D company to develop virtual reality and remote
presence technology and applications.
> Directions to Xerox
>From 280, take the Page Mill Road exit. Take Page Mill 1 mile east to
Coyote Hill Road. Follow Coyote Hill 1/2 mile, and Xerox will be on the
left. Follow the signs to the auditorium and visitor parking area.
>From 101, take the Oregon Expressway exit west 2 miles to El Camino
Real. Oregon Expressway becomes Page Mill Road at El Camino Real.
Follow Page Mill Road 1.7 miles to Coyote Hill Road and turn left. Go
1/2 mile and Xerox will be on the left. Follow the signs to the
auditorium and visitor parking area.
The auditorium entrance is at the north end of the building, at the
bottom of the stairs.
__________________________________________________________________________
Bay Area ACM/Siggraph Bruce McDiffett, President
P.O. Box 3553 nebulus@well.sf.ca.us
Santa Clara, CA 95055
For up to date information about this and other Siggraph activities,
call the Bay Area Siggraph GraphicsLine at (415) 599-2054, 24 hours a day.
__________________________________________________________________________