B645ZAW@UTARLG.UTA.EDU (STEPHEN TICE) (05/10/91)
Larry King Radio Show on Virtual Reality.
( May 9th, 1991)
On thursday night the Larry King show aired an interview
with Steve Aukstakalnis on VR.
Very brief mention was made of the hearing yesterday
by the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space.
Supposedly the hearing was called as a result of very
intensive recent Japanese efforts in the field. The guest
credited himself with providing a good deal of information
for the hearing, though not a participant. (There was a VR
book plugged as being available from Matrix (313) 559-1526.)
Mr. Aukstakalnis was described as reportedly former staff
at Univ. of Washington, educated in physics & computer science,
and currently a consultant on VR. The show started by
introducing the basic concepts, and relating VR as a new
way of interacting directly with the objects generated.
Credit was giving to Ivan Sutherland, as the creator of VR,
for developing the head mounted display back in the '60s,
and to Thomas Furness for follow on research by the Air
Force at Wright-Patterson AFB.
Current research introduced included architectural
walkthroughs and volumetric medical imaging. Mr. Kings's
request to rate our progress in the area on a scale of
1-to-10, received a snappy "2" from the guest, because of
the difficulty of of producing smoothly animated displays.
Descriptions of the data glove and it's uses (manipulator,
signing, and teleremotes) were given. Particular distinction
was drawn on the abilty to look around via the display,
rather than just watching screens like in a flight simulator
or using a personal computer. Mr. Aukstakalnis projected
a minimum of 10 years and up to 30, to reach the "10 level",
being where the displays are "lifelike".
The phone-in callers managed to cover the gamut of
concerns about VR, all fielded by Mr. Aukstakalnis. [I've
heavily paraphrased much of the following /st]
Q: How is Timothy Leary involved?
A: He's a talker on the lecture circuit for [company name
given]. " ... I have a tremendouse amount of of respect
for this gentleman. He provides an awful lot of insite
into the potential for the technology as well as .. where
in his view the technology might go ... "
Q: If Japan gets the jump on this what will happen? Could
there be robot soldiers?
A: A bigger threat is that Japan will be importing the
major virtual systems, though the technology was
originally born the US.
Q: How soon before anatomy can be taught this way?
A: Stanford is developing this.
Q: How soon before we'll have direct neural and physical
stimulation?
A: Stanford's research on the "nerve chip" was cited, but
"still quite a ways off, there is a lot about the
human neural system and anatomy that we don't quite
understand."
Q: Will we be able to do a "thinking cap"?
A: Though the Air Force at Wright-Patterson is working on
methods of detecting a pilots mental state, the ability
to read someones thoughts is "wishful thinking."
Q: Can it be used for entertainment? Is it like "free-basing
television or scuba diving in a cartoon?" Will it need to
be controlled like a drug?
A: An English company is getting great reviews for their
aircraft arcade game. More realistic legal concerns might
be injuries from a fall, or the effect of long term wear
of the display.
Q: (Larry asks, ..) " I might be able to play a hockey game?"
A: Yes, there are already demos for racquetball.
Q: Is this another technology made in the US that is going
to be "poured" back into the country from abroad?
A: Yes, no question, unless we all get together and work as
a team like the Japanese do with government, business and
research all involved.
Q: Isn't a better way to control a computer, by detecting
eye movement than by waving hands?
A: There's are lots of different ways, head motion..., but it's
intended to be where you reach out and grab an object.
Q: Will computers ever be more powerful than the human mind?
A: The human brain is very powerful and VR can amplify its
ability even more by presenting good models.
Q: What background does it take to work in VR?
A: Lot's of math. CS changes to quickly. Human factors.
Q: Who's doing the research? What does a unit cost?
A: [several large corporations given]
The cost now run from $30K to $225K.
Q: Will it replace TV? When will it be ready "off-the-shelf?"
A: In 10-15 years there'll be a "significant impact to TV".
In about two years, there should be systems costing
about $2000 with entertainment quality visuals.
Q: This may be a stupid question, will you be able to
interact with the system on an emotional, or a "very
different level?"
A: (Larry, ..) "Your loosin us?" (next caller)
Q: Won't this constrain our ability to appreciate art?
A: Whatever's developed has to come from you (the artists).
[questions about specific companies ommitted /st]
Q: Can two or more people share this?
A: "Absolutely!"
[info on a convention in DC ommited /st]
Q: Is work for blind people being done?
A: Not for visual displays, but work is being done in 3D
sound.
Q: How about VR sex?
A: The term is "teledildonics, and the chances are slim.."
Q: Is this like the movie _Brainstorm_ ?
A: No! The ability to read minds during our lifetimes is unlikely.
Q: Will the technology be cyberpunk?
A: Limited, direct neural stimulation will likely be done only in
medical applications. "Consensual hallucinations are just
hype."
Q: Will virtual models of high energy physics collisions be
possible, "and [will this] obsolete high energy particle
accelerators"
A: Molecular chemical modeling is being done at UNC Chapel
Hill.
Q: Can this help out office workers?
A: They'll be able to move around more, (Larry interjects,
"A walking information machine"). The chances of seeing
this in an office environment "in the next 10-15 years
are slim to none."
Larry ends the program by saying he knows what will come
next, "implants", and he makes a joke about being able to
see your brain before blowing it out.
____________________________________________________________
It's late (3AM), so no observations. You'll just have to
suffer through my paraphrases. %)
Transcription by Stephen Tice (b645zaw@utarlg.uta.edu)
Free California! 30 million people ought to be able
---------------- to take care of themselves.
-- dnb@meshugge.media.mit.edu (David N. Blank) (05/12/91)
Actually, my favorite question came from King himself:
"So this isn't like a word processor, I won't be able to write
letters using it or stuff like that?" (as close to verbatim as I
remember it)
Nearly bruised myself slapping my forehead in disbelief.
Peace,
dNb
--
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