robertl@skat.usc.edu (Robert Letterman) (04/19/91)
Hi, I am looking for information on a so called datasuit. From what I understand it can be worn by a person and that their movements can be recorded by a computer. I am interested in whether this suit could be used to control a 3D model for computer animation purposes. I would greatly appreciate any information on the whereabouts and theory behind such a suit. I would I also be interested in information on any device that could assist in t he manipulation of 3D models for animation purposes. Thanks in advance.
gbnewby@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Gregory B. Newby) (05/07/91)
In article <1991Apr19.213539.24941@milton.u.washington.edu> robertl@skat.usc. edu (Robert Letterman) writes: >I am looking for information on a so called datasuit. From what I >understand it can be worn by a person and that their movements can be >recorded by a computer. I am interested in whether this suit could be >used to control a 3D model for computer animation purposes. (I didn't see a response to this, so here's mine. Was out of town for a bit, so I apologize if someone already answered.) The DataSuit is invented by VPL, the DataGlove people. I spoke to one of their systems engineers in New York at a demonstration of VPL's DataGlove + EyePhone system (runs with twin Iris workstations, a MacII fx, and included 3D sound!). The DataSuit evidently doesn't really work that well, and requires way too much CPU power to be feasible right now. VPL was _not_ selling it, and I'm not sure if anyone besides them has one (North Carolina at Chapel Hill might. Does Seattle, O Moderating One?). So, the basic answer is: The DataSuit is made by VPL, but is not currently being sold by them (as of about 2 months ago, anyway). It works the same as the DataGlove: a lycra bodysuit, with many fiber optic pickups, generating lots of data on body position. I seem to remember seeing a picture that included Polhemous trackers on each hand, each foot, and the head (or EyePhones). The data the Suit generates is apparantly quite rich, giving relative body position for many parts of the body. How this would translate in to your application I'm not sure... -- Greg Newby School of Information Studies gbnewby@rodan.acs.syr.edu Syracuse University gbnewby@sunrise.bitnet "Curiouser and curiouser" - Alice
azuma@cs.unc.edu (Ronald Azuma) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May6.210517.22357@milton.u.washington.edu> gbnewby@rodan. acs.syr.edu (Gregory B. Newby) writes: >In article <1991Apr19.213539.24941@milton.u.washington.edu> robertl@skat.usc. >edu (Robert Letterman) writes: > >>I am looking for information on a so called datasuit. From what I >>understand it can be worn by a person and that their movements can be >>recorded by a computer. I am interested in whether this suit could be >>used to control a 3D model for computer animation purposes. I've seen a film of a live play given in Japan where an actress wore a datasuit and walked around on stage, using her motions to control a computer-generated model in real-time. The computer images were projected onto a large screen above the stage. It worked, more or less, but the lag was very noticable, and the model's motions did not match the actress' motions very closely. >it, and I'm not sure if anyone besides them has one (North Carolina >at Chapel Hill might. Does Seattle, O Moderating One?). UNC Chapel Hill does not own a datasuit. Ron Azuma (azuma@cs.unc.edu) [MODERATING ONE'S NOTE: The HIT Lab does not own a Datasuit. They're quite expensive contraptions, basically a wetsuit with wiring. No immediate applications -- mostly demo's -- require such all-encompassing gear, at least at this location. -- Bob Jacobson]