cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson) (01/23/91)
Expect a flood of new virtual-focused articles in both the popular and, encouragingly, the trade/professional press. Playboy, The Scientist, Stern, Computer Graphics World, and the Everett Herald (the E-H? only relevant to Boeing workers in Seattle region!) will all be doing stories on our field. The switch to discussions of practical applications for VW tech, for me, is a good sign that we may begin to attract the support that our technology deserves. Here are three short articles of recent vintage: "Reach Out: Touch is added to virtual reality simulations," SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, February 1991, p. 134 (writer, Gary Stix). "Building the Information Highway," TECHNOLOGY REVIEW (MIT), January 1991, pp. 29-40 (cover story) (author, Michael L. Dertouzos, MIT Computer Science Lab). Not directly VW related, but infrastructure questions for televirtuality are raised. "Through the looking glass into an artificial world -- via computer," SMITHSONIAN, January 1991, pp. 36-45 (writer, Doug Stewart). Bob Jacobson Moderator
sobiloff@stolaf.edu (Chrome Cboy) (01/25/91)
Or, of course, we have the type of journalistic hype that the field doesn't need--Omni's coverage of VR. In their latest issue they have the words "Computer Sex" on the cover, which lead you a wonderfully deep article that takes a whole 8 column-inches and has Milton Wolf (head of acquisitions for the Getchell Library of the University of Nevada at Reno!) talking about how VR will be used for computer-induced sexual experiences. The sultry picture of Morgan Fairchild is as large as the article... <sigh> Oh well. I'm sure that V-Sex will happen sooner or later, but if you're going to bring up the topic it'd be nice to have a substantial discussion. -- "And I get frightened, just like you, I get frightened too, but it's no time for heartache, no time to run and hide, to time for breaking down, no time to cry." --"No Time to Cry", Sisters of Mercy "Hey, Saddam, this Scud's for you!" --stevec@bu-pub.bu.edu (Steve Connelly)