B645ZAW@UTARLG.UTA.EDU (STEPHEN TICE) (01/23/91)
An observation, virtuality which enhances physical sensation doesn't have to simulate the world, and consequently does not have the massive information handling problem. This looks like a good interim step toward full simulation. An easy example is a virtual watch which is a simple digital readout within the visual field, possibly using a small projector like the Private Eye product. Thireadily leads to a variety of "heads-s-up display" like devices, such as a ticker tape or pager. I'm assuming some sort of glasses, with LCD or projection LED. A virtual pager or virtual watch could plausibly evolve into a fax or interactive terminal, as we improve several technoligies. Eventually, a man portable terminal which is intimately integrated into one's physical senses could become a type of artificial ESP (extra-sensory ..). In the phone-tag business environment this is interesting, in a fire-fighting scenario or SWAT raid - this is notable, in a parent or baby-sitter watching kids scenario - this is use- ful. Of course, the projection system could be mounted on the bill of a ball cap, for those who don't want even sun glasses. I think VSP (virtual sense perception) is where we can capture the publics' imagination! [MODERATOR'S NOTE: This Steve Tice is not the Steve Tice who manufacturers The Flying Mouse 3D I/O device, and who is organizing SIGGRAPH's Virtual Reality component for 1991. This Steve Tice is in Texas. -- Bob Jacobson]