nebulus@well.sf.ca.us (Bruce McDiffett - no good deed goes unpunished) (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. __________________________________________________________________________