C Details of respondents

Name of group:

Aerobel Defence Technology Ltd

Contact name:

Nicholas Wrobel

Address:

PO Box 90D, 356 West Barnes Lane, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 6JG

Email:

wrobel@aerobel.demon.co.uk

Tel:

0181 336 1733

Fax:

0181 942 8909

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Company research group. Software vendor/manufacture

Number of personnel in VR group:

4

Backgrounds of group members:

Engineering

Time actively involved in VR work:

1990

Sources of funding:

Company, Government, Industry

Major focus of VR work:

Application development using commercial off-the-shelf equipment.

Application areas:

Design, MMI, impact on environment, training.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Coryphaeus Software, Inc.(California), software vendor.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Silicon Graphics computers (networked), Coryphaeus Software suite of realtime software tools, own software add-ons to above, peripherals/controllers etc.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Joystick (3 axis), mouse and touchscreen, sound (3D spatialised sources)

Name of group:

BNR Europe (VR Lab)

Contact name:

Tony Plant

Address:

BNR Europe Limited, London Road, Harlow, Essex, CM17 9NA.

Email:

T.A.Plant@bnr.co.uk

Tel:

0279 402109

Fax:

0279 402047

WWW:

Yes, but not accessible outside BNR network

Type of organisation:

Company research group.

Number of personnel in VR group:

5

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science, Telecomms Engineering, Human Factors.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1993

Sources of funding:

Company.

Major focus of VR work:

Application development: telecoms equipment installation planning, telecoms network planning, design and presentation, software architecture/design visualisation, CATV service user interfaces, Marketing Presentations.

Application areas:

Installation layout and configuration planning, Software Visualisation, Network Visualisation. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: VR Solutions Ltd/University of Salford (through VRS initiative), Imperial College.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

486 PC, Pentium PC, Notebook PC, Spaceball, Superscape VRT, SGI Onyx, Sense8, dVISE/dVS.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Desktop now. Stereo projection planned. HMDs possible.

Name of group:

British Aerospace (Display Interaction, Human Factors Department)

Contact name:

Karen Carr

Address:

British Aerospace (Ops.) Ltd., Sowerby Research Centre, FPC 267, PO Box 5, Filton, Bristol, BS12 7QW

Email:

carr@src.bae.co.uk

Tel:

0272 366259

Fax:

0272 363733

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Company research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

7

Backgrounds of group members:

Psychology, Computer Science, Ophthalmology, Human Factors, Vision Science, Audiology

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since:1987

Sources of funding:

Company

Major focus of VR work:

1. Analysis and solution of visual, auditory and tactual feedback requirements. 2. Effects of technology characteristics (hardware and software) and human perception and cognition.

Application areas:

See above.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

University of Cardiff (Psychology and Optometry), UCL (Psychology), University of Durham (Psychology), University of West of England (Computer Science), Interface Technology Research Ltd (Bristol).

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Various experimental rigs for studying specific components of VR, eg. variable configuration head-mounted display; optical rigs for stereo studies and accommodation studies also Division VPX, various HMDs, LCD shuttering goggles for desktop stereo, Ball graphics engine (ex-Megatek 944), Real World graphics cards, data glove, Exos Dextrous Handmaster, Private Eye, opthalmic equipment, auditory DSP workstation with large selection of HRTFs, eye movement and focus measuring equipment, various 3D magnetic trackers, psychological tests, various tactile feedback devices, physiological monitoring equipment (EEGs, galvanic skin response) etc. Also equipment testing facilities, e.g., telespectroradiometers, sound level meters etc.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Direct manual

Name of group:

Brunel University (Centre for Applied Simulation Modelling)

Contact name:

Dr Robert Macredie/Prof Ray J. Paul

Address:

Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH

Email:

Robert.Macredie@brunel.ac.uk

Tel:

01895 274000 ext 2328

Fax:

01895 251686

WWW:

http://http1.brunel.ac.uk:8080/depts/cs

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

16 (including external PhD students) - not all are looking at/interested in VR; the focus is simulation generally

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science; Psychology; Human Factors; Simulation Modelling; Information Systems; Engineering.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since the mid 1980's the group has been involved in visual simulations. VR is emerging as a label for some of the simulation interests of the group.

Sources of funding:

Mainly by industry and, although we have EPSRC sponsored students and submit proposals to major funding bodies as a central part of our programme (a number are currently under review).

Major focus of VR work:

Simulation applications; visualisation of complex real-world problems as a way to understand and solve them.

Application areas:

Simulation (notably discrete event).

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

We collaborate widely with UK, European and International research groups and industries; including AT&T Istel Ltd, Rapid Data Ltd, CACI Products Division, Georgia Tech., University, Zagreb University, Lancaster University, Strathclyde University, Warwick University, University of Athens; University of Hull (VERC).

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Mainly PC based, although collaborative work also uses SG kit and a range of peripherals.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Immersive and non-immersive.

Name of group:

Building Research Establishment

Contact name:

Mr Michael Spearpoint

Address:

Fire Research Station, Building Research Establishment, Bucknalls Lane, Garston, Watford, WD2 7JR

Email:

spearpointm@bre.co.uk

Tel:

01923 664954

Fax:

01923 664910

WWW:

http://www.bre.co.uk

Type of organisation:

Government research institution

Number of personnel in VR group:

1-5

Backgrounds of group members:

Physics, Engineering, Mathematics

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1993

Sources of funding:

Government Agency

Major focus of VR work:

Familiarisation, Visualisation, Application development

Application areas:

Ability to interactively visualise buildings and fires. It's not easy going into a real building that is on fire!

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Other groups within BRE - Engineers

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

P90 Pentium PC, Spaceball, Superscape VR toolkit

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Non-immersive visualisation

Name of group:

CADCentre Ltd.

Contact name:

Paul Elton

Address:

High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HB

Email:

-

Tel:

0223 314848

Fax:

0223 65737

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

CADCentre is a software vendor providing engineering products to the process plant industry.

Number of personnel in VR group:

1-5

Backgrounds of group members:

Engineering and Computer Science Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1994

Sources of funding:

Company/customer

Major focus of VR work:

Developing a VR application for the walkthrough of process plants (oil rigs, power plants etc.)

Application areas:

Our application area is producing software for the design of process plant. Our main product is PDMS (Plant Design Management System) which is the world's leading application for plant design. REVIEW is our plant visualization system to which we are adding a VR capability.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

University of Manchester, Silicon Graphics Ltd., Fakespace Inc., MenloPark, CA, USA.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

We currently have a SGI Onyx Reality Engine graphics computer with stereo goggles. We have been using a Fakespace BOOM VR device

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

stereo viewing, Fakespace BOOM, Silicon Graphics Reality Centre (CAVE).

Name of group:

City University (Centre for HCI Design)

Contact name:

Kulwinder Karr, Ivor Benjamin

Address:

School of Informatics, City University, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0PB

Email:

i.d.benjamin@city.ac.uk

Tel:

0171 477 8000 x4033

Fax:

0171 477 8859

WWW:

http://web.cs.city.ac.uk/hcid/index.html

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

More than 10

Backgrounds of group members:

Systems Analysis, Computer Science, Theatre, Cognitive Science, Information Science. Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1992.

Sources of funding:

University research group SERC / EPSRC / EC

Major focus of VR work:

Design methodology and HCI, human interactions in VR.

Application areas:

VR interaction as drama; VR interaction design and development; VR systems design heuristics Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Pentiums, Space Mouse, Position Tracker, HMD, Sense8 WTK, Superscape VRT

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Mouse, Space Mouse (joystick and motion tracker).

Name of group:

Colt Virtual Reality

Contact name:

Dr Mike Griffin

Address:

New Lane, Havant, PO9 2LY.

Email:

griff@coltvr.demon.co.uk

Tel:

01705 491460

Fax:

01705 491319

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Software vendor/manufacturer, end user

Number of personnel in VR group:

7

Backgrounds of group members:

Manufacturing Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Controls Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1993

Sources of funding:

Company and various grants/collaboration.

Major focus of VR work:

Development of software products for the construction industry.

Application areas:

Simulated people management, fluid dynamics and CAD, command task simulation.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Cham Ltd, Fire Service College

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Superscape VRT3 running on Pentium PC's, Explorer on SGI Iris, OpenGL based renderers on NT, VRML.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Spaceball, point and click interface.

Name of group:

Criterion Software Ltd.

Contact name:

Mike King

Address:

Criterion Software Ltd., 20, Alan Turing Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 5YF

Email:

mking@criterion.canon.co.uk

Tel:

01483 448800

Fax:

01483 574360

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Software vendor/manufacturer, end user

Number of personnel in VR group:

10

Backgrounds of group members:

- Computer Science Time actively involed in VR work: Since1991

Sources of funding:

Company research group

Major focus of VR work:

Software multi-media tools (3D Rendering)

Application areas:

Interactive 3D rendering. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

-

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

- {-}% Other information

Name of group:

De Montfort University (Department of Computing and Information Sciences)

Contact name:

Mr Robert Noble

Address:

De Montfort University, Hammerwood Gate, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes MK7 6HP.

Email:

rnoble@dmu.ac.uk

Tel:

01908 695511 x4145

Fax:

01908 834948

WWW:

http://www.mk.dmu.ac.uk

Type of organisation:

University Research Group

Number of personnel in VR group:

1-5

Backgrounds of group members:

Mathematics, Computer Graphics. Time actively involed in VR work: Since1993

Sources of funding:

University research group

Major focus of VR work:

Interactive modelling and animation.

Application areas:

Flexible object animation and synthetic human animation.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Imaging Centre, De Montfort University Leicester

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Silicon Graphics Indigo Extreme, Crystal Eyes stereo attachment, SpaceBall.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Non-immersive stereo with 6 DOF controller.

Name of group:

Denne Developments Ltd

Contact name:

Phillip Denne

Address:

D.D.L., Unit 4, Cedar Trade Park, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7GB.

Email:

-

Tel:

0202 861661

Fax:

0202 861233

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Software vendor/manufacturer.

Number of personnel in VR group:

6

Backgrounds of group members:

Physics, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, electronics, industrial control, Mathematics, Simulation Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1988 (Simulation since 1985)

Sources of funding:

Customers

Major focus of VR work:

Virtual motion systems.

Application areas:

Active and passive simulator motion bases, human-movement interactive control of experiences.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

150 clients worldwide.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Motion hardware.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Our motion systems have the unique intrinsic ability to sense body movement at the same time as applying motion forces. Hence `virtual surfing' etc.

Name of group:

Division Limited

Contact name:

Pierre duPont, Marketing Director

Address:

19 Apex Court, Woodlands, Almondsbury, Bristol BS12 4JT

Email:

dupontp@division.demon.co.uk

Tel:

01454 615554

Fax:

01454 615532

WWW:

http://www.division.co.uk

Type of organisation:

Software vendor/manufacturer.

Number of personnel in VR group:

Approx. 35.

Backgrounds of group members:

Mostly Computer Science. Time actively involed in VR work: Since1989.

Sources of funding:

Public Limited Company.

Major focus of VR work:

Development of tools for VR; VR hardware and VR software development.

Application areas:

Almost every one.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Many, either as customers, or as joint recipients of a DTI or EC project. Examples include Glaxo Group Research, the University of York, Queen Mary Westfield, Thorn EMI, Reading University, Nottingham University, Salford University, Coventry University, etc.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

SGI Onyx and Indigo; HP 700, dVS; dVISE.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Immersive, and also flat-screen, in stereo or mono. Most HMDs are supported.

Name of group:

DRA Centre for Human Sciences

Contact name:

Mrs E C Regan

Address:

DRA Centre for Human Sciences, F131, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 6TD

Email:

ecregan@dra.hmg.gb

Tel:

01252 394729

Fax:

01252 392122

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Government Research Institution.

Number of personnel in VR group:

3

Backgrounds of group members:

Psychology (2), computer science (1). Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1993

Sources of funding:

Government agency.

Major focus of VR work:

Establishing human factors standards for virtual reality equipment; health and safety aspects of VR. Some application development.

Application areas:

Battlefield simulation.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

University of Nottingham.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Division Provision 200 and Provision 100 systems. Virtual Research flight helmet, and N-vision high resolution CRT-based helmet, both fitted with Polhemus trackers. Division 3D mouse (also Polhemus tracker).

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

-

Name of group:

Equipe Electronics

Contact name:

Mr Kevin Jarvis

Address:

13 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, W.Sussex, BN11 1RY

Email:

equipe@mistral.co.uk

Tel:

01903 216622

Fax:

01903 216633

WWW:

http://mistral.co.uk/equipe

Type of organisation:

Company research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

1-5

Backgrounds of group members:

- Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1995

Sources of funding:

Company

Major focus of VR work:

1. VR model data formats and exchange methods; 2. Psychology related studies (MMI).

Application areas:

Flight Simulation Visual Cues & Virtual Cockpits.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Sussex University - 3D Data Structures.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Indigo Impact + Pentium PCs.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Not willing to disclose at this time.

Name of group:

GMS Ltd

Contact name:

Bob Goodwin (MD), Gareth Williams, Arthur Pro

Address:

Marcus House, 75-79 Wheelock Street, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 9AE

Email:

info@gmsl.co.uk

Tel:

+44 (0)1606 836093

Fax:

+44 (0)1606 835643

WWW:

Under construction

Type of organisation:

Equipment vendor/manufacturer, Software vendor/manufacturer, End user (for demo/consultancy).

Number of personnel in VR group:

3/4

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science, Mathematics, Computer Graphics, Mechanical Engineering. Time actively involed in VR work: Since September 1993

Sources of funding:

Company.

Major focus of VR work:

Will sell complete solutions with human simulation. Development of Jack software (device drivers and new functionality); Development of a turnkey VR solution using VR peripherals from a variety of sources,

Application areas:

Ergonomic simulation, digital mockups, assembly and maintenance simulation - all with virtual humans conducting tasks.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Center for Human Modelling and Simulation, University of Pennsylvania (main developers of Jack software), Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Leeds University, Keyworth Institute.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Software: Jack; Hardware: Contact for details.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

-

Name of group:

Heriot-Watt University (Manufacturing Systems Research Group)

Contact name:

Mr James Ritchie

Address:

Dept of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS

Email:

mecjmr@bonaly.hw.ac.uk

Tel:

0131 449 5111 x4364

Fax:

0131 451 3129

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

6

Backgrounds of group members:

Engineering, mathematics Time actively involed in VR work: Since1993

Sources of funding:

University, EPSRC, Industrial.

Major focus of VR work:

Collision detection, Assembly planning and knowledge elicitation.

Application areas:

Collision detection for VR. VR mechanical assembly planning and knowledge elicitation.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Division, AT&T (formerly NCR), Dundee.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Division products.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Immersive and non-immersive.

Name of group:

Imperial College (Department of Chemistry)

Contact name:

Dr Henry Rzepa

Address:

Department of Chemistry, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AY

Email:

rzepa@ic.ac.uk

Tel:

0171 594 5774

Fax:

-

WWW:

http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/rzepa

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

1-5

Backgrounds of group members:

Chemistry Time actively involed in VR work: Since1994

Sources of funding:

University internal.

Major focus of VR work:

Chemistry.

Application areas:

VRML, SuperJanet. Collaborations with other groups or organisations:-

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

SGI + Webspace + Webspace Author + Locally written software (EyeChem and EyeVRML).

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Software + 3D Pointing device (6 degrees of freedom)

Name of group:

Interactive Europe Ltd

Contact name:

Mr Ged Fitzgibbon

Address:

8 Cedar Close, Wokingham, Berks RG40 1EA

Email:

ged@meditech.co.uk

Tel:

-

Fax:

-

WWW:

http://www.meditech.co.uk

Type of organisation:

End user.

Number of personnel in VR group:

1-5

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science Time actively involed in VR work: Since1995

Sources of funding:

Company Application development: Major focus of VR work

Application areas:

Medical communication

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Superscape PLC

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Desktop in PC platform with Superscape and stereo CrystalEyes glasses.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Presentation and game format with joystick control

Name of group:

Liverpool John Moores University (IT Centre)

Contact name:

Simon Whiteley

Address:

Liverpool John Moores University, IT Centre, 98 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5UZ

Email:

s.whiteley@livjm.ac.uk

Tel:

0151 231 3145

Fax:

0151 231 3433

WWW:

http://livjm.ac.uk

Type of organisation:

Individual research project

Number of personnel in VR group:

1-5

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer science Time actively involed in VR work: Since1994 University internal

Major focus of VR work:

VRML software development

Application areas:

The use of VRML for learning on the WWW

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Manchester Metropolitan University

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Pentium PC. Apple MAC. Quicktime VR. Caligari VRML browser. 3D studio.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Mouse, keyboard.

Name of group:

Manchester Metropolitan University (Department of Computing)

Contact name:

Dr William Mitchell

Address:

Department of Computing, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD

Email:

B.Mitchell@doc.mmu.ac.uk

Tel:

0161 247 1493

Fax:

0161 247 1483

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

2 lecturers

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science Time actively involed in VR work: Since1993

Sources of funding:

Internal funding.

Major focus of VR work:

VR application development.

Application areas:

1. Use of VR as a teaching and communication system for severely disabled children; 2. Simulation of physiological processes for HE (just starting) Collaborations with other groups or organisations: : ACE/ACCESS Centre, Oldham. 2: Department of Biological Sciences, MMU.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

486 PCs (66 MHz) REND-386, WorldToolkit for Windows.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Due to resource limitiations using desktop VR with mouse/joystick.

Name of group:

Middlesex University (School of Geography and Environmental Management)

Contact name:

Mr Ifan D H Shepherd

Address:

Middlesex University, Queensway, Enfield, Middlesex EN3 4SF

Email:

ifan1@mdx.ac.uk

Tel:

0181 362 5388

Fax:

0181 805 0702

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

3

Backgrounds of group members:

: Geography, Geographical Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Data Visualization. Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1993.

Sources of funding:

HEFCE.

Major focus of VR work:

Adaptation for geographical data visualization.

Application areas:

Data visualization, particularly the use of dynamic symbols to represent spatial data. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

SuperScape, Pentium (P90) PC. Styles of VR interaction techniques employed : Mouse, joystick, (considering DataGlove).