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C Details of respondents - 2

Name of group:
Mott MacDonald (Computational Fluid Dynamics Group)
Contact name:
Dr Norman Rhodes
Address:
St Anne House, 20-26 Wellesley Road, Croydon CR9 2UL.
Email:
nr2@mottmac.co.uk
Tel:
0181 686 5041
Fax:
0181 681 5706
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
Engineering consultants.
Number of personnel in VR group:
3
Backgrounds of group members:
Mechanical Engineering, computer animation. Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1993
Sources of funding:
Clients.
Major focus of VR work:
Application development.
Application areas:
Evacuation and safety. Fire and smoke research, emergency response management, transportation planning. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
486 PC with graphics card, SuperScape, spaceball, joystick.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Response to environment via spaceball/joystick.
Name of group:
Pearson Interface
Contact name:
Mr Brian Pearson
Address:
Suite 33, 10 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, London, W4 4PH
Email:
BGP@pearsoni.demon.co.uk
Tel:
-
Fax:
-
WWW:
http://www.demon.co.uk/pearson/index.html
Type of organisation:
Software vendor/manufacturer {1-5}% Number of personnel in VR group
Backgrounds of group members:
Mechanical Engineering and Software Engineering Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1991
Sources of funding:
Internal and external private funds
Major focus of VR work:
Software development. Primarily PCs.
Application areas:
CAD visualization, World building, user interface research.
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Other VR software companies in the UK. 3 different ones to date.
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
PCs and coloured glasses.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Mouse navigation and object manipulation
Name of group:
Primary Image Ltd
Contact name:
Alastair McLeod, Marketing Manager
Address:
Millbank House, Ewell Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6AP
Email:
Alastair@pimage.demon.co.uk
Tel:
0181 339 9669
Fax:
0181 339 9091
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
Equipment vendor/manufacturer
Number of personnel in VR group:
20
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer Science, electronic imaging, with experience of medical imaging and custom-developed image processing systems. Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1989
Sources of funding:
Internal.
Major focus of VR work:
Development of scalable PC-based image generator hardware systems, and software toolkit packages, aimed at simulation, training, VR and leisure applications.
Application areas:
Application and integration of new processor and memory systems, hardware design techniques, methods for development of simulation and training systems. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Own P10 image generator cards, own model databases (terrain and objects) plus associated development tools and software.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Joystick/keyboard control, with control links to 6-axis motion platforms (available via 3rd party), aiming devices and position trackers.
Name of group:
Queen Mary and Westfield College/FIVE
Contact name:
Dr Malcolm George
Address:
Dept or Physiology, St Bart's and Royal London HMS, QMW, Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS
Email:
M.J.george@qmw.ac.uk
Tel:
0171 982 6375
Fax:
0181 983 0467
WWW:
http://www.qmw.ac.uk
Type of organisation:
University research Group (EEC funded project)
Number of personnel in VR group:
5-10
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer sciences, psychology and medical sciences
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1993
Sources of funding:
University research group Internal funding, Grant funding, EEC funding
Major focus of VR work:
The FIVE group has a wide remit but central work at QMW is Presence in VR environments and medical/psychological aspects of VR as well as some technological development
Application areas:
-
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Prof Mel Slater (UCL) Co-ordinating director of Five plus members of Five in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and UK
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
PC based Superscape facilities plus access to Silicon graphics based hardware facilities in Dept Comp Sci plus Division software and hardware
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
3-D mouse and headsets
Name of group:
RAF Innsworth (VR Lab)
Contact name:
Ms Carol Mason
Address:
CSSB (via Plans), HQPTC, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester GL3 1E2
Email:
- Tel : 01452 712612 x5534
Fax:
01452 510823
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
Small group of scientists in RAF command
Number of personnel in VR group:
2/3
Backgrounds of group members:
Psychology, Ergonomics, Computer Science
Time actively involved in VR work:
since 1993
Sources of funding:
RAF
Major focus of VR work:
Training applications; Learning/training innovative research.
Application areas:
Aircraft maintenance; fire safety/prevention and escape procedures; control room layouts; ergonomics layouts. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
6 VR computers (PCs), 5 VRT development packages, headsets, stereo glasses, lots of 3D mice and spaceballs.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Cost-effective classroom devices, such as 3D mice and spaceball for input. Use lots of on-line help and `innovative' help procedures.
Name of group:
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Advanced Interactive Systems Division)
Contact name:
Dr D.R.S. Boyd
Address:
Computing and Information Systems Department, Atlas Centre, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0QX
Email:
D.R.S.Boyd@rl.ac.uk
Tel:
01235 446167
Fax:
01235 445945
WWW:
http://www.cis.rl.ac.uk/services/VR/index.html
Type of organisation:
Government research institution
Number of personnel in VR group:
5
Backgrounds of group members:
Physics, engineering, computer graphics, video, computing, electronics, mathematics, intelligent systems
Time actively involved in VR work:
since 1995
Sources of funding:
Various
Major focus of VR work:
Application development
Application areas:
Engineering Design, Scientific Visualization, Architectural Modelling
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Fraunhofer Institut Für Graphische, Darmstadt, Germany; GMD, St Augustin, Bonn
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Hardware: SGI Onyx Reality Engine II and MCO Polhemus fastrak, VR4 HMD, Division 3D mouse, Crystal Eyes, Stereo projectors; Software: dVS and dVISE 3.0, SGI Performer, IGD VE-II.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Immersive: headset; Non-immersive: stereo projectors (2 polarized sources), stereo shuttered glasses.
Name of group:
Sheffield Hallam University (Communication Information Research Group)
Contact name:
Jonathan Grove
Address:
Mundella House, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S10 2BP.
Email:
J.M.Grove@shu.ac.uk
Tel:
0114 2532236
Fax:
-
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
University research group.
Number of personnel in VR group:
2
Backgrounds of group members:
Linguistics, Communication studies.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1992
Sources of funding:
University.
Major focus of VR work:
Application development.
Application areas:
Educational VR. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Superscape VRT 3.60 running on a PC DX266.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
-
Name of group:
Transformation Software Ltd
Contact name:
Ian Lazenby
Address:
Thame Park Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3UQ
Email:
ilazenby@tswl.co.uk
Tel:
01884 261456
Fax:
01884 260056
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
Software distributor and hardware value-added retailer.
Number of personnel in VR group:
3
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer Science, Royal Naval Warfare Officer, management, mathematics, engineering and robotics design.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1991
Sources of funding:
Company
Major focus of VR work:
Selling to VR companies.
Application areas:
Silicon Graphics based VR, simulators, 3D visualization and modelling, inter-site communication.
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Intelligent Systems Solutions Ltd (INSYS), member of Virtual Reality and Simulation Initiative, PERA (Engineering consultancy), Silicon Graphics Ltd.
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Multigen, Modelgen, Gamegen: 3D modelling software from MiltiGen Inc., Vega and AudioWorks image generation software and 3D sound software from Paradigm Simulation Inc., Silicon Graphics Indigo II and Indy computers.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
-
Name of group:
Twentyman Limited
Contact name:
Richard Hennah
Address:
Aspen House, 67 Wembdon Road, Bridgwater, Somerset Email : -
Tel:
01278 447004
Fax:
01278 447005
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
VR and other intelligent graphics system development company
Number of personnel in VR group:
5
Backgrounds of group members:
Software development, operational analysis (defence related), civil engineering, computer graphics art.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since March 1993
Sources of funding:
We work directly to client needs. We are funded entirely by the commercial success of that which we produce for external organisations.
Major focus of VR work:
Applications development
Application areas:
Space planning, sales and marketing, training, engineering design.
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Vega (software and training systems consultancy), ICL, CompuAdd (hardware manufacturers)
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
In-house facilities are all PC: P90 + P133 based. Scanners, a great deal of graphics manipulation software, space mice, joysticks, standard PC screens, video converters and monitors.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Open to customer requirements; mainly mouse, joystick, space mouse + system specific devices (e.g., real system controllers).
Name of group:
UMIST (Time Lab)
Contact name:
Mr Vangelis Pappas-Katsiafas
Address:
K18, MSS building, Department of Computation, UMIST. Sackville Street, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD
Email:
vangpk@sna.co.umist.ac.uk
Tel:
0161 200 3748
Fax:
0161 200 3324
WWW:
http://www.co.umist.ac.uk/~vangpk
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
1-5
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer Science, Engineering
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1993
Sources of funding:
University research group
Major focus of VR work:
Mainly Software architectures, (3D Computer Graphics), but we investigate various hardware platforms, and VR peripherals.
Application areas:
Information Systems, Databases, specifically Temporal Databases and interfacing to them.
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Lloyds Bank, Imperial College London, Neuroware Ltd (Greece), computer applications
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Hardware: Suns and PC's; Software: SunPHIGS 3.0, Worldview 0.8 VRML viewer, Various shareware 3D modelers, 3D file converters.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
-
Name of group:
University College London (Virtual Environments Research Group)
Contact name:
Prof Mel Slater
Address:
Dept of Computer Science, University College London, Gower Street, London
Email:
m.slaterl@cs.ucl.ac.uk
Tel:
+44 (0)171 419 3709
Fax:
+44 (0)171 387 1397
WWW:
http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/M.Slater
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
5-10
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer Science
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1992 {SERC/EPSRC/DTI.}% Sources of funding
Major focus of VR work:
Computer Graphics, human-computer interaction - understanding of people's responses to `VR' and constructing interfaces based on this understanding. Building applications. Exploitation of parallel architectures.
Application areas:
Architectural walk-through, geometrical modeling, collaborative environments.
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Psychology, and medical sciences. Division PLC.
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
: ProVision 200, ProVision 100 VX
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
We have developed a paradigm called `body centred interaction'. The idea of this is that presence is maximised when there is a match between proprioceptive feedback and sensory data.
Name of group:
U niversity of Bath (Media Technology Research Centre)
Contact name:
Professor Phil Willis
Address:
Computing Group, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY
Email:
p.j.willis@maths.bath.ac.uk
Tel:
+44 (0) 1225 826964
Fax:
+44 (0) 1225 826492
WWW:
http://www.bath.ac.uk/Centres/MEDIA
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
2
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1992
Sources of funding:
EPSRC/ACME.
Major focus of VR work:
Applications to integrated manufacturing systems.
Application areas:
CAD/CAM. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Silicon Graphics Reality Engine and Indigo computers, stereo spectacles, own software built on Open Inventor
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Traditional workstation methods.
Name of group:
University of Bath (CASA School of Architecture and C.E.)
Contact name:
Vassilis Bourdakis
Address:
CASA, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
Email:
V.Bourdakis@bath.ac.uk
Tel:
01225 826475
Fax:
01225 826475
WWW:
http://fos.bath.ac.uk, http://www.bath.ac.uk/Centres/CASA
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
3
Backgrounds of group members:
Architects (2), Building engineer (1)
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1994
Sources of funding:
Company, SERC/EPSRC
Major focus of VR work:
Working on VRML, Inventor and a Canadian landscape design program called Polytrim.
Application areas:
Architecture, visualising future proposals and planning applications, historical representations (model of Bath city), interactive database development (London city centre)
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
British Telecom (research dept.), University of Toronto, University of Bath Mechanical Engineering Virtual Manufacturing Group
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Hardware platforms: SG and PCs (running NT); Software: Inventor and VRML mainly on SG machines.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
3D mouse (just started Nov 95); tried 3D glasses but not really sure we want them yet; not planning on going immersive soon (too expensive)
Name of group:
University of Belfast (Control Engineering Research Group)
Contact name:
Dr G Dodds
Address:
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The Queen's University of Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH.
Email:
GI.Dodds@vax2.queens-belfast.ac.uk
Tel:
01232 2245133 x4086
Fax:
01232 667023
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
4
Backgrounds of group members:
Electronic Engineering
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1992
Sources of funding:
EPSRC grant and Northern Ireland Regional Technology Unit funding.
Major focus of VR work:
Hardware for sensing and interfacing. Software for multi-arm robotic applications. Entertainment and disabled user aid. Compression for real-time transmission of 3D stereo data (3D MPEG) from server to client, CADCAM aids and interfaces, major control plant interfacing.
Application areas:
See above.
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Mechanical Engineering (QUB) for visualization.
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Silicon Graphics Maximum Impact, 3D mouse, Acoustatron 3D Stereo, Silicon Graphics Indy RD4600, dVise software, Liquid Image HMD, CrystalEyes stereoscopic glasses interfaced to PC, in-house force sensing, Polhemus motion detection, 3Ball mouse, rend386, workspace 3.0 and avril.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
VR interaction - image, force, head motions, sound, position sensing and mouse.
Name of group:
University of East Anglia (Computational Geometry Project)
Contact name:
Professor A R Forrest
Address:
University of East Anglia, School of Information Systems, Norwich NR4 7TJ.A
Email:
forrest@sys.uea.ac.uk
Tel:
01603 592605
Fax:
01603 507720
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
8
Backgrounds of group members:
Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1991
Sources of funding:
EPSRC studentships, University, Apple U.K. and U.S.
Major focus of VR work:
Peripherals, application developments, non-immersive VR, visualization.
Application areas:
Visualization, design, human interfaces. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Apple Quadra 950 x2, Silicon Graphics Indy x2, Korg synthesiser.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Non-immersive VR exploiting sound and touch.
Name of group:
University of Edinburgh (Centre for Communication Interface Research)
Contact name:
Mr Liam Parker
Address:
University of Edinburgh 80 South Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1HN
Email:
liam@ccir.ed.ac.uk
Tel:
0131 650 8230
Fax:
0131 650 2784
WWW:
http://www.ccir.ed.ac.uk
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
5-10
Backgrounds of group members:
Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1994
Sources of funding:
Company, EC, Government Agency.
Major focus of VR work:
Application development, Multi-modal interaction, Speech in VR worlds, HCI design
Application areas:
VR home shopping, interactive data entry, intelligent virtual persona. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Silicon Graphics Indys and Impacts. OpenGL, Inventor, Performer. Pentium PCs. OpenGL, RenderWare, SuperScape, 3D Studio. 3D mice, LCD shutter glasses, Head Mounted Display.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Window on world. HMD Immersive. Agent mediation. Material visualisation.
Name of group:
University of Edinburgh (Perception in Action Laboratories)
Contact name:
Rycharde Hawkes
Address:
Virtual Environment Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ
Email:
Rycharde.Hawkes@ed.ac.uk
Tel:
0131 650 3426
Fax:
0131 650 6534
WWW:
http://haggis.psy.ed.ac.uk
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
5
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer Science, Psychology, Vision Science and Movement Studies.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1992
Sources of funding:
SERC/EPSRC, MRC
Major focus of VR work:
Perception and action in natural and virtual environments.
Application areas:
Driving simulation, distributed virtual environment systems
Collaborations with other groups or organisations:
Computer Science Department, University of Edinburgh, Glasgow Caledonian University, Vision Sciences, Virtual Research, Virtuality, Astlee Ainsley Hospital, Edinburgh, Real World Simulation.
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
Network of 3-4 Pentium/486 PCs, Super Reality II Image Generator, Reality3 Image Generator, Isotrak, Fastrak, Flock of Bird(s), Mice, joysticks, spaceball, instrumented car, instrumented bike, force-feedback steering wheel, Ober/2 eye-tracker, glove. Projection screens and BARCO projector, monitors, stereo monitor, VPL Eyephone LX (and occassional loans), QNX distributed real-time operating system, compilers etc., 3D Studio, misc. image processing software and home-grown VE support software.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Non-immersive through the use of mono & stereo monitors, projection systems and immersive using HMDs. A variety of movement control devices have been tried including spaceball, mice, joysticks, instrumented car, instrumented bike.
Name of group:
University of Essex (Virtual Reality Laboratory)
Contact name:
Dr Adrian F Clark
Address:
Dept. Electronic Systems Engineering, University of Essex, Wivenhow Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ
Email:
alien@essex.ac.uk
Tel:
01206 872432
Fax:
01206 872900
WWW:
http://peipa.essex.ac.uk/vr
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
5-10
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Physics, Psychology.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1994
Sources of funding:
University research group. Major focus of VR work : We have two major threads: VR in computer and communication networks; applications of low-cost VR. This involves both hardware and software development.
Application areas:
Virtual presence teleconferencing, gesture recognition, medical endoscopy. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
1. 100MHz PCs with Virtual i/o's `I-glasses!' and 5DT gloves currently running under Avril; we plan to move over to a more complete software environment in the near future; 2. SGI and Sun workstations for our vision-based work.
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
HMD tracker; glove input for gesture recognition; vision-based head tracking for our teleconferencing work.
Name of group:
University of Leeds (Virtual Working Environment Group)
Contact name:
Terrence Fernando
Address:
University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
Email:
ltpf@scs.leeds.ac.uk
Tel:
01532 335767
Fax:
01532 335468
WWW:
-
Type of organisation:
University research group
Number of personnel in VR group:
12
Backgrounds of group members:
Computer Science, Engineering.
Time actively involved in VR work:
Since 1991
Sources of funding:
University, Keyworth Institute, EPSRC.
Major focus of VR work:
Application Development.
Application areas:
Interactive Constraint-based Assembly Modelling, Virtual Environment for Maintenance Simulation, Distributed Virtual Environment for Concurrent Engineering, Driving Simulator, Vision Based Hand Tracking, VRML Browsers Collaborations with other groups or organisations: Keyworth Institute of Manufacturing and Information Systems Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds. Transport Studies.
VR-related hardware and software facilities used:
3 SGI R4000 machines, 3 Indy machines, 1 Indig2, Reality Engine, Spaceball
Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:
Use constraint-based 3D interaction techniques for interacting with assembly models; Use a car within the driving simulator
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