C Details of respondents - 3

Name of group:

University of Leicester (Virtual Reality Research Group)

Contact name:

Dr Nigel Foreman/ Dr Paul Wilson

Address:

Department of Psychology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH.

Email:

for@leicester.ac.uk/pnw1@leicester.ac.uk

Tel:

01533 522169/522158

Fax:

01533 522067

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

8

Backgrounds of group members:

Psychology (sometimes have computing and engineering graduates).

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1992

Sources of funding:

Charity (Action Research), BT, European funds.

Major focus of VR work:

Development of applications in Behavioural Sciences.

Application areas:

Spatial research, spatial skills in man, perception.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Loose cooperation with various people, mutual interests with BT, and foreign groups in France and Russia.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

486 PCs mainly, enhanced for speed and graphics quality, SuperScape software, WorldToolKit for Windows, Renderware, dataglove, 3D spectacles; Also have access to head-immersion (liquid image headset, Polhemus.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Desk-top keyboard, joystick, spaceball inputs plus devices produced in Russia to interface kids with handicaps, also access to head-immersion system.

Name of group:

University of London (Dept. of Social Policy and Social Science)

Contact name:

Mr Ralph Schroeder

Address:

Department of Social Policy and Social Science, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX

Email:

-

Tel:

01789 434455 x3471

Fax:

01789 434 375

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Individual researcher

Number of personnel in VR group:

1

Backgrounds of group members:

Philosphy and History, Political Philosophy, Sociology

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1992

Sources of funding:

University research group

Major focus of VR work:

Social issues

Application areas:

-

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Research laboratories and end-users

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Name of group:

University of Loughborough (Multi-sensory Virtual Environment Integration Laboratory)

Contact name:

Prof Roy Kalawsky

Address:

Loughborough University of Technology, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU

Email:

r.s.kalawsky@lut.ac.uk

Tel:

01509 223047

Fax:

01509 610724

WWW:

http://info.lut.ac.uk

Type of organisation:

University research group.

Number of personnel in VR group:

More than 10

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer science Electronic engineering, Psychology, Civil engineering, Aerospace, Human factors, Vision science, Opthalmology, Cognitive science, Simulation

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1990

Sources of funding:

Company, University research group, EPSRC, Industrial consortia.

Major focus of VR work:

Research to assist academic and industrial sectors covering: Systems integration, Human factors, Performance optimisation of peripheral technologies, Creation of high fidelity virtual environments, Virtual design environments, Medical applications, Multi-sensory interaction, Single and shared environments, Fully immersive - Partial Immersion solutions.

Application areas:

See above Collaborations with other groups or organisations: We provide technical support to many organisations/groups developing applications that require a VR interface.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Full range of Silicon Graphics computers; Indy - Maximum Impact - Onyx; Fully loaded Division ProVision 100 system; Range of high performance spatial trackers; Special test equipment (VR performance assessment - technology and human performance); Low, Medium and High resolution HMDs; Range of Image Projection systems; 3D studio; Full implementation of MultiGen; Performer; dVS and DVISE (runtime and developer options); Range of CAD translators; Man rated motion base

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Keyboard; Voice; Eye; Glove; 3D joystick;

Name of group:

University of Manchester (Advanced Interfaces Group)

Contact name:

Dr Roger Hubbold

Address:

Department of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL

Email:

hubbold@cs.man.ac.uk

Tel:

0161 275 6158

Fax:

0161 275 6236

WWW:

http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/aig

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

4 academic staff, approximately 12 postgraduate and 10 undergraduate students.

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science, Engineering.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1991

Sources of funding:

University, EPSRC/ACME

Major focus of VR work:

Research into the use of advanced human-computer interfaces such as Virtual Reality and stereo displays, for the solution of real-world problems.

Application areas:

Visualisation of volume data, especially 3D medical images (in conjunction with the University Medical School and local teaching hospitals); The development of a VR interface for a large CAD system (in a collaborative project with CADCentre, Cambridge); Generation of high resolution 3D images (in a collaborative project with Sharp Research Laboratories, Oxford); A variety of undergraduate and postgraduate projects ranging from playing virtual musical instruments to VR interfaces for computer animation. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: See above

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

High-performance Silicon Graphics workstations, a pair of Sharp large screen video projectors for stereoscopic projection, a head-mounted display, 3D mice based on Polhemus magnetic trackers, and a stereo sound system using a MIDI interface. The Silicon Graphics screens also support stereo display using LCD shutter glasses.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Immersive, using a HMD, 3D interaction using magnetic trackers and 3D mice, stereo glasses and large-screen displays.

Name of group:

University of Nottingham (AIMS Research Unit)

Contact name:

Dr Damian Schofield

Address:

Dept. of Mineral Resources Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD

Email:

aims.unit@nottingham.ac.uk

Tel:

0115 9514094

Fax:

0115 9678494

WWW:

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~enzaims/Aimshome.html

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

8 PhD students, 1 Post Doc, 1 Academic. Staff in the AIMS Unit: 1 full-time PhD student on VR, 2 others work part-time on the projects.

Backgrounds of group members:

Most have engineering backgrounds. Recently taken on a mathematician and a computer scientist. Time actively involed in VR work: Since October 1994

Sources of funding:

University funded, plus UK grants and industrial consulting/contacts.

Major focus of VR work:

Application development in Minerals industry.

Application areas:

Minerals industry, risk assessment in underground and opencast situations, opencast visualization and planning, oli rig abandonment scenarios. Collaborations with other groups or oganisations: JDS Drilling Services (consultancy), British Coal (Group Headquarters), IMCL (Consultants), Tarmac (Quarry Op.). VR-related hardware and software facilities used: PC equipment: fast, large monitors and graphics cards, Superscape VRT V3.5, World Tool Kit, and Renderware. Silicon Graphics Indigo 2 Extreme (using general C++ libraries at the moment, hope to port most of our C++ code to this machine).

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Large screens, joysticks and mice, SoundBlaster and speakers.

Name of group:

University of Nottingham (Communications Research Group)

Contact name:

Dr Steve Benford

Address:

Dept or Computer Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD

Email:

sdb@cs.nott.ac.uk

Tel:

0115 951 4203

Fax:

0115 951 4254

WWW:

http://www.crg.cs.nott.ac.uk

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

5--10

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science, engineering and computing.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1991

Sources of funding:

Company SERC/EPSRC, DTI, Industry, EC.

Major focus of VR work:

Software architectures, applications, metaphors of interaction, collaboration.

Application areas:

VR Conferencing, Information Visualisation, CSCW Collaborations with other groups or organisations: Lancaster University (Computing, Sociology, CSCW Centre), Manchester University (Psychology), Swedish Institute of Computer Science, University of Nottingham (Psychology, Geography), Nottingham Trent University (Design), Division Ltd, GPT, GEC-Hirst, British Gas.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Hardware: Silicon Graphics Indy (x3) & Indigo 2 Extreme, Sun Sparc 10/51 ZX, Eyegen 3 Headset, Spaceball, 486DX2/66 with graphics accelerator; (The University computing centre has recently bought an Onyx RE2). (We anticipate purchasing an Indigo2 High Impact shortly also). Software: Dive, dVS, WorldToolKit, Renderware, Superscape

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Desktop and immersive. We are investigating the provision of a projection interface.

Name of group:

University of Nottingham (VIRART)

Contact name:

Professor John Wilson

Address:

Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Operations Management, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD.

Email:

epzjrw@unicorn.nott.ac.uk

Tel:

0115 9514070/9514004

Fax:

0115 9514000

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

5--10

Backgrounds of group members:

Psychology, Ergonomics, Manufacturing Engineering, Computer Science, Theoretical Mechanics, Physics, Electronics.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1992

Sources of funding:

SERC/EPSRC/company.

Major focus of VR work:

Applications research, development and testing. Usability/utility evaluations, health and safety research -- effects of VR on users.

Application areas:

Training and education (mainstream and special needs), manufacturing -- varied according to user requirements.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Department of Learning Disabilities (Queens Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham), and Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (Charing Cross Hospital, London), Loughborough University.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

3 486 PCs, Superscape VRT, 1 Apple macintosh Quadra, Virtus, Crystal Eyes, Syberscope.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Glove, spaceball, joystick, mouse.

Name of group:

University of Sheffield (Virtual Reality in Engineering Research Group)

Contact name:

Dr Neil Mort

Address:

Department of Automatic Control & Systems Engineering, University of Sheffield, PO Box 600, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD.

Email:

r.hollands@sheffield.ac.uk

Tel:

0114 2825559

Fax:

0114 2731729

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

5--10

Backgrounds of group members:

Engineering.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1991

Sources of funding:

University research group

Major focus of VR work:

Application research.

Application areas:

Industrial simulation, educational simulators, robotic visualization, tactile feedback.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

VR in medicine and biology, University of Sheffield.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

PCs, Superscape VRT, VROOM, AVRIL, 3D-Ware, i-glasses, 2 * CyberMaxx, Powerglove, Cyberman, various homebrew devices: HMDs, trackers, gloves.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Mostly desktop VR interaction via 2D peripherals. Some voice input.

Name of group:

University of Sheffield (Virtual Reality in Medicine and Biology Group)

Contact name:

Dr Robin Hollands

Address:

Department of Automatic Control & Systems Engineering, University of Sheffield, PO Box 600, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD.

Email:

r.hollands@sheffield.ac.uk

Tel:

0114 2825186

Fax:

0114 2731729

WWW:

http://www.shef.ac.uk/~vrmbg

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

More than 10

Backgrounds of group members:

Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Computer Science.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1991

Sources of funding:

University research group, SERC/EPSRC

Major focus of VR work:

Medical application development, some hardware development. Application areas : Medical applications -- surgical trainers/simulators, visualisation tools, education packages

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

VR and Engineering group, University of Sheffield; Robotics Research Group, University of Sheffield; Smith & Nephew (medical instrumentation); Virtual Presence Ltd (equipment suppliers); various medical organisations VR-related hardware and software facilities used : PCs, graphics accelerator boards, SGI, JACK, Superscape VRT, WTK for DOS, VROOM, AVRIL, 3D-Ware, Polhemus 3Draw + aux receiver, Polhemus Fasttrak with 3 receivers, i-glasses!, 2*CyberMaxx, Powerglove, Cyberman, various homebrew devices: HMDs, trackers, gloves, prototype high-end medical instrumented glove.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Mostly desktop -- various input devices: gloves, dummy surgical instruments plus usual mouse + joystick

Name of group:

University of Southampton (Human Factors Research Unit)

Contact name:

Prof. M.J. Griffin (Head), Dr C.H. Lewis, Richard So (Research staff)

Address:

Human Factors Research Unit, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ.

Email:

chl@isvr.soton.ac.uk, mjg@isvr.soton.ac.uk, rhys@isvr.soton.ac.uk

Tel:

+44 (0)1703 592277

Fax:

+44 (0)1703 592927

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

9 in group (4 working on research relevant to VR.

Backgrounds of group members:

Ergonomics, Engineering.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1978 (early work on HMD reading performance under vibration.

Sources of funding:

Government agency (so far).

Major focus of VR work:

Human factors research.

Application areas:

Motion/Simulator sickness; Head aiming/tracking; Effects of vibration; Effects of system lags.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Defence Research Agency, United States Air Force.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

A 17x17 degree see-through monocular CRT HMD; 50 diameter see-through binocular CRT HMD; 2 magnetic head trackers, Silicon Graphics 4D-50G workstation.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Head-coupled immersive.

Name of group:

University of Strathclyde (Virtual Construction Simulation Research Group)

Contact name:

Dr A Retik

Address:

Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 107 Rottenrow, Glasgow G4 0NG

Email:

a.retik@strath.ac.uk

Tel:

0141 552 4400 x3420

Fax:

0141 553 2066

WWW:

http://www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/Civeng/conman/cm.html

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

5-10

Backgrounds of group members:

Civil Computer Science, Information Science.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1993

Sources of funding:

University research group + small grant from TEGGS

Major focus of VR work:

Application development.

Application areas:

Construction planning and scheduling, design coordination. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: `Virtual Construction Team' from Dept. of Civil Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, Lancaster University, Salford, Reading.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

PC 486/50 MHz, 20 Mb RAM, joystick, SuperScape VRT 3-50, 3D studio.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Non-immersive desktop and projection.

Name of group:

University of Wales College of Cardiff (Human Factors Research) group/Cardiff Virtual Environment Laboratory)

Contact name:

Mr Roy Ruddle

Address:

School of Psychology, University of Wales College of Cardiff, PO Box 901, Cardiff, CF1 3YG

Email:

ruddle@cardiff.ac.uk

Tel:

01222 874000 x5030

Fax:

01222 874858

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

University research group

Number of personnel in VR group:

5-10

Backgrounds of group members:

Psychology, Computing, Engineering, HCI, human learning

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1993

Sources of funding:

DRA, University of Wales (Cardiff), HEFCW

Major focus of VR work:

Large-scale VEs, MMIs, VEs as experimental platforms.

Application areas:

Cognition is large-scale VEs (e.g., navigation and orientation), multi-model and multi-task workload studies

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Contact Roy Ruddle for details. VR-related hardware and software facilities used : Two SGI REs, HMD, Polhemus trackers, Audio lab, PC-HMD system. Software: in house expertise + SGI OGL + Performer, Jack}

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Mouse/keyboard, 3D sensor

Name of group:

University of Wolverhampton (School of Computing and Information Technology)

Contact name:

Dr. J. Crellin

Address:

School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB

Email:

cm1942@ccub.wlv.ac.uk

Tel:

01902 322203

Fax:

01902 322680

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

PhD Supervision in a related area.

Number of personnel in VR group:

3 people interested in this area.

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science * 2, Psychology * 1.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1994

Sources of funding:

Company funded research project.

Major focus of VR work:

Interface metaphors for representation of 3D CAD objects.

Application areas:

CAD. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Work primarily on `desktop' VR.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Mouse and command, line, spaceball, 3D glasses.

Name of group:

Virtuality Group Plc

Contact name:

T W Rowley

Address:

Virtuality House, 3 Oswin Road, Brailsford Industrial Park, Braunstone, Leicester LE3 1HR.

Email:

terryr@virtuality.co.uk

Tel:

0116 2337000

Fax:

0116 2471855

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Equipment/software vendor/manufacturer.

Number of personnel in VR group:

110

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Graphics Design.

Time actively involved in VR work:

1984

Sources of funding:

Sales of VR products.

Major focus of VR work:

Hardware and software architectures, special purpose peripherals, man/machine interfaces, VR worlds, applications.

Application areas:

Entertainment, medical, promotion.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

IBM: manufacture and sale of VR products, Sega: development of entertainment environments, Atari: consumer product development.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Several sorts of VR systems are manufactured, giving complete coverage of the range of facilities.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Gloves, space joysticks, V-Flexors, head and hand trackers.

Name of group:

Virtual Presence Ltd

Contact name:

Mr John Hough

Address:

6 New Concordia Wharf, Mill Street, London SE1 2BB

Email:

john@presence.demon.co.uk

Tel:

0171 252 2922

Fax:

0171 237 1360

WWW:

http://www.demon.co.uk/presence

Type of organisation:

Equipment vendor/manufacturer/developer.

Number of personnel in VR group:

12

Backgrounds of group members:

Computer Science, Engineering, Marketing. Time actively involed in VR work: Since 1991 Source of funding: Private company.

Major focus of VR work:

Systems integration, applications development.

Application areas:

Industrial simulation, engineering, space simulation, underwater simulation, ergonomics, training, transport and logistics, CAD, art, data visualization Collaborations with other groups or organisations: - VR-related hardware and software facilities used: Full VR Lab containing: trackers, HMDs, workstations, toolkit software.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Magnetic, ultrasonic gloves and joysticks, 3D mice and spaceballs.

Name of group:

Virtual Studios Ltd

Contact name:

Ian Capon

Address:

`The Limes', 123 Mortlake High Street, Barnes, London SW14 8SN. Email : -

Tel:

0181 391 9000

Fax:

0181 392 2424

WWW:

http://vrworlds.com

Type of organisation:

Software vendor/manufacturer.

Number of personnel in VR group:

1--12

Backgrounds of group members:

Sales and marketing, Audio Engineering, Fine Art, Computer Software.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1990

Sources of funding:

Company.

Major focus of VR work:

Creating applications.

Application areas:

Consumer games, sales and marketing, new products, visualization.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Manufacturers.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

PCs, Apple Macintoshes, Division workstations.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Joystick/3D mouse + control pad

Name of group:

Vivax Ltd/Swansea Institute of Higher Education

Contact name:

Mr Martin Capey

Address:

c/o Faculty of Applied Design and Electronic Engineering, Swansea Institute of Higher Education, Mount Pleasant, Swansea SA1 6ED.

Email:

m.capey@sihe.ac.uk

Tel:

01792 842351/0589 219711

Fax:

01792 842351

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Company Research Group, based within the Faculty of Electronic Engineering.

Number of personnel in VR group:

4

Backgrounds of group members:

Optolectronics, systems engineer, product design, fine art/management/data management.

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1994

Sources of funding:

DTI

Major focus of VR work:

VR peripherals, particularly visual displays.

Application areas:

Head-mounted displays, retinal scanning. Collaborations with other groups or organisations: -

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

Apollo 715 workstations, PC platforms, SDRC `I-DEAS' software, wavefront personal visualizer software, SGI Indy Extreme. Styles of VR interaction techniques employed

Name of group:

Westland System Assessment Limited (VR Systems)

Contact name:

Anthony Elliot-Square

Address:

Telec House, Goldcroft, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4DQ. Email : -

Tel:

01935 33856

Fax:

01935 411051

WWW:

-

Type of organisation:

Company business areasx

Number of personnel in VR group:

10

Backgrounds of group members:

Operational research, mathematical modelling, trainign system analysis, design and development, computer programming

Time actively involved in VR work:

Since 1992

Sources of funding:

Business.

Major focus of VR work:

Application development to meet customers' requirements.

Application areas:

Training, space planning, promotion, data visualization.

Collaborations with other groups or organisations:

Superscape VR Plc.

VR-related hardware and software facilities used:

PC-based system up to Pentium 130; Superscape VR development software, Autodesk 3D studio software.

Styles of VR interaction techniques employed:

Desktop PC.