From tewksbur@staff.uiuc.edu Fri Apr 24 13:07:32 1998 Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 20:33:50 -0500 From: David Tewksbury To: tcoffin@ncsa.uiuc.edu Subject: CAVE visit essays (4-16 and 4-21 visits) Tom, As you requested, here are electronic copies of my students' reaction essays. **** Kathy Broneck: The virtual CAVE tour was quite interesting-not anything like what you see on television when sci-fi films create 'virtual worlds'. Being able to participate in the CAVE demonstration allowed me to see what technology had in store for us later on. While a system is still too expensive for the average person (I think the guide said it was around $1 million), the prices are dropping. By viewing many different virtual programs (from Nice_Boy to DOOM I), we were able to see the vast variety of implications in store for virtual reality. I liked the idea that companies can utilize this technology and go through simulations that would help them in their fields. I now realize why the airforce, doctors and engineering designers would be interested in virtual reality. With it, they can create domains and experiment within these places without actually affecting anything in a negative way if something were to go wrong. With some modifications, these virtual simulations will be an ideal training ground in the future. Hopefully they will be able to mesh this technology with that at MIT (the gloves that allow for a person to 'feel' what they are working on in cyberspace). With more ideas, innovations and necessary uses, virtual reality systems will be in high demand. The only problem is trying to get the prices down for reasonable integration within the normal population of the US. Within my major, Speech Communication, virtual reality may play a bigger role than anyone could imagine. Instead of running a flat simulation on a computer (like how to interview, consulting, presentations), a person could enter a 'virtual office' and receive training from there. The program could help track and monitor non-verbal cues and adjust the computerized images to adjust to the trainee's surroundings. For example, each person reacts differently in a different set of environments. By submerging a person into an environment to train and then continually changing this environment to fit non-verbal cues, responses and different scenarios, the trainer and the trainee can better understand/give more in-depth feedback as to what needs to be done in correcting his/her performance. Allowing a person to 'interact' in a more realistic way (rather than typing on a computer, making them think that they are actually in an office and interact using voice and perhaps a wand to pick up things) helps to establish a better 'untainted' sample of performance. Virtual reality could also be used for consulting purposes within my major. After a problem has been diagnosed within a company, a virtual lab can be set up to rectify the problem. This could include training sessions, but it could also be adjusted to fit the trainees needs. For example, if a consultant were to go in and run a conference on appraisals, it might fix the general problem for many taking the conference course. However, if your problem were more of feedback in appraisals, a general course wouldn't necessarily help you. By adjusting a program to fit your desired needs, you will receive specialized training that will affect you more than if it were general training. By placing this training in a virtual world, you get a more realistic setting and therefore will give a more realistic presentation of oneself. Overall, a virtual CAVE can help anyone in any major. The impacts of this technology is only limited by the imagination of the user. **** Kedric Lewis: After attending the VEG facility demonstration on the 16th my first impression was that of joy. I am glad I got the opportunity to visit the U of I facility. Before this assignment, I did not know a place like this existed on campus in which students had access. I have seen this type of virtual environment before on television , but never got the opportunity to experience it first hand. However the actual demonstration was Ok because there technical difficulties throughout the demonstration. But overall, I would rate it as a positive experience. I particularly liked being in the cave and being an active participant in the whole process. It's kind of funny because during the demonstration I began getting a little motion sick as we were in the program where you tour through the building. At first I thought it was just me, however at the end of the demonstration, we as a group began discussing the tour and to my surprise, we all were a little motion sick. I found it funny because everyone was thinking the same thing, but were afraid to talk about it because we thought that it was just as isolated case affecting that one individual. As far as VEG affecting my field of study, I really don't see a link or a strong link. I am in the field of advertising, and I don't see it changing or revolutionizing the industry to much. First of all its too expensive. I was told at the demonstration that the cave cost about one million dollars. Although, the prices will drop as the technology becomes more commonplace, I still don't see the tie in with my major. However , i do see a positive link in the software industry, like video games etc. where the consumer can feel as if they are really there. **** Matthew Peske: I enjoyed the visit to the CAVE very much. It was interesting to actually experience what I have read about in magazines and heard about through the media for the last few years. While it was interesting to see the CAVE I left a little bit unimpressed with the technology. I was unimpressed because I thought that the virtual experience would seem real where I would actually move in response to the environment that I was in. Instead it seemed like a computer program playing on three sides of me. I think that the CAVE technology could have many possible communication uses if the technology was improved. One possible use could be sort of a video phone where you could actually interact with a person that is geographically isolated. Another possible use would be perhaps an interactive televison program where the person at home could interact with those on television. Thank you very much for allowing me to see the CAVE technology. **** Michelle Brown: After hearing so much about Virtual Reality, it was nice to finally see what all of the fuss is about. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to the hype. I don't see what advantage VR technology has over 3-D movies and computer games. Playing the VR version of DOOM didn't seem any more real to me than playing Nintendo. The flower garden was indeed NICE, but I think kids are better off learning about nature the old fashioned way - by planting a bean in a styrofoam cup and waiting impatiently for the thing to sprout. Even the more practical applications, like using VR to teach medical students about the inner ear, don't seem to offer advantages over a traditional computer. The software is quite impressive. I guess I just don't understand the point of projecting the image on to four walls. This only served to give me a huge headache and motion sickness. I trust there are other useful applications of this technology - I would like to have heard about them. As for the impact of virtual environments on my field of study, they have provided more work for copyright lawyers! Nevertheless, I wonder if there aren't more important things for some of the world's greatest minds to be working on. **** Jennifer Williams: The potential communication applications that could arise out of VR is infinite in the possibilities.One application could be the replacement of transparencies and storyboards for project meetings. VR would allow business people to show the different views of a project without lugging the hardware to the meeting. People would be able to experience the ideas and models without actually having to pass around a model. I've seen prototypes of using VR to put together reports across the world without being in the same room. Sunfire has set up an immersive desk for offices to do this implementation. I could potentially see VR replace the office atmosphere. People wouldn't need a place to work. Cubicles would be set up with an immersive desk and people could keep everything on the server. Paper would be eliminated, so a traditional desk would not be needed. Another area where VR would be good would be using it as a collboration tool. People could pretend to meet face to face but they are technically situated miles apart. They could create reports and share information without needing a meeting location. Also, virtual assistants could replace secretaries. People wouldn't need someone to write letters or file paper. Their desktop personality could do all that for them and have a personality which gets along with everyone. One thing I have seen is the Virtual director that we saw in the CAVE. Sunfire's video used this director software to create a commercial without having to be on the set. The person could edit and film what they wanted for their proposal. The need for traditional film and equipment was almost eliminated. Overall, I really liked the CAVE experience. I wish that everyone could have tried the sensor glasses and the same locations. I felt that my group didn't get to experience movement in the catherdral. I would have liked to have been able to do this exercise. But in total, I really liked the chance to do something most people don't normally get to do. **** Karen Karmazin: The first impression that I had of the the virtual reality cave was excitement. I have always wanted to it and was happy that I had the chance to do this before I left the University. The cave appeared to be a relatively large high tech area that served the purpose of the tour properly. I was engaged in a demonstration of swimming in the ocean with fish and being able to actually feed them, and look at them from all different directions. During the demonstration I was chosen to wear the main glasses for the cave and actually be in control of the decisions of the cave. When the second group was engaged in the demonstration I was watching a computer monitor behind the cave that displayed just exactly what was occurring with the group. Since there are many different things that you can do with virtual reality, it was interesting to see all the options associated with the different areas of interest. Our guide showed us that you could not only watch a virtual reality experience , but you could also make your own and edit your own experience. It was very interesting to see the cave and its thousands of different options associated with the virtual reality experience. In my personal area of experience I see the virtual reality not having too much emphasis on my field. Since I am heading into the stock market and mutual funds area, the only thing I could imagine happening would be the cave being able to portray all of the different market prices at one time on the screen so that people could be kept up to date on the market activity. I do think though that it will have a tremendous impact on the business world today. I enjoyed the opportunity that I had to visit, and I am glad to see that the University of Illinois is being able to fund the research and costs associated with the technology **** Phillina Reyes: Our visit to the cave was extremely interesting and informative. However, it was nothing like I was expecting. This was my first experience with the virtual environment. I have seen people pay a lot of money at North Pier up in Chicago to participate in virtual reality. The virtual reality program up there is quite different. The participant stands on a platform, puts on a headset, and from what I understand plays a type of video game. I was under the impression that all of the virual reality programs were more of video games. I really did not know what the virtual reality environment is used for. I was surprised to find out that we only wore eye glasses, we stood in an area that resembled a box, and it was not anything like a video game at all. I have never experienced anything like it before. I was amazed at how I actually felt like I was moving around the room when I was wearing the glasses. It was even more amazing to feel like I was actually falling off the edge while were were touring the cave. Like I mentioned before, I was surprised to discover that the participants only wore special glasses. I was expecting the participants to wear the head gear that the tour guide mentioned and like I have witnessed in the past. I was happy that we were able to wear just the glasses and were still able to see our hands and the people around us. I do think that the tour would have been more affective if we had a smaller crowd. It was difficult to work with so many students and we were forced to take turns experiencing the virtual environment. I also think it would have been more exciting if each person would have been able to lead the group with the one special set of glasses and remote control. I am assuming with smaller groups that is possible. I do not forsee virtual environments impacting our field of study for quite a while. First of all, as the tour guide mentioned, there are only 20 caves in the the whole world. Not only are there a select number of these caves, but they are extremely expensive to produce. He said that it costs about a million dollars to create. Plus they have to be updated on a regular bases. The tour guide even commented that the cave here at the university needs to be updated. Virtual environments can be useful in the orientation and training departments of companies. Companies can use these environments to train thier employees as well as give them a tour of the plant or the companies facilities. It would be a lot more convenient to show a new employee around a company through a virtual environment versus the real environment. However, there are some drawbacks to this as well. The new hire would miss the face to face contact of meeting his fellow peers if he toured the company via a vitrual environment. When a new hire is first exploring the facilities, he usually is able to meet several of the other employees and he would not be able to do this if he participated in the virtual tour. **** Amanda Farrell: Communication technologies of the Virtual Reality Cave Based on my experience with the Virtual Reality Cave, it is hard to forecast what effects this will have on communication technologies. It seems that right now the cave is mainly used for letting people experience what it is like in a three dimensional world. The possibilities are endless for this technology in the world of video and computer games. I can see both children and adults alike wanting to experience the thrill of the Cave, wanting to come back for more. The possibilites for this technolgy in medicine also seem promising. As someone raised in my group that visited the cave, a doctor could view a cancer cell in the cave and be able to travel through it, looking at all its facets. Being able to do this leaves unlimited opportunities open to doctors. And doctors across the country will be able to do research at the same time if more facilites get the Virtual Reality Cave. **** Tracy Gregor: I was very interested in having the opportunity to experience virtual reality. The cave was not exactly what I had expected and I had a much different experience than I had anticipated. The cave itself is very impressive and I was surprised to hear that there are only twenty in the world. However, I was less impressed with the virtual reality programs. The first program was under water where the viewers could experience looking at fish. I only observed this program but felt it looked very animated, not like reality. The second program, the program in which I participated, was graphics that we had to move around. We could move in all directions, go up stairs, and even fall to lower levels. The movement was interesting, but I did not think the graphics were outstanding or that the program was very interesting. Further, I did not feel as if I was experiencing what was going on, only that I was watching. However, after a couple minutes of racing around and falling of levels, I felt nautious. It was a wierd experience, not really feeling like I was experiencing what was happening, but just from watching I experienced a side effect. Maybe I do not understand exactly how virtal reality is supposed to work, but I still feel like it wasn't reality, just something I was watching rather than experiencing. It seemed more animated or like just a computer program than actual reality. The last program was where we could record our experience and replay it. I think this is an interesting feature, but to be honest I was feeling so nautious from earlier I had a hard time concentratig on this next program. Overall, I think it was a worthwhile experience an I was interested in how it worked and what we could experience, but I was not as impressed with the programs we observed. In regards to the effects virtual reality may have on society: I fear that virtual reality experince will replace actual experience. If one can experience emotions and physical feelings in this private, non threatening type of atmosphere, there may be less of a motivation to go outside of virtual reality and experince these feelings for real. I think there may be the potential for abuse, that people may lose touch with reality and replace it with virtual reality. From my experience, there is a big difference between the two and one should not be sacrificed for the other. I appreciate the opportunity to visit the virtual reality cave. I am impressed with the ideas behind the technology. I think that the experience may not have been what I anticipated. I thought I would really feel like I was experiencing what I was viewing, rather than just feling like I was viewing a computer program. I did experience a real feeling from the program, but I would have rather experienced it entirely, not just the side effect. I am still impressed with some of the ideas explaine to us for the future. I think this could be a very useful technology, yet also has the potential to be misused. **** This is what I have so far. I will send along more in a different e-mail. - dave t ****************************************************************** David Tewksbury 244 Lincoln Hall Speech Communication 702 S. Wright St. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, IL 61801 tewksbur@uiuc.edu 217-244-7001 ******************************************************************