NPS Distinguished Lecturer Series
michael zyda
zyda at cs.nps.navy.mil
Tue Oct 17 10:01:46 AEST 1989
The Naval Postgraduate School's
Computer Science Distinguished Speaker Series Presents
INTERACTIVE 3D DISPLAYS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY:
Beyond the Desktop Metaphor
Professor Henry Fuchs
Department of Computer Science
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Date: October 19, 1989
Time: 3:10 - 4:00 pm
Place: Spanagel 421
Host: Associate Professor Michael J. Zyda
Abstract
The direct manipulation WYSIWYG interface popularized by the Apple Macintosh
is fine for most 2D applications but inadequate for most 3D ones. Described
in this talk is work at UNC-Chapel Hill on a direct manipulation interactive
3D system based on Ivan Sutherland's head-mounted display ideas of the 1960's.
In order to have a usefully-effective system of this kind, several major
problems need to be solved: 1) absolutely real-time image generation with
minimal lag, 2) precise but minimally obtrusive tracking of the user's head
and hand, 3) generation of a comfortable and effective head-mounted display,
and 4) development of new human-machine interaction protocols that work for
real applications. At UNC-Chapel Hill we have been working on most of these
problems: a) a new graphics system, Pixel-Planes 5, that should generate
over 1 million polygons per second (about 10 times that of current top-of-
the-line graphics workstations), b) a real-time head-tracking device that
can determine the user's position in a large room by imaging LEDs on the
ceiling with a small head-worn camera, and 3) interaction protocols for
architectural and medical applications using this system in which the
user can visualize, move about, and interact with a virtual 3D environment
in a natural WYSIWYG fashion. A videotape sequence shows the current
state of these various systems. Difficult remaining problems are described.
About the Speaker
Henry Fuchs is Federico Gil professor of computer science and adjunct
professor of radiation oncology at the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill. He received a BA in Information and Computer Science
from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1970 and a PhD in
computer science from the University of Utah in 1975. He has been
an associate editor of ACM Transactions on Graphics (1983-1988) and
the guest editor of its first issue. He was the technical program chair
for ACM Siggraph'81 Conference, chairman of the 1985 Chapel Hill
Conference on Advanced Research in VLSI, and chairman of the 1986
Chapel Hill Workshop on Interactive 3D Graphics. He serves on various
advisory committees, including that of NSF's Division of Microelectronic
Information Processing Systems and Stellar Computer's Technical Advisory
Board.
Attendance Notes
This presentation is open to the public.
The Naval Postgraduate School is adjacent to Highway 1 and is one
of the first Monterey exits. The lecture will be held in
Spanagel Hall 421. Spanagel Hall is the highest building
on campus and is visible from Highway 1 as the 6 story building
with all the antennas on top. Exit Highway 1 on Camino Aguajito.
Take Camino Aguajito West (right off the Highway) to 7th St.
Turn North on 7th (right turn). Take 7th to Sloat. Turn
right on Sloat and take the first left into the school
(at 9th St.). Spanagel Hall is in front of you, on your
left. Park in a brown space, if possible.
If you need telephone directions, contact the departmental office
at (408) 646-2449.
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