-Caveat Lector- The man Bruce Thomas mentioned in this article is my twin brother who now lives in Australia. When I visited him a number of years ago I got to play with the latest virtual reality equipment. I have to admit; it was kind of kewl.... Hilary Double vision's picture perfect By JENNIFER FORESHEW 18may99 MAPPING the outdoor location of underground pipes, cables in walls or even soldiers on a battlefield will be as simple as slipping on a pair of sunglasses. The University of South Australia has developed a wearable computer prototype that is carried on the back and uses a pair of high-tech "sunglasses" with television screens in each eye to overlay 3D information about the real world. Also attached to the wearer is a GPS (Global Positioning System), which knows where they are standing, and a digital compass. The prototype utilises "augmented reality", which is the ability to see the real world and computer-generated information about the environment at the same time. It has been used extensively in the medical field and indoor environments for less than 10 years. "It gives someone the ability to view map information on the ground or to have infrastructure information about a building displayed on the walls, or even geological information to be displayed on the side of a mountain," project leader Bruce Thomas said. The system also allows information to be exchanged or added, using voice, text, drawing, digital images or video. A five-member team from the School of Computer and Information Science have so far looked at applications for navigation in outdoor environments – such as walking in the bush – and for visualisation of moving 3D objects for combat simulation. "You can give it any three-dimensional model and it will display it in the world," Dr Thomas said. The project is partially funded by the Defence, Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), which has given $25,000 in grants and the use of $40,000 worth of equipment. The research is an off-shoot of the Wundurra Project, also involving the University and the DSTO, which involved evaluating different data-input technologies for wearable computers in the field. The DSTO provides technical advice to the Department of Defence. The prototype technology would allow a soldier to know the location of other soldiers on patrol, the enemy, or other patrols. "If there is a helicopter flying around in the sky what this can do is put a circle right around the region where the helicopter is, tell you the name of the helicopter, and if it is a friendly or an enemy helicopter," Dr Thomas said. Other applications include land or sea search and rescue missions, the visualisation of geological models in mining, and database access and data entry for ecologists. http://redback.news.com.au/image.ng/Params.richmedia=yes&site=tech&itsection =news DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
