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The interactive Virtual Interface
Environment Workstation (VIEW) was developed as a new
kind of media-based display and control environment that
is closely matched to human sensory and cognitive capabilities.
I proceeded with designs to grow the
prototype HMD (VIVED) into an interactive, multisensory
"system" (VIEW) that could be used as a "generic" user
interface for a range of space station applications. This
included designing the specifications for a dataglove
input device based on Tom Zimmerman's sensor invention
and negotiating the contract with VPL (their first) to
build them for us. I ordered a head-tracker from Polhemus
like the one we used at MIT and Atari, started working
with Beth Wenzel to add 3D sound and speech I/O to the
system, and began looking around for other hackers who
could help put this all together, including Mark Bolas,
Scott Foster, Steve Bryson, and Warren Robinett.
Advanced data display and manipulation
concepts for information management were also developed
with the VIEW system technology. Efforts included use
of the system to create a display environment in which
data manipulation and system monitoring tasks are organized
in virtual display space around the operator. Through
speech and gesture interaction with the virtual display,
the operator could rapidly call up or delete information
windows and reposition them in 3-space. The system also
had the capability to display reconfigurable, virtual
control panels that respond to glove-like tactile input
devices worn by the operator.
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