Hi Carl!
 CB> Gee, where is Matt S.?
Shhhhh, you're gonna blow it!  :)       He'd have a fit.
I saw the DRC fwd as well.  
This month's BYTE Magazine has an article on "PUSH" technology that may 
interest you as an educator -- I think the maturation of ed systems will 
be heading in that direction, saving both teachers and students loads of 
time and trouble.
...been thinking about you a bit.  ...something you wrote about having a 
computer club or a group of advanced students that "putter around".
I just sent a pair of kit components for a pair of virtual reality 
headgear units to some students at the University of Texas, Austin, 
on the condition that they "breadboard them out" and think of how 
they might inspire a group of kids by distance ed technique to 
build a set of their own using half of the total of components.
...and then "do it". 
I was thinking of your group if something like that sounds interesting 
to you -- was also thinking of the aussie group down under since they're 
studying to be technology educators.  ...but the kids down Austin way 
have the stuff right now.  ...if it "breadboards out" ok I'd like to 
know if you're interested or have any ideas along these lines.
I couldn't pass the stuff up -- a company called "Halted Specialties Corp." 
was offering them as individual pieces.  ...what I sent down was four ea. 
of color lcd screens .7" sq.; the flourescent backlights; the 90 degree 
optics units (like periscope stuff w/ precision optics and mirrors) and 
two of the kinda crescent shaped circuit cards (visor position) made to 
hook all the stuff up for mono (dupe for each screen) or true stereo 
use.  ...short connector wires, clips, etc, were included as well as 
complete docs for the cards and tech bulletin for the lcd screens.
The cards have stereo audio built in as well -- but no speakers.
I forget now whether they take s-video or ntsc color but the gear was all 
"name brand" and was for one of the first and foremost manufacturers of 
VR headgear products.  I had figured that the superstructure of an 
industrial face shield frame could be modified to make the "MIT lookin'"
rig. (did you see the "Alan Alda at MIT" thing on tv?)  :) :) :)
Anyway, if the kids down at Austin don't blow the stuff up, , I 
*might* have something for your group to "sink their teeth into" if 
you're willing.  I won't be a participant in this -- my only request 
is that the effort be a long distance collaborative one somehow.
...matter of fact, I can't promise anything since they have the gear. :) 
...anyway, the reason they have it (cs nerds) is to test it out and 
see if they can help envision "what might be".  ...they already came 
up with the idea of remote tours of each other's area.   ...if you 
have access to a group of tech retirees a ld controlled robot at 
each site would be ideal so the collaborative partners could each 
control their own "view".   ...'s only fair. :) :) :)
...obviously this belongs in the realm of a computer club but it 
can sure get your immaginative juices going.  I had "inner-city kids" 
collaborating with a group in a foreign country in mind when I first 
grabbed the parts but (a) I'm running out of personal time and 
(b) having a dorm full of high-energy geeks and nerds toy with it and 
see what they can imagine just seems like a wonderful idea. :)
Any ideas?   ...infinity could be a problem here. :) :) :)
There's a whole web page on cameras for telescopes on the inet.
...home-brew cameras!  ...printer motors = stepper motors = robots! 
When was the last time you pointed a lens up at the sky in the 
Southern Hemisphere ??
...your turn. :) :) :)
-frank:)
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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