Date: Sat, 16 Jan 1999 12:25:51 -0500 From: Eric J Pierce Subject: BVRG Jan. Meeting: Virtual FishTank at The Computer Museum ------------ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY------------ THE BOSTON VIRTUAL REALITY GROUP PRESENTS THE VIRTUAL FISH TANK AT THE COMPUTER MUSEUM WITH NEAR LIFE, INC. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1999 ________________________________________________________________ Join the Boston Virtual Reality Group and Near Life, Inc. at the Computer Museum for a presentation on the creation of the Virtual FishTank Exhibit. In the Virtual FishTank, visitors create and interact with their own virtual fish to discover new insights into how complex living systems work. The exhibit is a collaboration with the MIT Media Lab and Nearlife, Inc. The Museum has built this compelling, simulated aquatic environment, combining the latest techniques in 3-D computer graphics and real-time interactive character animation. The $1.2 million exhibition is being developed with a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation the largest ever to the Museum and funding from The Ernst & Young Center For Business Innovation, the Kapor Family Foundation, Sun Microsystems, anonymous gifts and other donations, including substantial in-kind support. Major In-Kind Sponsors include Bay Networks, Inc.; Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.; MicroTouch Systems, Inc.; Mitsubishi Electronics America, Inc.; Sony Electronics Inc.; and the Volition Cabling System from 3M. In-Kind Sponsors include autodessys, Inc.; Barbizon Light of New England; Bose Corporation; Chromacolor; Lightscape Technologies, Inc.; Motorola, Inc.; NEC Technologies, Inc.; Racore Technology Corporation; and Stewart Filmscreen Corporation. The project represents the most complicated software development of an exhibit that the Museum has ever undertaken. Nearlife, Inc., an MIT Media Lab spin-off, is providing the exhibit design, art direction, visuals and software for The Virtual FishTank. Combining the Museums expertise in creating large-scale, immersive educational experiences and the Media Labs knowledge of artificial life and decentralized systems, the FishTank has been germinating for five years. But recent advances in software technology, such as Nearlifes Directable Characters now enable the virtual fish to interact with visitors and other fish in real time. We are thrilled to work on a project that so tightly integrates design and technology to educate and entertain, explains Tinsley Galyean, president, Nearlife, Inc. More information about the FishTank and Near Life can be found at the URLs below: http://www.tcm.org/html/fishtank/index.html http://www.tcm.org/html/fishtank/vft_nearlife.html This meeting is made possible through the wonderful support of Stina Cook at the Computer Club House. Members of the Clubhouse will be joining us!! What's the Computer Clubhouse all about? The Computer Clubhouse is an after-school learning environment where young people explore their own interests and become confident learners through the use of technology. For more info, check it out their website at http://209.196.133.164/ To offset the cost of a security guard at the Computer Museum, a $2 donation will be requested during the meeting. See you there! MEETING DETAILS: --------------- When: Thursday, January 21, 7:00 PM EST Location: The Computer Museum 300 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 617-426-2800/ Talking Computer 617-423-6758 By MBTA: Take the "T" Commuter Rail or subway trains, or Amtrak trains to South Station, then walk east on Summer Street, turn left on Dorchester Avenue behind the Federal Reserve Bank, turn right on Congress Street, go across the bridge and look for the giant Milk Bottle just on the other side of the Fort Point Channel. The Computer Museum entrance is on the far side of the large green elevator tower. By Car: >From North: Take the Expressway (I-93) south to exit 23, High & Congress Streets. Make the first left onto Congress Street and stay over to the right. Go through two lights and over the Congress Street Bridge. The Museum is on the left at the foot of the bridge. >From South: Take the Expressway (I-93) north to Downtown, Massachusetts Turnpike/Chinatown Exit. Bear left to sign marked Downtown Boston. At the end of the ramp, take a right on Kneeland Street to South Station. Make a left onto Atlantic Avenue. Go through two lights, make a right on Congress Street and cross over the bridge. The Museum is on the left at the foot of the bridge. >From West: Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) east to Downtown Boston, South Station Exit. Go through three lights onto Congress Street, turn right and cross the bridge. The Museum is on the left at the foot of the bridge. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of parking spaces around the Museum, including on-street parking on Congress Street and Northern Avenue. ======================================================================= Boston VR Group - A Gathering of Minds for Cyberspace Development: The Group meetings are a great way to meet others who are "actually" developing Virtual Environments. Whether you have an interest in the discussions, 3-D modelling, interactively generating and/or coding virtual worlds, or somewhere in between, there lots to do and talk about!!! Boston VR Group Philosophy: The purpose of the Boston Virtual Reality Group is to provide an ongoing venue for developing virtual environments as well as a forum for bringing scientists and developers together with VR enthusiasts/potential users. Through actively exploring both the technology and its cultural implications, exposing each to the other's thoughts and ideas, and "learning from" and "sharing with" industry leaders, we can help shape the future of this medium. ====================================================================== FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: ------------------------------ Director BCS-VRG: Brenden C.Maher Speaker Requests: brenden@media.mit.edu voice: (617) 308-0599