>From owner-trad-l@listserv.vt.edu Fri Oct 25 09:56:51 1996 Received: (from mailadm@localhost) by sable.cc.vt.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) id JAA04284 for fox@fox.cs.vt.edu; Fri, 25 Oct 1996 09:56:50 -0400 Received: from ipe.cc.vt.edu (ipe.cc.vt.edu [128.173.4.8]) by sable.cc.vt.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with ESMTP id JAA31712; Fri, 25 Oct 1996 09:56:48 -0400 Received: from ipe.cc.vt.edu (ipe.cc.vt.edu [128.173.4.8]) by ipe.cc.vt.edu (8.7.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id JAA251781; Fri, 25 Oct 1996 09:56:32 -0400 Received: from LISTSERV.VT.EDU by LISTSERV.VT.EDU (LISTSERV-TCP/IP release 1.8b) with spool id 1129643 for TRAD-L@LISTSERV.VT.EDU; Fri, 25 Oct 1996 09:56:31 -0400 Received: from sable.cc.vt.edu (sable.cc.vt.edu [128.173.16.30]) by ipe.cc.vt.edu (8.7.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id JAA138111; Fri, 25 Oct 1996 09:56:30 -0400 Received: from [128.173.126.10] ([128.173.126.10]) by sable.cc.vt.edu (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id JAA25953; Fri, 25 Oct 1996 09:56:27 -0400 X-Sender: conn@mail.vt.edu Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Message-Id: Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 09:56:31 -0400 Reply-To: "W. David Conn" Sender: trad-l Discussion List From: "W. David Conn" Subject: Video on MIT's Media Lab To: Multiple recipients of list TRAD-L As promised, I recorded the 1-hour PBS program on Wednesday in the Scientific American Frontiers series entitled "Inventing the Future: MIT's State-of-the-Art Media Lab." The tape is available for overnight loan from 419 Newman Library (please sign it out and remember to bring it back; we have to employ an Honor system for Self-Study materials). Steve Brauner kindly provided this review of the program: >I took some time Wednesday evening to watch the PBS special on computer >techonology so I thought I'd provide a brief review so that others on the >committee may decide to watch the video or not. The main point I gathered >from the program was that the research at MIT is very much directed at >better integration of human and computer. As noted in the opening segment, >some of the MIT research is attempting to fully integrate 3-Dimensional >computer generated objects with actual humans in 3-Dimensional space. This >would, for example, allow two or more individuals to teleconference about an >architectural design by actually walking thought the building together (even >though the teleconferencers are located at different physical locations) and >discuss and even alter the design as they 'walk' through. Other segments >talked much about helping computers better anticipate and learn about how to >interact better with humans by doing such things as facial expression >recognition, while still other parts of the show talked of fully integrating >computer technology into portable 'cyborg' units. > >In summary, I felt the show was interesting and did open my eyes to new, >almost unbelievable, ideas about how computers may eventually be integrated >into human life. On the other hand, I felt the program fell a bit short on >more practical topics such as the current state of technology. Also, Alan >Alda hosts the program and he is an enjoyable fellow to watch experiment >with this cutting edge technology. *********************************************************** W. David Conn, Professor & Special Assistant to the Provost Director of University Self-Study Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Blacksburg, VA 24061-0155, USA E-mail: conn@vt.edu Tel: (540) 231-2690 Fax: (540) 231-7211