🚀 go-pugleaf

Okay, in this past weekend I have had serious discusion about a 
software package for the Amiga which claims to be a VR toolkit.
Claims I make on its abilities or lack of are from about
1/2 hour of using the software and reading the manual. I am sorry
that I don't remember the correct title of the software. This is not
intended to be a review, but I am using it as a basis to ask questions.

This software gives you the Adventure Construction Set (TM) of VR, 
you get an application which allows you to create a 3d environment,
a limited amount of rules for the objects in the environment, and
access to the Amiga mouse and keyboard. It is fast, and seems to be
a great deal of fun.

Problems I had seeing this as a true VR product.
1) Lighting models. All graphics are based on a single ambient light,
no shading, no reflections.
2) Very limited expansion. No external code interface, no provisions
for sensors beyond those given.

It also has no texture mapping, which I don't mind too much, but in 
combination with the lack of any lighting models, kills any ability
to create "realistic" graphics.

Now the philosophical question:
VR is not defined as just some graphics/sound, some input devices, and a
database, but more as the interaction of people and data, but basic tools
are required to make this interface work properly. How low does this
interaction go until we come to the point where there is no real  
interface? In what way does VR differ from my NeXT's windowing system?
  
Sorry for the Long Post, and Useless Question(TM), hopefully it will
make you ponder VR as it has done for me.

Eric Wampner
Keeper of Math Majors and Other Helpless Beings
wampner@acme.ucf.edu
I do not speak for my employer, school, or friends. :-)