> Regarding the CAVES. The issue for me is
> whether I can run it on something other
> than Sun (especially PC). Not that I have
> anything against Sun technology--in fact--
> I am totally apolitical regarding hardware
> and operating systems. But PCs are inexpensive-
> and for me to sell a CAVE system for mental
> health applications, it probably needs to
> be cheap.
Of course, since the development and testing can be done completely on a
PC or workstation (not a single line of code changed here, just the
config file), you could share a CAVE's usage with other interested
parties in your area, and hence the cost as well.
> That said, the PC so far can only handle 2
> screens--which I have running and it is
> pretty nice. One thing I like is that
> I can reposition my two screens all over
> the place-front back-sides--if I could do
> this with a single PC and 4-6 screens, we
> would really have something
I would think that once you have 4 walls though, you don't want to be
doing any repositioning, unless of course you want to keep recalculating
your view geometries... Now, for a 6 walled CAVE, I hope the people above
and below you in your building are willing to move out, and you can get
cheap construction workers to knock out the floor and ceiling... :-)
> The counter to the argument is that with 4-6
> screens, graphics cards, tracking, etc. who
> cares that the PC costs 5-10K less--indeed,
> a single Sun CPU could drive all the graphics
> pipelines (I think) and that would save.
Indded, the vast majority of the work is done on the graphics cards, so I
don't see the Java or CPUs as much of a limitation. Until you get into
simulation, not just visualization.
> Can someone outline the approximate cost of
> the Sun CAVE? I would guess about $80K-100K.
> but I could see it getting much higher
I think there are a lot of variables here. Do you just want to do
visualization (therefore no big CPU needs)? Will you sit the box right
next to the CAVE, or will you need signal extension technologies for
video? Do you have a sealed room big enough to put it in? (Our is
miraculously small at 20' by 20' with mirrors). Are you doing the
construction and design yourself? What kind of resolution do you want to
pull? The implementation quality os a big factor, which could multiply
your cost several fold.
> My guess:
>
> Tracker $10K
> Sun equipment $20K
> Projectors: $2-3K * 6 $18K each
> Screens and construcution: $10K
> Stereoglasses: $1K
>
> Well, maybe not $80K but I bet that's close.
>
> How about Linux/Windows CAVE? My student tells
> me we can now sync multiple PCs using a new
> graphics card but I am dubious-plus each PC
> would cost another $1500 or so--what is the
> future of multiple pipes on PC? Why is this
> so hard for PC's but not other platforms?
UNIX vendors have always had concerted effort computation in mind in their
designs, PC parts manufacturers have not.
> Another idea-should we form a special interest
> group for CAVES, much like Justin did for
> terrain? How about Java 3D and display/viewing
> in general? Or we could keep going on the
> regular channel.
I think we can keep this on the main list. Besides construction
and ConfiguredUniverse settings details, there is no difference in the
coding (thankfully! :-)).
Regards,
Paul
----------------------------------------------------
Purgamentum init, exit purgamentum
Paul Gordon
Research Associate
University of Calgary
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