Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 51

Sunday, March 8, IWI The Arizona Rrpuhllc F.3 Imagine: Being there without really being there iJ i Virtual reality adds dimension to environment games now is a primitive virtual-reality interface." 'You're licensed to fly Virtual reality is most advanced at the military level, where it's used as a flight simulator to train fighter pilots. "If you can fly on the machine, you're licensed to fly the plane," Leonard said. Virtual-reality systems that complex where you can move accurately over the topography of Iraq, for example, and fly through the sky and shoot down simulated opponents require a mainframe computer to process the vast number-crunching. "But we're getting to the point where there are mainframe computers on chips," Leonard said. Although advancements in virtual reality may be a virtual certainty, there will be prices to pay.

That's why Leonard created The Lawnmower Man as a cautionary tale. "The decisions we make as a culture about how we use the human-machine interface will be one of the biggest questions we face as a society," the director said. "It's a huge pit we could fall into. We need to think about who controls these systems and how they are used. "People who are pioneering this field tend to be naive about all the positive uses.

There are some angry primates on this planet, and some of them are in charge of our governments. I shudder to think what uses they will put these technologies to." Although he works in the entertainment field, Leonard sees an added danger in the home use of virtual-reality game sets. "There's an addictive aspect to virtual reality," he said. "It's the ultimate escape, and it will be even more difficult for people to get out of than TV." The electronic gloves allow you to move yourself and other objects within that computerized world. For example, you could pick up a rock on the 3-D computer screen, and the computer would show you what was under the stone.

In the future, these gloves and a full-body sensor-suit could give you the tactile feel of everything that happens within that world. If, for example, you were to shake electronic hands with another person playing in the same game, your real hand would feel shaken. Imagination comes into play When the technology is ready to live up to its promise, virtual reality will give you the sensation of being there without being there. That's where the imagination comes into play because the limits of your imagination are the limits of virtual reality. That's why virtual-reality programmers call themselves world makers.

Brett Leonard, who directed and co-wrote The Lawnmower Man, uses his adventure movie to introduce the concept of virtual reality to the public. He also explores the scientific and philosophical problems involved in making virtual reality a reality. World of possibilities Leonard outlined a few of the virtual possibilities: "You could stay home and attend a virtual school with students from around the world," Leonard said. "It makes the concept of geographical location irrelevant. "You could use virtual playing fields to learn sports because you get instantaneous feedback about what you're doing.

"Virtual-reality systems can teach surgeons how to operate on real Marnie (Jenny Wright) and Jobe (Jeff New Una Clnama Fahey) are transformed in the science-fiction thriller The Lawnmower Man a sensory suit that allowed you to see and touch the person over a phone line." Already on the frontiers Phones are an important part of the virtual future. Programmers envision a national network, with access to unlimited, realistic worlds through fiber-optic phone lines. Anyone with a virtual-reality set By Bob Fnatr Tha Arizona Republic Imagine if you could turn on your computer and: Play tennis with Jimmy Connors. When you aced Jimmy, you actually would feel the ball explode ofT your racket. Design universe of your own and then feel like you were living in it.

Engage in simulated sex with an electronically beautiful stranger. These are only a few of the promises dangled in our near-future by the advanced computer-graphics field called virtual reality. Currently, the field is in its infancy. The technology's reality is more cartoonish than virtual, and the systems are expensive to use. The military uses virtual-reality computer' graphics to train fighter pilots.

Architects use it to manipulate intricate designs. But pioneers in the field get excited when they think about having virtual-reality sets for home use the ultimate TV in three to five years. Creating 3-D environments As seen in the new science-fiction movie The Lawnmower Man, virtual-reality systems create three-dimensional environments that would seem real to you once you're strapped into a viewing helmet and control gloves. The helmet or goggles take you into a visually realistic world by giving each eye a slightly different view of the field, thereby creating a 3-D effect. Sorcery of By Bob Fnstr Tha Arizona Rapublic If you see The Lawnmower Man, you'll probably want to know two things: How did they create those special effects, and where can you get one of those machines for yourself? The second question is easy to answer: You can't.

Not yet. The virtual-reality systems aren't available as they're depicted in the movie. Th'at leads us back to the first question: How they created the on-screen magic that makes these systems look real. Many of the virtual-reality effects in The Lawnmower Man were created by Angel Studios of San Diego. Michael Limber, the director of ELLIS special effects draws on body blueprints for realism people by letting them practice on virtual patients." Most people interested in the field of virtual reality eventually start talking about virtual sex, an application hackers refer to as teledildonics.

"Phone sex is already virtual sex because you're not really meeting a real person, and look how popular that has become," Leonard said. "Imagine if you had on goggles and Inside the computer, the body of each player was put together "like a marionette," Limber said, "so we could manipulate them on the screen." Once a synthetic actor is entered into the computer, an animator maneuvers him through each scene, frame by frame. "The computer gives you the in-betweens," Limber said. The computer allows the animators to apply various surface qualities to the actors and the environment: color, texture, light, camera perspectives. "Our effects let you set up a complete scene within the computer," Limber said.

and a digital phone could interact in any virtual realm with anyone ejse on the network. Although those are all future maybes, techies already are tapping on the virtual frontiers. "Virtual reality allows for an expansion of the human mind," Leonard said. "Right now, we're at the stone-knives and bearskins level. "The power glove you see in home Tron (1982) was the last movie to take viewers so extensively into a computerized environment, where computer-animated characters replaced the actors.

"The technology has come a long way since Tron," said Brett Leonard, who directed The Lawnmower Man. "What you saw in Tron, you can now do on your Mac." Leonard said the computer graphics used in his $10 million movie were similar to the computerized effects used in Terminator 2, which cost more than $70 million. Far more cartoonish He also said games such as the ones depicted in 77ie Lawnmower Man are MARCUS ROBERTS mm Wonderful These gifted performers of contemporary jazz piano computer animation, explained how they developed such realistic effects. "We started by breaking the scenes down shot by shot on storyboards." The actors in the movie engage in a variety of computer environments. Limber called those digitized players "synthetic actors." Served as a blueprint Limber and his team created these synthetic actors by drawing up a design for each body part: arms, elbows, shoulders, hands, etc.

These drawings served as a blueprint. The front, side, top and bottom views of each body part then were digitized and entered into their computer-graphics system. MARS AIIS and pop songs. March 20 21, 8 p.m., 1 9 IDA monarch of Zydeco, that spicy blend I present a dazzling program of solo and duo improvisations inn-nn-n great American jazz Friday and Saturday, Funded in part by Honeywell, Inc. ROBERT MORSE in "TRU from three to five years away.

"There are some arcades that claim to have virtual-reality games now," Leonard said. "But it's far more cartoonish than the graphics you see in my movie." Angel Studios is working on a virtual-reality game that would re-create some of the game sequences seen in The Lawnmower Man. "Right now, virtual-reality systems are very crude," Limber said. "Your senses aren't updated quickly enough, and it makes people nauseous." Limber thinks movie directors soon will have virtual-reality systems that will allow them to generate models of a movie, scene by scene on a computer screen, so they can plan everything before they film it. March 12 SIDE STREET STRUTTERS BEST OF MUMMENSCHANZ March 13 VICTOR BORGE-PIANIST March 14 ST.

PATTY'S DAY DINNER AND DANCE March 15 SPRING CONCERT-CHANDLER CENTER ROBBIE KRIEGER BAND MUSICA DOLCE HENRY MANCINI GUESTS March 18-19 GYMNASTICS va JAPAN March 18 DRIVING MISS DAISEY TRACY LAWRENCE March 20-22 MISSION IHBA March 21 BATTLE OF THE RAPPERS SALUTATION TO SPRING March 22 BRIDAL FASHION SHOWCASE BISBEE ARTISTS' STUDIO TOUR March 23 THE WOLFE TONES March 24 QUINTESSENCE B.A.D. P.I.L. March 25-April 4 THE CHERRY ORCHARD Weekends through March 15 RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL Written and Directed by Jay Pressor) Allen Tony-winner Robert Morse gives the performance I -JSC Jj i I of a lifetime in this acclaimed comedy about the infamous, the unforgettable, and the irreverent Truman Capote. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Mirrh 23 25. 8 a.m..

Ktl IP tfiS I Wednesday, March 25, 2 p.m., $30 Behavior programmed Some of the backgrounds in the movie's game environments are created in the computer through small units called particles. "We can program the behavior of these particles," Limber said, "their velocity, life span, acceleration." The synthetic actors then are layered on top of these computerized particles. "It's like moving actors around on a set until you get the action you want," Limber said. These digital techniques mean that six or seven computer animators can turn out the work of hundreds of animators working by hand. it -George Gershwin Cliffords I lckets price.

Co-sponsored by Phelps Dodge futraiem.ts QUEEN PHOENIX SUNS March 17 DALLAS March 20 LA. CLIPPERS PHOENIX ROADRUNNERS March 24 SAN DIEGO March 26 KANSAS CITY BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING OAKLAND A'S SAN DIEGO PADRES CLEVELAND INDIANS CHICAGO CUBS MILWAUKEE BREWERS March 8-22 MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS March 8-June 30 "BASEBALL MEMORABILIA SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQ. March 8 "LATINS ANONYMOUS" 34TH ANNUAL INDIAN FAIR AND MARKET P.V. JAZZ PARTY CHARUE PROSE INTL WOMEN'S DAY DESIGNER SHOWCASE HOUSE TONY BENNETT March 9 MIKE WARNKE March 11-15 PHX JAYCEES RODEO March 12-15 PHX FESTIVAL OF MUSIC THE BON TEMPS ZYDECO BAND reigning The of cajun and rhythm and blues, returns to the Amphitheater for a crowd-pleasing, energy- infused, dance party extravaganza! In the Scottsdale Mall Amphitheater Saturday, March 28, 8 p.m., 1 5 advance, I 7 day of show SB 3 WZm i Lively INTI-ILLIMANI This popular singing septet from Chile, performing on wind, string and percussion instruments, creates "music of a timeless, almost unearthly beauty." NY Times Wednesday, April 1 8 p.m., 17 Gershwin Hits HMdigJit This All Balanchine Tribute! dream collection of Balanchine choreography with 4 Arizona premiers. Gershwin's Who Cares, Tarantella, Allegro Brilliante and Valse Fantaisie.

ALSO ON SALE Dillard's Box Office Gift Certificates Biosphere 2 Tour Samaritan Tour Passes Justin World Bull Riding Championships Purgatory Ski Lift Tickets Big 4 Gift Certificates Tickets for Sea World. San Diego 1992 Golf Americard Memberships On The Town Pass Book 92 TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL DILLARD'S DEPARTMENT STORES THROUGHOUT ARIZONA OPEN STORE HOURS Dillard's service fee may vary by event. Additional outlets: ASU-Gammage, Activity Center, NAU-Student Union, Downtown Phoenix Civic Plaza, Scotttdale-Kerr Cultural Center, Globa-Rose's Secretarial Service.Sun Clty-Sundome, Mesa-Community Center.Preacott-Embry-Riddle.Caaa Granda- KFAS, Cottonwood Fntn Plaza TO CHARGE TICKETS BY PHONE, CALL 678-2222 1 4 ft v. AMERICAN EXPRESS" COMPANY and the Scottsdale Cultural Council present "DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: ARTISTS AND WRITERS ON BASEBALL" It's a Grand Slam series of free exhibitions and more! Call for a free project schedule. Now through April 1 9 This Week: "The Evolution of Stadium Design" lecture by the architect of the new Scottsdale Stadium including private tour; March 8, 2 4 p.m..

Free Artist's Lecture by Dan Collins, Wed. March 11,7 p.m. Plus an encore performance of I chaikovsky's Fas de Deux. IliSi-J (V Exquisitely set by John for the Balachine I rust from $16, students half Available at all Dillards, or call 678-2222. ii ti mi ucjinwjii; va ji Miiiif it rt tt IN! ill ll ThOfl.ll iriiorOI BaUc Ahmmm Apr.

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