UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, April 6,1995
5A
Virtual reality visits KU
Magic bus travels with technological simulators, tours
By Robert Allen
Kansan staff writer
The Magic Bus came to campus yesterday, minus the Who.
Inside the custom-made, $1 million bus, which was parked at the Lied Center, a half-dozen computer screens glowed in the dimly-lit interior. On the screens, KU students toured mock cities and flew F-18s, thanks to the work of Silicon Graphics, Inc., a manufacturer of visual computing systems. The company's Magic Bus travels across the nation to demonstrate its latest technology, said Alex Ehrsam, a sales representative for Silicon Graphics.
"Two of these buses travel all over America," he said. "We try to have them in a new place every single day."
Tuesday, the bus was in Leavenworth, and today it will be at the University of Missouri at Columbia. Then the bus moves west, to Fort Collins, Colo. Ehrsam said the bus
"I love leading-edge technology and virtual reality. And it sounded like a great place to come out and play." Steve Kieli
Steve Klein Wichita senior
visits many universities.
"We visit any account that we feel could use Silicon Graphics products," he said.
The bus contained some of the latest developments in virtual reality technology, such as the F-18 flight simulator, which captured the attention of Steve Klein, Wichita senior.
"If I had this, I would never go to class," he said.
The simulator pitted Klein against enemy aircraft as he tried to bomb enemy targets. Three screens gave the simulator a panoramic effect.
"I love leading-edge technology and virtual reality," Klein said. "And sounded like a great place to come out and play."
Ehrsam said that the company's virtual reality technology already had many applications.
"Boeing uses virtual mockups, where they put an entire plane on the computer and do a real-time walk-up through it," he said.
The company's technology has also been used in movies such as "Jurassic Park" and "Forrest Gump" and in Walt Disneyworld's "Aladdin" ride.
KU has several of Silicon Graphics' computers. The computer science and chemistry departments own several, as does the computer center. Tim Thurman, manager of resource acquisitions, said the computer science department has several uses for the computers.
"We have two that are used for instruction purposes and one that's used for individual professors' research," he said.
HARE: Policy making is key
Continued from Page 1A
Hare said that his main accomplishment as chairman of the University affairs committee was the establishment of the Economic Union . The Economic Union is a group of Lawrence stores that gives discounts to students, such as Jayhawk Pawn, 1804 W. Sixth St.; Rick's Bike Shop, 916 Massachusetts St. and Hardee's, 1313 W. Sixth St. and 2030 W. 23rd St.
"We really established it and made it a priority for Student Senate," he said.
Hare said that one of his goals as vice president would be to use his Senate experience to get younger senators more involved.Danny Kaiser, associate dean of student life, said that Hare had spent a lot of time working with Senate and would be a competent vice president.
"He's very active with the Senate, and I think he does a good job." Kaiser said.
Matt Leonard, Prairie Village junior, who lived with Hare last year in the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house, said that Hare had done a lot of good things for the University.
"He's been real dedicated to Senate ever since he's been at KU," Leonard said. "He's put a lot of work into that."
DAN HARE
Dan Hare is running for student body vice president with the United Students coalition:
Year In School: Junior
Major: Political Science and Communications
Hometown: Olathe
Senate Experience: Numemaker senator for two years, member of University Council for one year.
Age:20
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Attention 1995 Graduates!
Don't get lost in cyberspace when you graduate.
StavWired
through the KU Alumni Association your contact to more than 45,000 alumni members worldwide.
To help establish your link, the Association provides a free six-month membership for all new graduates. Your benefits begin April 1 and last through September 30.
Here's a checklist to help keep you on task:
Meet alumni staff on Wescoe Beach April 5 and 6.
Attend the Class of '95 Graduate Gatherings sponsored by the Student Alumni Association April 11, 12 and 13. (RSVP form in Commencement packet) Come to enjoy free burgers and 50¢ draws (with ID).
Tour the Alumni Association April 25,26 or 27.Call 864-4760.
Give the Alumni Association your post Commencement address and job information so we can stay connected.
Sign up for your complimentary Learned Club membership at the Alumni Center.
Attend Commencement Breakfast May 14.(RSVP form in Commencement packet)
Remember to stay wired to the Hill through the Alumni Association, 864-4760.
Put a Hawk in your pocket. Call INTRUST Card Center for an application,1-800-222-7458.
And if you sign up for a bank card at the Graduate Gatherings April 11, 12, or 13, you receive a free Jayhawk license plate frame.
INTRUST CARD CENTER