Virtual Skydiving

[Pammi 0]

This is getting bashed on rec, but I thought it sounded kinda cool.
"SKYGRLY" wrote in message
news:20011023150838.16976.00001633@mb-fi.aol.com...
> Hello,
>
> I would like to introduce you all to our company. We are Illusion Inc. We
> manufacture a Virtual Reality Canopy Simulator, which I being a skydiver,
think
> would be extremely beneficial to drop zones and their students for canopy
> training. The product is called JumpZone!T. JumpZone!T has evolved from a
> simulation originally designed and sold to the military for training
purposes.
>
> The simulator works as follows. The student climbs on to a platform and
climbs
> into a harness. The Virtual Reality goggles are put on and the student is
then
> instructed to pull a D-ring. Once the D-ring is pulled the floor drops out
from
> under the student, they are now suspended in the harness and they are in
the
> virtual world under canopy.
>
> At the end of the experience a printout records your score, derived from a
> variety of factors such as path of decent, speed at landing and distance
from
> the target. Top scorers can record their names, which appear on the screen
and
> on all printouts.
>
> As we all know, canopy flight has come a long way. The canopies are
getting
> smaller, faster and much more responsive then ever before. With that
> unfortunately comes injuries and deaths due to minimal experience and
minimal
> training. My thoughts are, if we could incorporate a training system that
is
> realistic, viable and affordable then our sport would be much better off.
Hence
> our product.... JumpZone!T
>
> JumpZone!T has proven to be a crowd-pleaser for skydivers and
non-skydivers
> at locations across the globe. The full dynamics of a parachute are
recreated
> in a fun, intuitive, yet challenging experience. There are three levels
of
> experience to challenge everyone's ability, creating 9 experiences. In
> addition, there are special effects including a floor drop, wind effects,
and
> sound.
>
> The first units were featured at urban entertainment centers in NY and
Chicago.
> The units have paid back in 15-20 weeks! There are now over 38 units in
> operation around the world.
>
> JumpZone!T sells for $34,995. The lead-time for delivery is about 12
weeks.
>
> If the interest is their from DZO's then the proper modifications could be
made
> (your drop zone name or logo can be added in the graphics) to turn this
system
> into unsurpassed training for student skydivers and unsurpassed fun for
> non-skydivers.
>
> For further information, please visit our website at
http://www.IllusionInc.com
>
> You can also contact me via email at either SkyGrly@aol.com or
> RBrown@illusioninc.com, or via phone at the numbers listed below.
>
> Always Blue Skies,
>
> Renate Brown
> D-18105
> (818) 947-3979 ofc
> (818) 947-3973 fax
> (661) 713-7427 cell
>
>
Hemp/skydiving jewelry pics!

[indyz 1]

I'll let actual instructors decide if the game has merit as a training, but let me point out a few things that aren't explicity mentioned in the article:
-First and foremost, this is a game. It has been in the arcade for years, and now they are selling the exact same product as a training aid.
-The goggles are not in 3D. While they do follow your head motion, it appears that you are looking a very large flat screen from up close (i.e., no peripheral vision).
--
Brian

[jumpervali 2]

It looks like a really neat training aid, but it is a little expensive. Considering that every thing a person chooses to buy is a trade off for something else. 35,000 would buy...
1-3,000 square foot hanger.
4-tandem rigs
6-student rigs
1-182 jump plane
3,500-table dances
choices, choices, choices,
jumpervali

[Tee 0]

I think the idea of a canopy simulator is great. The military and even NASA use simulators for their pilots. Unfortunately, as Indyz pointed out, this particular game has been in the arcades for quite some time and my sweetie and I have both played the game and it is nothing like the real thing. It is also like flying a canopy at a .0001:1 wing loading!
But if they were to come out with a simulator that is more realistic and you could choose the wingloading and possibly the canopy model....now THAT would be beneficial. Tee

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

They had this at the CSS Easter boogie this year. It's pretty fun, but I wouldn't pay anywhere near $35,000. $3,500 might be a fair price to pay, but I don't know many places that could afford it. What are you going to do, put a coin box on it and charge individuals to use it as a training aid? What ever became of charging your students ONE price for ALL their training, like we still do on smaller DZ's and at Raeford (at least in the two military-based clubs).
We also have two of the Para-Sim systems at our MFF school in Yuma, AZ and one here on Fort Bragg. They are the same as the one listed above or at least nearly identical. Interesting to fool around with, but as you have no real sensation of speed or wind in your face, they are not very realistic.
Chuck Blue
D-12501
I-2001
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Yeah, something that makes you think ahead. They could make it much better in my opinion.
My webpageHERE