Notes on the Artifact (HEL):

Institute for Defense Analyses
P.O. # 1149 19681 Date 10/30/92
Gov Property #92-0391
Descrip: CIG, GT111B
Serial No. 90175
Contract # MDA903-80-E-0014

What I can tell is that it is an SGI GT100 series image generator. This hardware was given to Stanford by the IDA Simulation Center, as part of the 73 Easting historical project. Given the date (late 1992) and the fact that 73 Easting did use RealityEngine technology as far as I know, maybe there is a very early RealityEngine-based graphics module in here. Although I believe that the GT designation refers to their 2d-generation hardware, and this is a little early for the RealityEngine. This may be between the generations, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are custom boards in here. We do have some documentation and some extra boards. (The processing--physics CPU, image-generation etc.-- was done by boards mounted in the rack.)

Oh, everything is in pretty good shape, and we do have some extra boards that have never been used.

Some information on the project this supported: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.01/virthell_pr.html

and

http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/configurations/v008/8.3lenoir.html

Henry Lowood

Back to Page