Associate Professor, ESM	NSF-ARI PI, Director UVAG ("VT-CAVE") 1996-current
	Homepage. Dr. Ronald D. Kriz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia Tech. He received the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from Virginia Tech in 1976 and 1979 (Engineering Science and Mechanics) and B.S. degree from California Polytechnic State University in 1973 (Aeronautical Engineering). He has published over 50 technical papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings in the area of mechanics and material science and engineering. Prior to coming to Virginia Tech in 1990 he was active in materials research at NIST for ten years. During that time, he used supercomputers to simulate the physics of stress wave propagation in anisotropic media. Several patents resulted from this research that used visual data analysis tools to facilitate the discovery of new properties. Dr. Kriz's thoughts on scientific research, high performance computing (HPC), Scientific Visualization (SV), and the network.
Ron Kriz
Research Associate, CS	UVAG Researcher 1997-2003, DIVERSE Co-founder / NIST-SAVG, 2003-current
	With a B.S. in Mathematical Science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a M.S. in Computer Science from George Washington University, John is in his element here at the C.A.V.E. John's objective is to make the C.A.V.E. accessible for all users,  so that they can use the C.A.V.E. to expand knowledge within their fields of study. Examples include the Entomology Dept., Biochemistry (David Bevan) and Interior Design (Joan McLain-Kark) and many more. On a softer note John enjoys hiking, camping, picnicking and any other outdoor activity. Contra dancing, hot & spicy vegetarian cooking and reruns of Wallace & Gromit also rank high on John's to-do list. Visit John's Unofficial home page. More detailed information about John's work while at the C.A.V.E. 1998. John's major contribution while at UVAG was co-developing the DIVERSE VE API with Lance Arsenault. John did such an outstanding job at pioneering the UVAG C.A.V.E. activity that NIST's Scientific Applications and Visualziation Group (SAVG) was the first National Lab to use the DIVERSE API in their R.A.V.E. (reconfigurable C.A.V.E.). John accepted a position at NIST's SAVG when our navy funding concluded. John continues to live in Blacksburg and telecommutes with NIST and attends weekly DIVERSE planning meetings.
John Kelso
Research Faculty, CS	NSF-ARI CoPI, Immersive WorkBench Lab, 1997-current
	Homepage.  As a Computer Science faculty member at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, Dr. Deborah (Debby) Hix is a founder and principal investigator of the Virginia Tech Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Project.  Started in 1979, it is one of the pioneering projects in HCI in the world, and is concerned with how to achieve quality user interfaces through development of specialized methodologies, techniques, and tools for producing the user interface.  Most recently, Hix has extended her two decades of HCI work into VE usability, and has collaborated for several years on this topic with the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC. Hix has done extensive consulting and training with a variety of commercial and government organizations in the area of user interface development for nearly 20 years.  She is co-author of a popular book entitled "Developing User Interfaces:  Ensuring Usability through Product and Process", that has been used world-wide by both  practitioners and university students. Dr. Hix was the Chairman on Kent Swartz, M.S. degree, "Virtual Environment Usability Assessment Methods Based on a Framework of Usability Characteristics" which was used to evaluate the CRUMBS software application developed by Rachael Brady at NCSA. This collaboration was also featured in an NCSA ACCESS article, "Virginia Tech, NCSA Scientists Evaluate Usefulness of VR Applications".
Debby Hix
Instructor, Physics	UVAG Researcher 1998-2002, DIVERSE Co-author / Physics 2004-current
	Homepage. Lance now lives in Blacksburg, after working for NCSA at Urbana, Illinois for three years. He is originally from Taunton Massachusetts. Lance's big project was the motion-base platform to be used for the ONR virtual crane DURIP project. The motion-base platform was installed in the CAVE floor when the UVAG moved into the ACITC building (Torgersen Hall) 2000. Lance is the co-author of DIVERSE and the author of the DIVERSE Toolkit (DTK ). DIVERSE and DTK were developed to be used by the ONR Virtual Crane project. Since it's creation the DTK and DIVERSE APIs have been used to create over 21 Virtual Environment (VE) ("VT-CAVE") projects.
Lance Arsenault
Assistant Professor, CS	UVAG/CHCI Researcher 1999-current / HMD Lab
	Homepage: Dr. Bowman's research focuses on three-dimensional user interfaces (UIs) and interaction techniques. My research group ( 3DI group) has recently been looking at interaction techniques for system control (e.g. menus), differences between different VE displays (HMD vs. CAVE vs. workbench), and approaches for usability and performance evaluation of VE interfaces. My dissertation research concentrated on interaction techniques for immersive virtual environments. In other words, I designed and evaluated techniques by which users can perform tasks within a 3D virtual world. I focused on common tasks such as travel (viewpoint motion control), selection, and manipulation.
Doug Bowman
VE Programmer ICTAS	UVAG Researcher 2004-current
	Pat Shinpaugh holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel. Pat co-created the DADS CAVE computer system and several DIVERSE applications that run on the DADS CAVE system: 1) DADS-MOOG CAVE motion platform system, 2) Way Point Navigation DSO, and 3) DADS CAVE Toolbox. Pat also created the LDAP server that connects the DADS CAVE system with all other UVAG lab computers: 1) Doug Bowman's 3DI HMD Lab, 2) Ron Kriz's the Scientific Modeling and Visualization Classroom, 3) Denis Gracanin's computer lab, and 4) Debby Hix's Immersive Workbench Lab.
Patrick Shinpaugh
Assistant Professor, CS	UVAG Researcher 2004-current / Distributed VE Lab
	DESCRIPTION Homepage: Dr. Gracanin's research focuses on distributed virtual environments and related issues in distributed systems and sensor networks. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, in 1985 and 1988, respectively, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1992 and 1994, respectively. Dr. Gracanin's professional memberships include the AAAI, ACM, APS, ASEE, IEEE, SCS, SIAM, and Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board (Professional Engineer in electrical engineering). He is 2004 NASA summer faculty fellow and 2005 ONR-ASEE summer senior faculty fellow.
Denis Gracanin

GRA, CS	NSF-PACI Research on CCC, Dr. Kriz 1998-1999 / M.S. Chair Dr. Rosson, CS 1999
	Kevin's research on the development of collaborative virtual environments and collaborative design tools and interfaces for CAVE technology was funded by NSF-PACI. The CAVE Collaborative Console (CCC) was written using LIMBO and CAVERNsoft in collaboration with Jason Leigh at EVL. The CCC project was largely motivated by Kevins experience after participating in the Tele-immersion Project at Suprecomputing 98. Prior joining the UVAG Kevin was a GRA for Department of Art History where he updated Authorware v.2.0 tutorial modules to v.4.0. Tutorial modules were web deliverable using web browsers which were used for distance learning in conjunction with a survey course in Art History. Kevin is a member of Association for Computing Machinery (VT), 1998, VT-CAVE Student-Led Users' Group, 1998, as well as being Co-Chair, VT-CAVE SLUG Tele-immersion Group, 1998. Volunteers at the Service Learning Center Harding Elementary 4th grade. Their project was to build interactive history reports using HyperStudio. Kevin graduated in the 1999, Masters Thesis "Supporting Collaborative Awareness in Tele-immersion", Dr. Rosson, Chair and Drs. Carroll and Kriz committe member.
Kevin Curry
GRA, CS	M.S. Chair Dr. Hix, 2003
	Kent worked with Kevin Curry briefly on the CCC. Kent's primary project was to worked with Dr. Hix and Ms. Rachael Brady at NCSA evaluating CRUMBS VE software CAVE application. Kent left Virginia Tech 1999 but completed his M.S. Thesis, "Virtual Environment Usability Assessment Methods Based on a Framework of Usability Characteristics" which was used to evaluate CRUMBS. Kent successfully defended his M.S. Thesis in 2003.
Kent Swartz
GRA, ESM	NSF-CRCD research Dr. Kriz 1999-2001 / Ph.D. Chair Dr. Kriz
	Homepage. Sanjiv is currently a Ph.d student in Biomedical Engineering (ESM). His research topic is smart devices in virtual environments, in particular a force feedback glove that will allow physical interaction with virtual objects in a virtual environment. Sanjiv graduated from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) in 1993 with an Associate's Degree in Electrical Engineering. He then transferred to Virginia Tech and completed a Bachelor's in fall of 1995 in Biomedical Engineering option in the Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) Dept. He earned a Master's degree in ESM 1998. For his M.S. thesis he wrote a computer algorithm that simulated ultrasonic C-scans within a solid steel bridge pin. Sanjiv was principal GRA on the NSF CRCD project. Sanjiv was the principal GRA on the ASPIRES Immersive Molecular Docking Project with Dr. David Bevan in Biochemistry. His goal is to set up his own consulting firm dealing with Biomedical Virtual Reality applications.
Sanjiv Parikh
GRA, CS	NAVCIITI Research TALOSS, Dr. Kriz 1999-2003 / Ph.D. Chair Dr. Fox 2004
	Homepage. Fernando Das Neves is from Argentina. He holds a Licenciatura in Computer Science from National University of La Plata, and he is currently a PhD candidate in the Computer Science Department at Virginia Tech. His research interests include HCI in information visualization environments and object oriented software architectures. He worked with Greg Edwards on developing the CCC ( CAVE Collaborative Console) as a distance learning tool for the CGVS Governor's School K-12 project. Fernando is also the principal author of the DIVERSE-based TALOSS tactical model for the NAVCIITI Task2.1 Command and Control Visualization project for the Navy Undersea Warfare Center. Away from work he likes wandering around southwest Virginia on his bike, reading, and eternally trying to play classical guitar without scaring anybody. Dr. Das Neves defended his Disertation on November 2004: Stepping Stones and Pathways:Improving Retrieval by Chains of Relationships between Documents and returned to Argentina.
Fernando Das Neves
CS, GRA	NSF-CRCD, Dr. Kriz 1998-2002 / M.S. Chair Dr. Bowman
	Randy Levensalor BS in CS Tech. Randy is currently Enrolled in Masters program at VT. Being involved with research with eye-tracker with Dr. Hix. Randy is also interest gesture recognition and is the Treasurer of CAVE-SLUGS . Randy is also responsible for developing the Network Programiing Interface Builder (NPIB) for the NSF Combined Research Curriculum Development (CRCD ).
Randy Levensalor
GRA, ISE	NSF-PACI CCC_Atom, Dr. Kriz 1999-2000 / M.S. Chair Dr. Barfield 2000
	Greg is the holder of BASC in Systems Design Engineering and was enrolled as a Masters Student in Industrial and Systems Engineering at VT (Human Factors Engineering Option). His academic interests lie in the human factors and usability of virtual environments(VEs). Past research has focused on navigational issues in VEs as well as virtual presence. As a newly appointed part-time research assistant at the CAVE, he is working on the Integration of the CAVE Collaborative Console with AtomView (CCCC_atom). When not immersed in other worlds, Greg enjoys the outdoors and sports, especially mountain biking, running, weight training, playing squash and hacking around the golf course. Greg completed his Master Thesis "Performance and Usability of Force Feedback and Auditory Substitutions in a Virtual Environment Manipulation Task the Fall of 2000.
Greg Edwards
GRA, CS	NAVCIITI research JIVE, Kriz 1999-2000 / M.S. Chair Dr. Bowman 2001 / Ph.D. Chair Dr. Bowman
	Homepage. JIVE was Chad's first UVAG research project was funded by NAVCIITI. JIVE melds several issues at the heart of CAD, Simulation and Modeling Tools (SMT) and Virtual Environments. Chad Wingrave Masters Thesis, Nuance-Oriented Interfaces in Virtual Environments was chaired by Dr. Bowman. Chad create a DIVERSE I/O device application called Cyberglove. Chad is currently a Ph.D. GRA in Dr. Bowman's 3DI Group. Chad's hometown is Ford, PA.
Chad Wingrave
GRA, CS	NAVCIITI Research DGL/ dpfGL 2001-2003 / M.S. Co-chair: Drs. Henry and Kriz 2003 / Ph.D. Chair Dr. Bowman
	As an undergraduate Andrew Ray developed DIVERSE Atomview, the Collaborative Toolkit for DIVERSE, and DIVERSE XWand, 2001. Andrew became an excellent DIVERSE programer and applied his experience by evaluating the DIVERSE API for his M.S. Thesis topic, "A metrics study in Virtual Reality". Andrew was funded by NAVCIITI to complete the DGL DIVERSE project, 2003. Andrew is the Co-developer with Pat Shinpaugh on the DADS CAVE computer system. Andrew is the cofounder of Open Technologies Inc. Open Technologies Inc. commercially supports the DIVERSE API. Andrew is pursuing his Ph.D. degree in Dr. Bowmans 3DI Group.
Andrew Ray
CS, GRA	Lockheed Martin research DGL, Dr. Kriz 2000-2002
	As an undergraduate Chris initiated the DIVERSE graphics interface to OpenGL for his class project in ESM4714, 2000. Chris entered the CS graduate program and continued the development of the DGL project for NAVCIITI, 2001.
Chris Logie

CS	NAVCIITI research VTK-DGL, Kriz 2001-2002
	Homepage. Mike is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in Computer Science. While at Virginia Tech, I worked at UVAG, where I created a set of classes (vtk4DGL) that allows Visualization Toolkit (VTK) programs to render using the DIVERSE graphics interface for OpenGL (DGL). I also administered linux systems, and performed other misc. tasks.
Mike Shore
AOE	Collaboration with SSSL, 2003-2004
	Homepage. Mike incubated at the UVAG in the summer of 2002 where he learned how to use DIVERSE DPF and DTK. His undergraduate research project for AERO4994 ( Final Report) was to remotely manipulate the Distributed Spacecraft Attitude Control System Simulator (DSACSS) from the CAVE. Project reports, presentations, and movies are archived and can be downloaded.
Mike Shoemaker
ECE	UVAG CAVE-SLUG President 2003-20005
	DESCRIPTION Otto developed the DADS Demo Runner (DDR) which is installed on the DADS Linux cluster CAVE computer system. Otto was largely responsible for a total functional rewrite of the CAVE SLUGs web page. Otto will be graduating this spring 2005.
Otto Barnes

Cave Springs H.S.	Externship Program
	Arvind was in the CAVE Springs H.S. Externship Program where he learned how to convert AutoCAD files to CAVE format. His project can be viewed on the web at "Visualization of AutoCAD Model Cell Structures in CAVE Immersive Environments"
Arvind Chavali
Summer Interin	High School/High Tech Program
	Aaron Mosby is a student at Auburn High as well as a student at New River Community College, where he is working towards an Associates degree, specializing in Graphics design/Web development. After two years Aaron hopes to transfer to Virginia Tech and earn a degree in Computer Science. Aaron is working at the C.A.V.E. through the High School/High Tech Program, where his summer project was to design and create this CAVE people web page.
Aaron Mosby
Summer Interin	Radford H.S
	Working at the C.A.V.E. during summer 1999 Mark assisted Chad Wingrave in implementing JIVE UML design and other forms of OOP. The large goal for JIVE is for it to become a standard virtual environment for industry research and entertainment. Mark's goals include working in the computer science field or a technology field with an overall goal of becoming a entrepreneur. Mark recently graduated from Radford High School and will be attending Stanford University in the fall (1999).
Mark Tong
Summer Interin	Blacksburg H.S.
	Aamir will also be working with Chad this summer implementing JIVE UML design and other forms of OOP.
Aamir Wyne

http://www.cave.vt.edu/people/