Recent studies have shown that through a careful combination of multiple sensory channels, so called multisensory binding effects can be achieved that can be beneficial for collision detection and texture recognition feedback. During the design of a new pen-input device called Tactylus, specific focus was put on exploring multisensory effects of audiotactile cues to create a new, but effective way to interact in virtual environments with the purpose to overcome several of the problems noticed in current devices.

In this paper a 3D tracking system for Virtual Environments is presented which utilizes infrared (IR) laser technology. Invisible laser patterns are projected from the user(s) to the screen via the input device Sceptre or the appending headtracking device. IR-sensible cameras which are placed near the projectors in a backprojection setup recognize the pattern. That way position and orientation of the input devices is reconstructed. The infrared laser is not seen by human eye and therefore does not disturb the immersion.

We present a framework for the design and evaluation of distributed, collaborative 3D interaction focussing on projection based systems. We discuss the issues of collaborative 3D interaction using audio/video for face-to-face communication and the differences in using rear projection based Virtual Environments. Further, we explore how the use of video/audio, input device representations and other disturbance factors typical of projection-based virtual environments affect co-presence, co-working and co-knowledge in distributed CVEs. We present results from co-presence and co-working evaluation sessions of about 60 users of various profiles. An extensive statistical, group and variation group analysis of the results is carried out. The findings and the resulting design guidelines are presented in this paper in respect to the above factors.

In order to prepare for the upgrade of the German national scientific network to gigabit capacity in the year 2000, two testbeds have been set up. One of them, the 'Gigabit Testbed West', uses a 2.4 Gbit/s ATM link to connect the Research Centre Julich and the GMD-National Research Center for Information Technology in Sankt Augustin. The testbed is the basis for several application projects, ranging from metacomputing to multimedia. This paper gives an overview of the infrastructure of the testbed and its applications. As an example, the real-time analysis and visualization of functional MRI measurements of the human brain are described in detail.