DBUG Nov. Meeting & Sad News about Bill Riseman (fwd. Gleason)

[Evan H Shu <eshu (Evan H Shu)>]

Build Boston '94 Meeting, November 15, 6:00 PM DBUG Meeting Summary

Michael Tardif demonstrates Residential Default Drawings,
VJM Architecture, PO Box 926, Far Hills, NJ 07931, 201-763-2274

Michael demonstrated his default drawing file system used to speed up 
perparation of drawings for residential construction. This system is fine 
tuned for New Jersey codes, a "feature" oriented clientele, and a very 
tight architectural budget. Michael described the firm's practice and 
differences between CABO and Boca Codes as practiced in New Jersey.

The system is adaptable and would be a real time saver for anyone who does 
residential work. He generously passed out a thick manual and floppy disks 
with a sample project and default files. He suggested that the default 
files be changed (title blocks, etc.) to suit the particular firm and 
locale. He advised that the system improved consistency, and provided a 
common format for all projects.

It appears that another x-DBUG member has again extended our productivity 
tools in the residential area.

Rememberances of Bill Riseman

We talked about Bill, his ideas, the special words he coined, and some of 
the things he did: interactive drawings, analyglyphic rendering, BC-AD 
Before Computer - After Digital, the voxelator, painting the Bedoins over 
the Golden Dome. We thought about his contribution of ideas and concepts 
for using DataCAD more effectively. We thought about the DBUG meetings from 
1986 to about 1991 which were characterized by an intense period of 
exploration and learning about CAD, with everyone learning and contributing 
ideas and questions. Bill was usually in the middle of the discussion.

William Riseman Lost and Presumed Dead

Bill Riseman, age 48, a colleague and friend, disappeared in Buzios, Brazil 
in a possible drowning accident on October 31, 1994,  the day after 
presenting in a Virtual Reality Conference at the Candido Mendez Cultural 
Center in Rio de Janerio.

Bill was an early and active member of DataCAD and the Computer Graphics/VR
Committee. He was a speaker at Build Boston for many years, drawing a crowd 
every year. He recently presented his VR work to the Boston Computer 
Society.  Amongst his accomplishments were the invention of the first 
graphic equalizers for sound studios, the first design prototypes for 
multi-cinema complexes, and more recently the reconstruction of the
Egyptian Monuments from archeological data at the Boston Museum of Fine 
Arts and the Getty Museum. He envisioned an Educational Virtual Reality 
transferred via Internet to classrooms. He used his Egyptian Monument 
database (including the Fortress of Buhen, Gebel Barkel Pyramids, and the 
Mastabas of the Western Cemetary in Giza) to prototype his Education-Museum 
concept at major conventions and shows. He wished to make the content
of museums more accessible to classrooms by use of technology. He was a 
true architect, able to conceive and execute. 

The Architectural community will miss Bill's enthusiasm, love of ideas, 
exploration of graphics at the limits of hardware and software, 
showmanship, ability to collaborate, resourceful and relentless pursuit of 
an idea, and his open dialogue of ideas. In the best form of teaching, his 
presentations encouraged and challenged all who participated. His loss is a
terrible tragedy to the development of graphics and to the Architectural 
profession; more difficult to accept because of his creative brilliance and 
generous personality.

A Memorial Service for William will be held on Dec 7, 1994 at 1:00 PM at 
the Ritz Carlton, Boston.

He leaves his brother Walter, his step mother Marilyn and his step son 
Shawn.

Next Year's Hosts

We need hosts for next year. Our hosts have traditionally been 15-16 
particular firms who have used the program for years, of course any of you 
who wish to host are welcome.

There are a number of firms who have used the program and attended DBUG 
meetings for many years but have not hosted a meeting; I encourage you to 
consider being a host because you have much to offer our membership. For 
example, MGIA was one of the new/old firms to host DBUG last year. New 
firms are also encouraged to be a host, it is a great way to get involved.

I have noticed that with Evan's emphasis on "Basic Lessons" for the influx 
of new users of DataCAD, that the attendance by so called "old users" has 
dropped off.  WE need to have some programs, demos, and meetings which give 
so called "old users" an exciting reason to come to the meetings. I believe 
meetings with a healthy balance of new and old users are generally the most 
productive type of meetings. Perhaps this can be discussed further at the 
next meeting.

Some ideas for DBUG meetings in addition to the basic lessons are 
exploration of:
Hardware: Indigo2 -Silicone Graphics, Sun, DEC Alpha, PowerPC, AMD 
machines, etc.
Operating Systems & Software: Unix, WindowsNT, Win95 (when out), Visual 
Basic demost, etc.
Rendering and Animation: This area has languished. We should be reviewing 
software and hardware.
Internet: Ideas, lessons, software and discussion. DBUG email list. REview 
of ListServer on world.std.com and Compuserve forum.
Productivity Techniques: Any process, or technique which results in 
improved productivity on the computer.

Please call, fax, email or write Rick or Evan if you wish to be a host 
(with preferred month).

                                          ---- Notes by Rick Gleason

Rick Gleason, The Gleason Partnership - Architects, 114 Commonwealth AVe., 
Boston, MA 02116-2913, 617-267-6980, 617-267-6864 fax, 
rgleason@world.std.com

Evan Shu, Shu Associates, 10 Thacher Street, Boston, MA, 02116, 
617-267-6980, (fax is the same), eshu@world.std.com

                 ************************************


Gary Lowe, Lowe Associates advises that he would like to sell an HP 7570 
Draft Pro 8 Pen Plotter. Excellent Condition. $1750. Includes $150 of new 
pens.  CAll (617)323-0078

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