Design and Construction of a Virtual Environment
for Japanese Language Instruction

by Howard Rose

[Table of Contents]

Acknowledgments

I want to thank all of you who have given your time, assistance and patience so generously. My deepest thanks to Bill Winn for your consistent trust and support as I floundered my way through this process. My appreciation also goes to Tom Furness, for the opportunity to make my ideas a reality at the HIT Lab, and to my other professors, guides and mentors: Masashi Kato, Michele LeBrasseur, Mary Bernson, Cathy Taylor and Judy Ramey .

Thanks to the US WEST Foundation, the Washington Technology Center and the Human Interface Technology Laboratory for generously sponsoring this research.

Thanks to the many people at the HIT Lab who contributed to my work and my sanity in so many ways. Special thanks to Paul Schwartz, Mark Billinghurst and Jesus Savage for your extensive contributions and invaluable expertise. You gave me the tools to build this house.

Thank you Kimberley, Ari, Hunter, Ian, Chris, Toni, Peter, Dace, Sandy. Thanks to all those friends who took the time to come and see. All your generous input, constructive criticisms and laughter are in here somewhere.

Thanks to my parents. You started all this: now I have to finish it. Thank you for your unending support, willingness to accept and eagerness to love.

Thank you Fred, Bob, Sarah. I consider you contributing authors on all my work. You are always close to my heart.

Thank you Keiko. You always know best when I should know better. I am grateful for your constant teaching, listening and acceptance. (And I'm always grateful for your cooking.)

Thank you Hiei. You know what is what and you tell me so. You have taught me about time, and why what I do might be important. You are the best reason I have to strive for a dream.

Human Interface Technology Laboratory