28 June 1998

Delegates Welcomed to IPS98 at Reception
Delegates from all over the world were welcomed to IPS98 hosted by the London Planetarium. Following conference registration at the New Connaught Rooms, everyone mingled and met each other while enjoying a variety of beverages and appetizers. This meeting is unique in that it has representatives from nearly 30 countries, the greatest number at any IPS meeting. Unfortunately, we have no digital pictures from this event to show you.

One of the unique features of this year's conference is a large video wall that dominates one end of the main meeting room. A variety of computer animations played during the reception tonight, providing both a thematic and dramatic setting. The opposite end of the main meeting room was equally dominated by an inflateable dome from Learning Technologies, the makers of StarLab. Also included at that end of the room were several floor exhibits that would be suitable in either a planetarium, museum, or science center.

Vendor's Exhibition Hall Opens
Tonight's reception also marked the opening of the Vendor's Exhibition Hall, which is conveniently located right next to the main meeting room here at the New Connaught Rooms. Exhibitors include (according to the meeting outline) in alphabetical order:

• Armagh Planetarium - mail order astronomical products
• Astro-Tec Mfg. Inc. - planetarium domes
• Audio Visual Imagineering - full-dome, full-color lasers
• Julian Baum - computer-generated art
• Bishop Planetarium - show kits
• Carl Zeiss Jena - planetarium projectors
• Evans & Sutherland - digital planetarium projection systems
• Goto Optical Mfg. Co. - planetarium projection systems
• Hi-Tech Motion Picture Systems - projection, sound and films
• ITA-Explore - motion-based technology & multimedia software
• L.C.I. Ltd. - laser video projection , water screens
• Learning Technologies Inc. - portable planetarium instruments & domes
• Minolta Planetarium Co. Ltd. - planetarium projection systems
• Pangolin Laser Systems - laser show designers
• PMPP Facilities - 3D computer graphics and special effects
• R.S. Automation-Cosmos - planetarium & portable projectors
• Safelight - interactive digital video
• Sky-Skan Inc. - planetarium effects, all-dome video & control systems
• Society for Popular Astronomy - Britain's largest amateur society
• The Planetary Society - world's largest space-interest group
• Trimension Systems - virtual systems integrator & immersive environments