Super Mario meets super computing in virtual environment

Until we all have Star Trek-like holodecks at home, there's not much economy of scale in manufacturing equipment for room-sized virtual environments like the CAVE and CUBE at the University of Illinois' Beckman Institute.

Which is why the specialized wireless handheld controller people used to reach into and navigate the virtual worlds projected in the rooms – on three sides in the case of the CAVE and completely surrounding them in the CUBE – cost $60,000.

AP Video

Also on this date

• Music teacher makes a big production out of learning
• Rantoul man is lead author on book chronicling Coltrane
• Movement looking to ditch streams' many names
• Officials concerned about Amtrak service to Chicago
• Six Women of Distinction honorees chosen
• School districts' staff face annual job losses
• Family businesses made a mark in Illinois
• Man dies in one-vehicle crash in LeRoy
• Danville gets call for high school Hall of Fame
• Obituaries