Cumincad : CUMINCAD Papers : Search Results

CumInCAD is a Cumulative Index about publications in Computer Aided Architectural Design
supported by the sibling associations ACADIA, CAADRIA, eCAADe, SIGraDi, ASCAAD and CAAD futures

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_id	39ea
authors	Maver, T., Harrison, C. and Grant, M.
year	2001
title	Virtual Environments for Special Needs. Changing the VR Paradigm
source	Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures [ISBN 0-7923-7023-6] Eindhoven, 8-11 July 2001, pp. 151-159
summary	The normal application of Virtual Reality is to the simulation of environments, which are in some way special - remote, hazardous or purely imaginary. This paper describes research and development work which changes the paradigm by simulating perfectly ordinary buildings for special people. Some 15% of the population have some form of physical impairment - a proportion which is likely to rise in line with an ageing population. New legislation, such as the UK Disability Discrimination Act places additional responsibility on building owners to ensure adequate access for people with an impairment and this in turn will place additional responsibility on the architect. Current methods of auditing access for new building are primitive and require the auditor to interpret plans/sections of the proposed building against a checklist of requirements specific to the special need. This paper reports on progress in the use of an immersive VR facility to simulate access to buildings for two broad classes of user: i) those with a mobility impairment; ii) those with visual impairment. In the former case, a wheelchair motion platform has been designed which allows the wheelchair user to navigate the virtual building; a brake and motor connected to the rollers on which the wheelchair sits facilitate the effects of slope and surface resistance. In the latter case, the main categories and degrees of visual impairment can be simulated allowing architects to assess the contribution of form, colour and signage to safe access.
keywords	Virtual Reality, Mobility Impairment, Visual Impairment, Access, Simulation
series	CAAD Futures
email
last changed	2006/11/07 07:22

_id	bbfa
authors	Donath, D., Beetz, J., Grether, K., Petzold, F. and Seichter, H.
year	2001
title	Augmented Reality Techniques for Design and Revitalisation in Existing Built Environments
source	Reinventing the Discourse - How Digital Tools Help Bridge and Transform Research, Education and Practice in Architecture [Proceedings of the Twenty First Annual Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 1-880250-10-1] Buffalo (New York) 11-14 October 2001, pp. 322-329
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2001.322
summary	Building activity in Germany is moving increasingly toward combined newbuild and renovation projects. Essential for effective computer-aided planning within an existing context is not only the use of on-site computer-aided measurement tools but also an integrative cooperation between the different disciplines involved via an information and communication system. Interdisciplinary cooperation needs to be tailored to the integrative aspects in renovation and revitalisation work. Economic factors determine the viability of an architectural project, and reliable costing information is vital. Existing IT-approaches to this problem are not yet sufficiently exploited. In ongoing research at our university (collaborative research center ”Materials and Structure in the Revitalisation of Buildings”) methods and techniques of revitalisation are being investigated. A special branch of the collaborative research center is investigating possibilities of computer-aided building measurement and communication platforms for professional disciplines (www.uni-weimar.de/sfb). The aim is to develop a general approach to the revitalisation of buildings. This paper discusses possible application areas of AR/VR techniques in the revitalisation of buildings from the point of view of the user and are based on the real project “Cooling factory Gera”. Based on the necessities of revitalisation projects, technical requirements are developed. The project is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG).
keywords	Augmented Reality, Architecture, Modernization, Measurement
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:55

_id	ga0118
id	ga0118
authors	Annunziato, Mauro and Pierucci, Piero
year	2001
title	Learning and Contamination in Virtual Worlds
source	International Conference on Generative Art
summary	The most recent advances of artificial life scientific research are opening up a new frontier: the creation of simulated life environments populated by autonomous agents. In these environments artificial beings can interact, reproduce and evolve [4, 6, 15], and can be seen as laboratories whereto explore the emergence of social behaviors like competition, cooperation, relationships and communication [5, 7] . It is still not possible to approach a reasonable simulation of the incredible complexity of human or animal societies, but these environments can be used as a scientific orartistic tool to explore some basic aspects of the evolution [1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]. The combination of these concepts with robotics technology or with immersive-interactive 3D environments (virtual reality) are changing quickly well known paradigms like digital life, manmachineinterface, virtual world. The virtual world metaphor becomes interesting when the artificial beings can develop some form of learning, increasing their performances, adaptation, and developing the ability to exchange information with human visitors. In this sense the evolution enhances the creative power and meaningful of these environments, and human visitors experience an emotion of a shift from a simplified simulation of the reality to a real immersion into an imaginary life. We may think that these realization are the first sparks of a new form of life: simulated for the soft-alife thinkers, real for the hard-alife thinkers, or a simple imaginary vision for the artists.
series	other
email
more	http://www.generativeart.com/
last changed	2003/11/21 15:15

_id	174f
authors	Bakker, N.H.
year	2001
title	Spatial Orientation in Virtual Environments
source	Delft University of Technology
summary	Recently, a growing interest can be detected in the application of Virtual Environment (VE) technology as an operator interface. VEs are three-dimensional computer-generated images that can be shown on a conventional monitor, on a large screen display, or on a head-mounted display. In order to use these three-dimensional interfaces for finding and retrieving information, the user must be able to spatially orient themselves.Different types of VE technology are available for navigating in these VEs, and different types of navigation can be enabled. A choice has to be made between the different options to enable good spatial orientation of the user. There are two main types of VE interfaces: an immersive interface that provides rich sensory feedback to the user when moving around in the VE, and a non-immersive interface that provides only visual feedback to the user when moving around in the VE. Furthermore, navigation through the VE can either be continuous providing fluent motion, or can be discontinuous which means that the viewpoint is displaced instantaneously over a large distance.To provide insight into the possible effects of these options a series of nine experiments was carried out. In the experiments the quality of spatial orientation behaviour of test subjects is measured while using the different types of interface and the different types of navigation.The results of the experiments indicate that immersive navigation improves the perception of displacement through the VE, which in turn aids the acquisition of spatial knowledge. However, as soon as the spatial layout of the VE is learned the two types of navigation interface do not lead to differences in spatial orientation performance. A discontinuous displacement leads to temporary disorientation, which will hinder the acquisition of spatial knowledge. The type of discontinuous displacements has an effect on the time needed for anticipation. The disorienting effects of a discontinuous displacement can be compensated for by enabling cognitive anticipation to the destination of the displacement.These results suggest that immersive navigation might only be beneficial for application domains in which new spatial layouts have to be learned every time or in domains where the primary users are novices. For instance, in training firemen to teach them the layout of new buildings with VE, or in using architectural walkthroughs in VE to show new building designs to potential buyers. Discontinuous movement should not be allowed when exploring a new environment. Once the environment is learned and if fast displacement is essential then discontinuous displacement should be preferred. In this case, the interface designer must make sure that information is provided about the destination of a discontinuous displacement.
series	thesis:PhD
last changed	2003/11/21 15:16

_id	5d55
authors	Billger, Monica and d’Élia, Stefano
year	2001
title	Colour appearance in virtual reality: a comparison between a full-scale room and a virtual reality simulation
source	AIC Colour 2001, The 9th Congress of the International Colour Association, Rochester, NY.
summary	The main goal of our project is to make VR applications usable for the planning of light and colour. To enable reliable simulations, we both need to develop better rendering methods and carefully study the appearance of light and colour in real rooms and in virtual environments. Assessments of real rooms are compared to simulations of the same rooms in immersive Virtual Reality (3D-cube). In this paper, we will present the outcome of a pilot study and discuss specific problems associated with the prospect of comparing reality to Virtual Reality. We will account for the experience of the room and go into details on the experience and perception of light. Indeed, the problems of getting enough light in the 3D-cube and of simulating the light situation of a real room affect colour appearance.
keywords	Virtual Reality, VR, 3D-cube, Colour Appearance, Light Perception, Visual Assessments, Simulations
series	other
email
last changed	2002/09/05 09:58

_id	ad6c
authors	Brown, A., Gavin, L., Berridge, P. and Knight, M.
year	2001
title	An Active World - Architectural Information Interchange via 3D Internet Environments
source	Architectural Information Management [19th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9523687-8-1] Helsinki (Finland) 29-31 August 2001, pp. 365-370
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2001.365
summary	The eCAADe organisation has the long term role to promote and facilitate the discussion and interchange of ideas relating to a broad range of issues in the field of CAAD education and research. The new technologies that have come together to give us the environment that we know as the Internet has offered a range of stimuli for new initiatives. A research group has been established to investigate and explore a particular aspect of this new potential with the goal of creating an eCAADe Virtual world as a vehicle for testing the associated ideas. This papers reports on the recent developments on this project.
keywords	Internet, 3D-Worlds, Virtual Meeting, ECAADe, Collaboration
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:54

_id	a469
authors	Brown, Andre and Berridge, Phil
year	2001
title	Games One : Two : Three A triangle of virtual game scenarios for architectural collaboration
source	Stellingwerff, Martijn and Verbeke, Johan (Eds.), ACCOLADE - Architecture, Collaboration, Design. Delft University Press (DUP Science) / ISBN 90-407-2216-1 / The Netherlands, pp. 95-120 [Book ordering info: m.c.stellingwerff@bk.tudelft.nl]
summary	This paper is split into three parts, each of which deals with different aspects of, and approaches to, the collaboration process. Each of the approaches shares a common root in an aspect of games or gaming. Together the three approaches represent a tripartite attack on the spectrum of problems that need to be addressed to achieve successful collaboration. The first technique is dealt with in Game One One. This deals with the issue of encouraging collaboration. It is based on work using a role playing game scenario and is intended to allow construction industry professionals and clients to develop a common framework for discussion. It originally existed as a paper based game and is now being tested in a web-based environment. Game Two is based on work that has evolved from contemporary game and meeting place environments that have been attracting attention recently. Here internet-based three-dimensional worlds are used as a virtual replacement of real spaces and participants meet as avatars. In the architectural context we have investigated the potential for application of such 3D worlds as meeting, and discussion places where architectural information and ideas can be exchanged. In Game Three we take the idea that currently, virtual environments are still rather uncomfortable and unnatural in terms of human interaction, and in particular in the way that we move around and display architectural scenes. We develop the idea that games software incorporates techniques that make the representation of animated, interactive 3D architectural environments computationally efficient. We have augmented the software used in games environments and have considered how we construct architectural models and man-machine interfaces to improve the effectiveness of such environments in an architectural context.
series	other
email
last changed	2001/09/14 21:30

_id	0f2b
authors	Brown, Andre G.P. and Knight, Michael W.
year	2001
title	NAVRgate: Gateways to architectural virtual reality - A review and thought on future directions
source	CAADRIA 2001 [Proceedings of the Sixth Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia / ISBN 1-86487-096-6] Sydney 19-21 April 2001, pp. 195-198
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2001.195
summary	A core element in the success of a virtual environment is the ease and appropriateness of the navigation process. Navigation is a two part process which consists of a facility for enabling movement [Locomotion] and sensory input to aid the navigator in finding they way around [Cognition]. Our work has focussed on Navigation in Virtual Environments for Architecture and that work is summarised here.
series	CAADRIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:54

_id	ga0134
id	ga0134
authors	Buiani, Roberta
year	2001
title	Virtual Exhibitions: How to put the gallery on-line?
source	International Conference on Generative Art
summary	This research is part of a project I developed at York University and realized at the Walter Phillips Gallery at Banff Centre for the Arts. It originated from a preliminary survey on the galleries and museum’s approach to the web: how did these institutions engage with the virtualspace? What tools did they employ to display their content? How did they exploit internet in order to promote and advertise their content and transmit a certain message? Following the examination of several interfaces and modes of display, a list of recurrent strategies, needs andlacks was compiled. A further development of the research consisted in a practical attempt to include all the characteristics observed and to add the elements supposedly missing in a single project. The project examined two distinct and very different exhibitions which took place during the summerat the Walter Phillips Gallery in Banff: they were analysed, documented and rendered on-line using a popular animation software such as Flash.
series	other
email
more	http://www.generativeart.com/
last changed	2003/08/07 17:25

_id	a4a1
authors	Bukowski, Richard W.
year	2001
title	Interactive Walkthrough Environments for Simulation
source	University of California at Berkeley
summary	This thesis describes a second-generation walkthrough framework that provides extensive facilities for integrating many types of third-party simulation codes into a large-scale virtual environment model, and puts it in perspective with first-generation systems built during the last two decades. The framework provides an advanced model database that supports multiple simultaneous users with full consistency semantics, system independent storage and retrieval, and efficient prefetching and object reconstruction techniques to support second and third-generation walkthrough systems. Furthermore, our framework integrates support for scalable, distributed, interactive models with plug-in physical simulation to provide a large and rich environment suitable for architectural evaluation and training applications. A number of third-party simulations have been integrated into the framework, including dynamic physical interactions, fire simulation, multiple distributed users, radiosity, and online tapestry generation. All of these simulators interact with each other and with the user via a data distribution network that provides efficient, optimized use of bandwidth to transport simulation results to clients as they need them for visualization. These diverse simulators provide proof of concept for the generality of the framework, and show how quickly third-party simulations can be integrated into our system. The result is a highly interactive distributed architectural model with applications in research, training, and real-time data visualization. Finally, an outlook is given to a possible third generation of virtual environment architectures that are capable of integrating different heterogeneous walkthrough models.
series	thesis:PhD
email
more	http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~bukowski/resume.html
last changed	2003/02/12 22:37

_id	196a
authors	Charitos, D., Pehlivanidou-Liakata, A., Bourdakis, V. and Kavouras, M.
year	2001
title	Time Based Media as a Means to Enhance Spatial Representations - Teaching case studies in Greece
source	Architectural Information Management [19th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9523687-8-1] Helsinki (Finland) 29-31 August 2001, pp. 233-238
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2001.233
summary	This paper investigates the potential of time-based spatial representations as a means for enhancing our environmental perception – a tool for assessing and understanding space in the wider sense of the term. It attempts to document the way in which time-based representations of environments are addressed by architectural, planning and surveying education curricula in a number of related Departments in certain Greek Universities. More specifically, a report on the teaching practice and objectives of certain undergraduate and postgraduate courses, which deal with this issue in different ways, is made.
keywords	Time-Based Media, Spatial Representations, Video, Virtual Reality, 3D Modelling
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:55

_id	539d
authors	Chateau, H.B., Vergara, R.L., Jorquera, J.H. and Viveros, C.M.
year	2001
title	EL ESPACIO INTER-MEDIO (The Inter-Media Space)
source	SIGraDi biobio2001 - [Proceedings of the 5th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics / ISBN 956-7813-12-4] Concepcion (Chile) 21-23 november 2001, pp. 153-155
summary	This paper explores the juxtaposition between architectonic space and virtual environments. It establishes the hypothesis that the intersection of virtual environments with our common life causes a break-up of time and space. Virtual environments are the last and most integral part of the technological revolution, becoming a parallel world, an unlimited extension of our limited world. The spatial and temporal juxtaposition of these two realities creates a new reality of being “inbetween”, it reveals the “inter-media”. This “inter-media” reality is the problem for architecture of our time, and it still lacks of responses.
series	SIGRADI
email
last changed	2016/03/10 09:48

_id	2178
authors	Chevrier, C. and Perrin, J.P.
year	2001
title	Interactive 3D reconstruction for urban areas. An image based tool
source	Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures [ISBN 0-7923-7023-6] Eindhoven, 8-11 July 2001, pp. 753-765
summary	Urban applications (for example arrangement, new buildings, virtual sightseeing and walkthrough) require a three dimensional (3D) geometrical model of town areas. However, most of them do not need an accurate model of reality. Such model would occupy a considerable memory space and would be too slow to handle. Architects, urban designers and civil engineers can find in our tool a medium to conceive their projects. Some types of software exist but they do not correspond exactly to our needs. Consequently we have conceived and developed an interactive tool for virtual 3D rough reconstruction of buildings. The software development has been performed in the Maya environment (ALIAS Wavefront) with C++ language and MEL (Maya Embedded Language). A constraint we set for ourselves was the use of only light devices (for easy transportation) at low price (everybody can buy such devices). The principle is to overlay on the scanned photograph of the area we want to deal with, the two dimensional (2D) cadastral plan displayed from the same viewpoint as the picture. Then each building body can be extruded from its ground polygon and the roof can be created from what the user sees on the picture. A constraint is the flatness of the polygonal surfaces. Our application context was the town of Nancy in France for which some areas have been reconstructed. Some pictures have been used as textures for polygonal surfaces, giving more reality effect to the simulation.
keywords	Geometrical Modelling, Architecture, Urban Area, Virtual Visit
series	CAAD Futures
email
last changed	2006/11/07 07:22

_id	04f2
authors	Cimerman, Benjamin
year	2001
title	Clients, architects, houses and computers: Experiment and reflection on new roles and relationships in design
source	Reinventing the Discourse - How Digital Tools Help Bridge and Transform Research, Education and Practice in Architecture [Proceedings of the Twenty First Annual Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Design in Architecture / ISBN 1-880250-10-1] Buffalo (New York) 11-14 October 2001, pp. 100-109
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.acadia.2001.100
summary	This paper reports on recent work that focused on the potential impact of standard computer technology on the relationship between client and architect in the context of residential design. A study of software applications a client could use to develop and evaluate ideas exposed the dearth of software available for the design of spatial complexity by individuals without advanced computer skills, and led to the design of a specific piece of software we call “Space Modeler.” It was prototyped using off-the-shelf virtual reality technology, and tested by a group of freshmen students. The paper discusses the specificities of the software and provides analysis and reflection based on the results of the test, both in terms of design artifacts and users’ comments. The paper concludes that the evolution of the interface to electronic environments is a matter of interest for those concerned with rethinking the training, role and activity of the architect. In the near future prospective homeowners may be able to experience and experiment with the space of their home before it is built. How can the profession embrace new information technology developments and appropriate them for the benefits of society at large?
keywords	Design Software, Design Participation, Visualization, Simulation
series	ACADIA
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:52

_id	403f
authors	Clark, Steve and Maher, Mary Lou
year	2001
title	The Role of Place in Designing a Learner Centred Virtual Learning Environment
source	Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures [ISBN 0-7923-7023-6] Eindhoven, 8-11 July 2001, pp. 187-200
summary	There are numerous approaches and tools for creating a virtual learning environment. The most common approach is to provide a repository of learning materials on a network to facilitate the distribution of the course content and to supplement this material with communications software such as email and bulletin boards. In this paper we highlight the role of place in creating a learning experience and its relevance to current learning theories. Architectural design becomes an important consideration when virtual learning environments are considered places. We present a framework for guiding the development of virtual learning environments that shows how place and design can combine with learning theories and technology. Finally, we draw on our experience in developing a virtual campus and virtual design studios to demonstrate how place and design can be the basis for virtual learning environments.
keywords	Virtual Place, Virtual Learning Environments, Design Studio
series	CAAD Futures
email
last changed	2006/11/07 07:23

_id	51a0
authors	Conti, G., Ucelli, G. and Maver, T.
year	2001
title	JCAD-VR: Java Collaborative Architectural Design Tool in Virtual Reality - A Java3D based scalable framework for real-time, multiplatform VR environments
source	Architectural Information Management [19th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9523687-8-1] Helsinki (Finland) 29-31 August 2001, pp. 454-459
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2001.454
summary	This paper proposes a framework that provides the architect with a tool that uses Virtual Reality (VR) as part of the design path. It offers the possibility to deploy a system capable of assisting the design profession during the early stages of the design process. This way VR becomes the means for a new experience where the architect can, free from constraints of the 2D world, create and manipulate the space she/he is designing. The idea upon which JCAD-VR is being built is that all the users present in the virtual world have to be able to share the same virtual environment in a “transparent fashion” where the user interface, instead of the traditional menu/windows based layout, it is part of the virtual world itself. The aim is to provide the designer with a tool for creating 3D-shapes in a shared VR environment, thus allowing the design to be shared as it evolves.
keywords	Collaborative Design, Virtual Reality, Java 3D, Distributed Environment
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:56

_id	1229
authors	Donath, D., Beetz, N., Grether, K., Kruijff, E., Petzold, F. and Seichter, H.
year	2001
title	Cooling Factory, a concrete project to test new architectural applications for augmented reality
source	Venetia Giagourta, Michael G. Strintzis (ed.): International Conference on Augmented, Virtual Environments and Three-Dimensional Imaging, Verlag Myconos, pp. 14-17
summary	This paper will discuss possible fields of applications of AR/VR for revitalization of buildings from a user's perspective. Considerations are based on the real-world project "Cooling factory Gera". The project is founded by "Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG)".
series	other
email
last changed	2003/02/26 18:58

_id	cf2009_585
id	cf2009_585
authors	E. Swarts, Matthew; A. Sheward, Hugo
year	2009
title	Using multi-level virtual environments as a medium for conducting design review through a shared IFC dataset
source	T. Tidafi and T. Dorta (eds) Joining Languages, Cultures and Visions: CAADFutures 2009, PUM, 2009, pp. 585- 597
summary	For a long time the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) community has had difficulty in communicating the content of their work, not only the various specialties involved, but also to their clients. Studies (Doorst and Cross 2001; Bakhtin 1994) suggest the importance of multi-role collaborative environments in supporting design processes. We are developing a Multi Level Design Review Tool for the AEC industry which allows multiple actors to congregate and interact as agents around a central Building Model. It merges real-time virtual 3D visualization technologies with Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) to support both high levels of semantic content and seamless interoperability.
keywords	Design review, virtual environment, interoperability
series	CAAD Futures
email
last changed	2009/06/08 20:53

_id	40a6
authors	Ennis, Gareth and Lindsay, Malcolm
year	2001
title	VRGLASGOW.CO.UK implementation of internet multi-user functionality to Glasgow's virtual city
source	Stellingwerff, Martijn and Verbeke, Johan (Eds.), ACCOLADE - Architecture, Collaboration, Design. Delft University Press (DUP Science) / ISBN 90-407-2216-1 / The Netherlands, pp. 135-142 [Book ordering info: m.c.stellingwerff@bk.tudelft.nl]
summary	The development of the Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) for the Internet has resulted in the emergence of a multiplicity of 3D web sites. The metaphor used by these sites varies enormously from virtual galleries to virtual cities and style varies from abstract to reality. Additionally these worlds are populated by virtual objects, some having reactive or interactive properties, including movement, audio, video, databases, artificial intelligence etc. Perhaps the most stimulating embodiment of these new environments are those that offer the participant the opportunity to meet and communicate with other visitors exploring the same virtual space/world. The Glasgow Directory is an established 3D web space, with around 10,000 visitors per year. The model represents approximayely 10,000 properties in the city and is populated by contextual information on its culture and socio-economic topography. This paper will describe the background to this VR space, and suggest a set of design criteria for successfully deploying multi-user software within this and similar environments. These criteria will take into account lessons learned by 'observing' and analysing how participants interact with the existing system under different conditions and also what benefits they perceive on entering the environment via the multi-user interface. These recommendations will hopefully be applicable to a wide spectrum of internet virtual environment builders and users.
series	other
email
last changed	2001/09/14 21:30

_id	3dcd
authors	Ennis, Gary and Maver, Tom
year	2001
title	Visit VR Glasgow - Welcoming multiple visitors to the Virtual City
source	Architectural Information Management [19th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9523687-8-1] Helsinki (Finland) 29-31 August 2001, pp. 423-429
doi	https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.ecaade.2001.423
summary	The development of the Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) for the Internet has resulted in the emergence of a multiplicity of 3D web sites. The metaphor used by these sites varies enormously from virtual galleries to virtual cities and style varies from abstract to reality. Additionally these worlds are populated by virtual objects, some having reactive or interactive properties, including movement, audio, video, databases, artificial intelligence etc. Perhaps the most stimulating embodiment of these new environments are those that offer the participant the opportunity to meet and communicate with other visitors exploring the same virtual space/world. The Glasgow Directory is an established 3D web space, with around 10,000 visitors per year. The model represents approximately 10,000 properties in the city and is populated by contextual information on its culture and socio-economic topography. This paper describes the background to this VR space, and suggests a set of design criteria for successfully deploying multi-user software within this and similar environments. These criteria take into account lessons learned by ‘observing’ and analysing how participants interact with the existing system under different conditions and also what benefits they perceive on entering the environment via the multi-user interface. These recommendations will hopefully be applicable to a wide spectrum of internet virtual environment builders and users.
keywords	Virtual, City, 3-D, Databases, Interaction
series	eCAADe
email
last changed	2022/06/07 07:55

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