topical media & game development
[] readme course(s) preface I 1 2 II 3 4 III 5 6 7 IV 8 9 10 V 11 12 afterthought(s) appendix reference(s) example(s) resource(s) _

talk show tell print

print / present / tag(s)

8

virtual environments

augmented virtuality acts as an intelligent looking glass

learning objectives

After reading this chapter you should be able to characterize the notion of virtual context, discuss the issue of information retrieval in virtual environments, explain what is meant about intelligent multimedia and discuss the potential role of intelligent agents in multimedia applications.

From a user perspective, virtual environments offer the most advanced interface to multimedia information systems. Virtual environments involve the use of (high resolution) 3D graphics, intuitive interaction facilities and possibly support for multiple users.

In this chapter, we will explore the use of (desktop) virtual environments as an interface to (multimedia) information systems. We will discuss a number of prototype implementations illustrating, respectively, how paintings can be related to their context, how navigation may be seen as a suitable answer to a query, and how we can define intelligent agents that can interact with the information space. Take good notice, the use of virtual environments as an interface to information systems represents a major challenge for future research!

...

1

...

12

questions

8. virtual environments

concepts


technology


projects & further reading

As a project, I suggest the implementation of storytelling in virtual environments, with (possibly) an embodied agent as the narrator.

You may further explore or evaluate the role of agents in multimedia applications and virtual environments.

For further reading in (real) VR, I advice  [Sherman and Craig (2003)], and for gaining an understanding in story telling and applications you may try to get hold of the proceedins, of TIDSE 2003, and TIDSE 2004.

the artwork

  1. another series of dutch light.
  2. virtual context -- Dam Square, Amsterdam, see 8.1.
  3. VU Campus in VRML -- student project.
  4. CWI 3th floor, floormap and model, see 8.2..
  5. query -- on 3th floor of CWI.
  6. navigation -- on 3th floor of CWI.
  7. soccer game -- image from WASP project, see section 8.3.
  8. digital beauties -- taken from  [Wiedermann (2002)].
  9. digital beauties -- taken from  [Wiedermann (2002)].
  10. VU @ Second Life -- screenshots.
  11. signs -- sports,  [ van Rooijen (2003)], p. 276, 277.
Another sequence of dutch light, opening this chapter, is meant to make you wonder about realism. Is virtual reality less 'real'? With a reference to section 2.3, where I quoted  [Bolter and Grusin (2000)] on re-mediation, I may remark that the graphic style chosen for presenting the virtual environment strongly determines whether the environment is experienced as 'realistic'. In our culture this is generally a photorealistic style, as for example in the Mission Rehearsal Exercise discussed in the next chapter, section 9.2. The digital beauties are not only a pleasure to look at, but do also display a wide range of postures and styles.
[] readme course(s) preface I 1 2 II 3 4 III 5 6 7 IV 8 9 10 V 11 12 afterthought(s) appendix reference(s) example(s) resource(s) _

(C) Æliens 04/09/2009

You may not copy or print any of this material without explicit permission of the author or the publisher. In case of other copyright issues, contact the author.