Virtual WorldVirtual World

Presented byPresented by

Group 6: VirtualityGroup 6: Virtuality

Ai Ling TayAi Ling TayMituri P. SharmaMituri P. SharmaLiz (Hui-ju) LuLiz (Hui-ju) Lu

Danny WuDanny WuJinzi WuJinzi Wu

What A Virtual World?What A Virtual World?

Virtual communities are forming into predominant Virtual communities are forming into predominant method of interactive communicationmethod of interactive communication

Definition: Definition:

Virtual world is an interactive environment that Virtual world is an interactive environment that implements sounds, graphics, animation and implements sounds, graphics, animation and customisable characters.customisable characters.

Types of Virtual WorldTypes of Virtual World

Two Dimensional:Two Dimensional:

World Away (World Away (www.worldsaway.comwww.worldsaway.com))

Three Dimensional:Three Dimensional:

Blaxun (Blaxun (www.blaxun.comwww.blaxun.com))

Active Worlds (Active Worlds (www.activeworlds.comwww.activeworlds.com))

Milestones of Virtual WorldMilestones of Virtual World

1970s: Virtual world began1970s: Virtual world began

1980s: Development of the virtual world tools1980s: Development of the virtual world tools

(USENET, LISTSEVER, MUDs, MOOs and etc.)(USENET, LISTSEVER, MUDs, MOOs and etc.)

Mid 1980s: Merging of text based chat channels Mid 1980s: Merging of text based chat channels alongside visual interfacesalongside visual interfaces

1990s: Launch of the 3D internet based world 1990s: Launch of the 3D internet based world chatchat

Popular Examples of Virtual WorldPopular Examples of Virtual World

Combat Oriented Multiplayer GamesCombat Oriented Multiplayer Games

Quake (Quake (www.idsoftware.comwww.idsoftware.com))

Starcraft (www.blizzard.com)Starcraft (www.blizzard.com)

Methods Conducting Virtual WorldMethods Conducting Virtual World

Building your own virtual world software programBuilding your own virtual world software program

Implementing and existing virtual world software Implementing and existing virtual world software packagepackage

Choosing to “homestead” a community within an Choosing to “homestead” a community within an existing environmentexisting environment

Applications of Virtual WorldApplications of Virtual World

Area in EntertainmentArea in Entertainment

Area in OrganisationArea in Organisation

Area in EducationArea in Education

Applications in Entertainment AreaApplications in Entertainment Area(Architecturally Based Websites)(Architecturally Based Websites)

Origin’s Ultima Online: Multi player virtual worldOrigin’s Ultima Online: Multi player virtual world

998 Studio’s Everquest: Adventure Games 998 Studio’s Everquest: Adventure Games containing tremendous atlascontaining tremendous atlas

Alpha World: “Satellite” maps of a growing city Alpha World: “Satellite” maps of a growing city

Architecturally Based Websites (Cont.)Architecturally Based Websites (Cont.)

Furrymuck: the mapping out of geography based Furrymuck: the mapping out of geography based MUDsMUDs

More Information:More Information:

www.cybergeography.org/atlas/conceptual.htmlwww.cybergeography.org/atlas/conceptual.html

Applications in Organization AreaApplications in Organization Area

Virtual Global CommunitiesVirtual Global Communities

Local Global CommunitiesLocal Global Communities

Internet communities viewed as places where people Internet communities viewed as places where people are similar to each otherare similar to each other

Advantages of Organizational Advantages of Organizational ApplicationsApplications

Represent reality more appropriatelyRepresent reality more appropriately

Entail a variety of different distinct abilities, views Entail a variety of different distinct abilities, views and requirementsand requirements

Cut costs and improve work productivityCut costs and improve work productivity

Disadvantages of Organizational Disadvantages of Organizational ApplicationsApplications

Excessive costs of setting up and maintaining Excessive costs of setting up and maintaining remote work sitesremote work sites

Effects of social isolationEffects of social isolation

Possibility of excessive work hoursPossibility of excessive work hours

Physical anxiety Physical anxiety

Applications in Education AreaApplications in Education Area

Virtual-U ProjectVirtual-U Project

To provide active learning, collaboration and To provide active learning, collaboration and Knowledge buildingKnowledge building

Virtual professors and virtual learnersVirtual professors and virtual learners

Increased satisfaction and effectivenessIncreased satisfaction and effectiveness

Financial SavingsFinancial Savings

Challenges of Educational ApplicationsChallenges of Educational Applications

Accessibility of the Virtual EducationAccessibility of the Virtual Education

Quality of the Virtual EducationQuality of the Virtual Education

Short Supply of Finance and Political SupportShort Supply of Finance and Political Support

Examples of Educational ApplicationsExamples of Educational Applications

Peru’s Higher Technological Institute (TECSUP) Peru’s Higher Technological Institute (TECSUP) http://www.tecsup.edu.pe/http://www.tecsup.edu.pe/

The University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI)The University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) http://www.uhi.ac.ukhttp://www.uhi.ac.uk

The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK)The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) http://www.ouhk.edu.hkhttp://www.ouhk.edu.hk

The African Virtual University (AVU)The African Virtual University (AVU) http://www.avu.orghttp://www.avu.org

Examples of Educational Applications Examples of Educational Applications (Cont.)(Cont.)

The Virtual University of the Technological Institute The Virtual University of the Technological Institute of Monterry (ITESM)of Monterry (ITESM)

http://www.itesm.mxhttp://www.itesm.mx

The University of Phoenix (UP)The University of Phoenix (UP) http://www.phoenix.eduhttp://www.phoenix.edu

Nova Southeastern University (NSU)Nova Southeastern University (NSU) http://www.nova.eduhttp://www.nova.edu

The Center for Open Distance Education for Civil The Center for Open Distance Education for Civil SocietySociety

http://www.open.ac.uk/collaborate/romania.htmhttp://www.open.ac.uk/collaborate/romania.htm

Questions Considered in Virtual Questions Considered in Virtual EducationEducation

How well does the virtual reality technology How well does the virtual reality technology support the collaborative learning process?support the collaborative learning process?

Does virtual reality technology favors certain Does virtual reality technology favors certain types of students?types of students?

How real should the virtual learning environment How real should the virtual learning environment to be? Does it need to?to be? Does it need to?

Tools Facilitate Virtual WorldTools Facilitate Virtual World

HMDs (Head Mounted Displays)HMDs (Head Mounted Displays)

TelepresenceTelepresence

Video MappingVideo Mapping

Utilizing Acoustic-graphic EnvironmentsUtilizing Acoustic-graphic Environments

Further Explanations:Further Explanations: www.hitl.washington.edu/publication/papers/interface.htmlwww.hitl.washington.edu/publication/papers/interface.html www.isdale.com/jerry/VR/WhatlsVR/noframes/WhtlsVR4.1-Types.htmlwww.isdale.com/jerry/VR/WhatlsVR/noframes/WhtlsVR4.1-Types.html

Issues of Utilizing Virtual WorldIssues of Utilizing Virtual World

Developing a norm that builds trustDeveloping a norm that builds trust

Culture and geographically diverseCulture and geographically diverse

Electronically communicating work teamElectronically communicating work team

More references:More references: www.arch.usyd.edu.au/kcdc/journal.vol2/dcnet/sub13/index.htmlwww.arch.usyd.edu.au/kcdc/journal.vol2/dcnet/sub13/index.html

ConclusionConclusion

Succinct overview of how virtual worlds can be ofSuccinct overview of how virtual worlds can be ofassistance and use includes:assistance and use includes:

Creation of Multi-Player GamesCreation of Multi-Player Games

Creating Immersive Fantasy Based SurroundingsCreating Immersive Fantasy Based Surroundings

Viewing 3D DataViewing 3D Data

ReferencesReferences

http://www.hitl.washington.edu/publications/papers/interface.htmlhttp://www.hitl.washington.edu/publications/papers/interface.html

http://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/kcdc/journal/vol2/dcnet/sub13/index.htmlhttp://www.arch.usyd.edu.au/kcdc/journal/vol2/dcnet/sub13/index.html

http://www.isdale.com/jerry/VR/WhatIsVR/noframes/WhatIsVR4.1-Types.hthttp://www.isdale.com/jerry/VR/WhatIsVR/noframes/WhatIsVR4.1-Types.htmlml

http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue07/features/virtualhttp://www.imagesjournal.com/issue07/features/virtual

http://www.hitl.washington.edu/scivw/publications.html http://www.hitl.washington.edu/scivw/publications.html

http://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/conceptual.htmlhttp://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/conceptual.html

Thank You!!!Thank You!!!