COVEN: Collaborative Virtual Environments

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 95.0688-2

Key words (English)

Collaborative virtual environment; virtual actor; simulation; animation; scalability

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: AC040

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.2 Communications technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Thompson (F), Integrated Information Systems (Greece), Division (UK), ARAX Ltd (UK), Royal PTT (Netherland), Lancaster University (UK), University of Nottingham (UK), University College of London (UK), EPFL (CH), University of Geneva (CH)

Abstract (English)

COVEN aims at developing a collaborative virtual environment (CVE) platform that supports varying degrees of multi-sensory presence permitting groups of people located at different sites to work together inhabiting a shared environment.
During this period, University of Geneva, among various tasks, has been particularly involved in the activities of Work Packages (WP) 3, 5, 6 and 7.
In WP3, University of Geneva has worked with EPFL on a set of trials over the internet in order to test the final COVEN demonstrator (virtual bodies and crowds animation processes) and increase the efficiency of the related software.
In WP5, University of Geneva has published several papers and one book, as well as organised several public demonstrations (e.g. at CEBIT and TELECOM trade shows).
In WP6, University of Geneva has participated to all COVEN meetings.
In WP7, University of Geneva has continued to contribute to MPEG-4 SNHC in the Face and Body Animation Ad Hoc Group. Contributions to MPEG-4 consisted of attending MPEG-4 meetings, revising the MPEG-4 SNHC participating in experiments on body animation concerning the BAT tables for hand animation.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 95.0688-2