VPARK: A virtual amusement park

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 97.0609-1

Key words (English)

Networked virtual environment; attraction building; virtual avatars

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: AC353

Research programs (English)

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

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

EPFL (CH), University of Geneva (CH), IIS (EL), University of Bradford (UK), National Museum of Photography, Film and Theatre (UK).

Abstract (English)

We have contributed to the Virtual Park (VPARK), which consists of two systems running under Windows NT. The Attraction Builder enables the creation and editing of animations for use within the NVE system. Windows Virtual Life Network (W-VLNET) then loads and manages the attractions as a complete networked attraction. The system handles multiple attractions and users efficiently. In general, the design requirements for an NVE system include: Participant embodiment Network topology specific to virtual environments Data and task distribution scheme for scalability Dedicated communication protocol
Our goal was to develop and integrate several modules into a system capable of animating realistic virtual humans in a real-time performance. This includes modeling and representing virtual humans with high realism and simulating human face and body movements in real time. Realism becomes quite important in NVEs, where the communication among 53 participants is crucial for their sense of presence.
A major publication has appear in IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications:

C. Joslin, T. Molet, N. Magnenat-thalmann, J. Esmerado, D.Thalmann, R. Earnshaw, I. Palmer, N. Chilton, Sharing Attractions on the Net with VPARK, IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, January 2001

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: 97.0609-1