Partner und Internationale Organisationen
(Englisch)
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EPFL (CH), University of Geneva (CH), IIS (EL), University of Bradford (UK), National Museum of Photography, Film and Theatre (UK)
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Abstract
(Englisch)
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The main objective of the VPARK project was to develop a shared virtual environment system (based on the Windows Operating System, after modifications were implemented) and to create a Virtual Amusement Park allowing users to virtually interact with amusements, such as might be expected in a real amusement. In order to provide focus to the project two virtual attractions were proposed: Virtual Dance and Virtual Theatre. During the entire period of the project the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has been involved in the following tasks and activities (sorted according to Work Package, WP):
o In WP1 (Networked Virtual Environment System) - UNIGE was involved in the design and development of the Client System (from the Client/Server architecture of the Networked Virtual Environment), including the integration of input devices (Flock of Birds, Space-ball, Mouse etc) to enable advanced environment navigation and the loading the scene and scene control (to allow to scene change replication to simultaneously occur on all clients). UNIGE was also heavily involved in networked and non-networked tests that including latency measurements and low-bandwidth data processing for general Internet use. UNIGE also provided the basic API structure, multi-threaded/multiprocessing architecture, the system communications layer, and user interface.
o In WP2 (Attraction Builder) - UNIGE was responsible for the overall design and construction of a software package (aptly named Attraction Builder) to enable the building of an attraction in accordance with the needs of the virtual attractions proposed and using feedback from partners. Building a virtual attraction involves importing virtual objects, virtual humans (often referred to as Avatars), sound/music and animation sequences (for both Objects and Avatars) and mixing it all together into an attraction. As an attraction is time and interaction based, the Attraction Builder pulls together these two elements into a single attraction that allows visiting users to watch or interact with the scenes objects and avatars.
o In WP3 (Virtual Theatre) - UNIGE had a small role to play in this WP, mainly in order to obtain feedback from the other partners. As the Virtual Theatre was the most complex missed time-based/interaction-based attraction it was necessary for UNIGE to be involved in order to obtain feedback about the interface and the basics of the time/interaction control methodology. The key element being to allow the virtual, autonomous, avatars to speak their lines (being time based), but in the same framework allow a visiting user to be introduced into a part of speak their own part without their being discontinuity or interrupted flow to the performance.
o In WP4 (Virtual Dance) - UNIGE was responsible for this Virtual Attraction and used the premise of teaching dance over the Internet in order to provide an interactive, and visually impressive demonstration of the technology. Due to equipment limitations only one teacher and one student were used in order that the teacher could teach the student dance steps, in time with synchronously heard music, but provision of more equipment could allow many students to participate in the lesson.
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