Virtual environment: Difference between revisions

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== Definition ==
== Definition ==


This is a short overview entry with pointers to more specialized articles in this wiki. It also includes some general links and reference.
(Note: Maybe all these articles ought to be reorganized at some point - [[User:Daniel K. Schneider|Daniel K. Schneider]] 25 August 2008)
A '''virtual environment''' is a "place" containing things that can be manipulated and people. It conveys a sense of [[presence]].
Types of ''virtual environments'' (internal links you can follow up in random order):
* [[Shared space]]s. Best to start with, since this entry shortly presents a more interesting taxonomy of virtual environments.
* [[text-based virtual reality]], such as [[MOO]]s and [[MUD]]s
* Some [[Multi-user chat]] (MUC) systems, e.g. those that]  add graphics and/or objects.
* Multi-user games with persistant storage features (mostly [[MMORPG]]s)
* Multi-user [[2D interactive environment]]s
* Multi-user [[3D interactive environments]] with persistant storage capabilities, a multi-user variant of [[desktop virtual reality]].
* Immersive 3D environments, i.e. true [[immersive virtual reality]] environments
* any other form of [[virtual habitat]]s
* Collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) - this includes habitats like MUDs, MMORPGs as well as some [[CSCW]] systems.
* [[Virtual reality]] (immersive).
* [[Immersive virtual environment]]s, i.e. a term that englobes various types of virtual and augmented realities.
* [[Mixed reality]], i.e. the combination of [[augmented reality]] with [[virtual reality]] or [[desktop virtual reality]].
See also related conceptual issues, e.g.:
* [[Community of practice]]
* [[Virtual community]]
* [[Virtual learning environment]]
* [[Virtual laboratory]]


== History ==


See Raph Koster's excellent [http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/mudtimeline.shtml Online World Timeline]
== Typology of virtual environments ==
There is no real consensus on what constitutes a virtual environment. See also Benford's categorization of [[shared space]]s.
Here is a picture made by [[User:DSchneider|DSchneider]] that shows a variety of such environments and their potential for education:
[[image:virtual_environments_typology.gif]]
== Examples ==
* [[Open Cobalt]]
* [[Second Life]]
== Links ==
* [http://www.mud.co.uk/dvw/bibliography.html Designing Virtual Worlds Bibliography] (excellent collection of online texts).
* [http://terranova.blogs.com/ Terra Nova] (good blog to keep in touch with the latest trends in non-educational on-line worlds)
* There are some Wikipedia articles that include useful information, e.g.
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(video_game) Habitat (video game)] (Wikipedia).
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_communities Virtual communities]
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberspace Cyberspace] (Wikipedia)
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality Virtual reality] (Wikipedia, aliases from "virtual environment")
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulated_reality simulated reality]
* [http://www.associationofvirtualworlds.com/publishing_division.php Association of Virtual Worlds] publishes the free green (business guide) and blue (consumer) books.
** The blue book has a '''good long list of virtual environments''' (including ones for educational use). All kinds of technical environments are considered, most are desktop 3D. As of April 2009 its latest edition was: 5th Edition Jan 2009.


== References ==
== References ==
* Dieberger, A. (1999) Social connotations of space in the Design for Virtual Communities and Social Navigation. In Munro, A., Höök K. & Benyon D. (Eds), Social Navigation of Information Space, pp. 35-54. Springer: London
[[Category: Virtual environments]]
[[Category: 3D]]
[[Category: Taxonomies]]

Latest revision as of 10:11, 5 July 2019

Definition

This is a short overview entry with pointers to more specialized articles in this wiki. It also includes some general links and reference.

(Note: Maybe all these articles ought to be reorganized at some point - Daniel K. Schneider 25 August 2008)

A virtual environment is a "place" containing things that can be manipulated and people. It conveys a sense of presence.

Types of virtual environments (internal links you can follow up in random order):

See also related conceptual issues, e.g.:

History

See Raph Koster's excellent Online World Timeline

Typology of virtual environments

There is no real consensus on what constitutes a virtual environment. See also Benford's categorization of shared spaces.

Here is a picture made by DSchneider that shows a variety of such environments and their potential for education:

Virtual environments typology.gif

Examples

Links

  • Association of Virtual Worlds publishes the free green (business guide) and blue (consumer) books.
    • The blue book has a good long list of virtual environments (including ones for educational use). All kinds of technical environments are considered, most are desktop 3D. As of April 2009 its latest edition was: 5th Edition Jan 2009.

References

  • Dieberger, A. (1999) Social connotations of space in the Design for Virtual Communities and Social Navigation. In Munro, A., Höök K. & Benyon D. (Eds), Social Navigation of Information Space, pp. 35-54. Springer: London
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