3D interactive environment: Difference between revisions

The educational technology and digital learning wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 65: Line 65:
* [http://www.lively.com/ Lively] from Google. Windows/IE only.
* [http://www.lively.com/ Lively] from Google. Windows/IE only.
* [http://www.meet3d.com/ Meet3D] (dead service/product ?)
* [http://www.meet3d.com/ Meet3D] (dead service/product ?)
* [http://vrmlworld.net/ VRMLWorld], [[VRML]]-based open service. (Needs a special client ?)


; Proprietry formats (server/client software)
; Proprietry formats (server/client software)
Line 78: Line 79:
** [http://login.multiverse.net/places/index.jsp Logon to Multiverse Places]
** [http://login.multiverse.net/places/index.jsp Logon to Multiverse Places]


; Server that support standardized [[X3D]]/VRML (commercial)
; Made with [[X3D]]/VRML (commercial)
* [http://www.blaxxun.com/ Blaxxun]. One of the first VRML-based systems. The company at some went broke, but seems to be alive again (12:48, 1 April 2007 (MEST)).
* [http://www.blaxxun.com/ Blaxxun]. One of the first VRML-based systems. The company at some went broke, but seems to be alive again (12:48, 1 April 2007 (MEST)).
** [http://www.blaxxuntechnologies.com/ Blaxxun technologies] (info about servers)
** [http://www.blaxxuntechnologies.com/ Blaxxun technologies] (info about servers)
** [http://community.blaxxun.com/ community.blaxxun.com]
** [http://community.blaxxun.com/ community.blaxxun.com]
** [http://www.cybertown.com/ Cybertown] one of the blaxxun-based worlds.
** [http://www.cybertown.com/ Cybertown] one of the blaxxun-based worlds.
* Flux Multi-User Server (aka Hydra) is a '''free server''' (in alpha/early beta in July 2007)
* [http://www.bitmanagement.com/ Bitmanagement] ([http://www.bitmanagement.com/products/bs_collaborate.en.html BS Collaborate])
* [http://www.bitmanagement.com/ Bitmanagement] ([http://www.bitmanagement.com/products/bs_collaborate.en.html BS Collaborate])
** Example: [http://www.csse.uwa.edu.au/virtual/ The UWA Virtual Universe project]
** Example: [http://www.csse.uwa.edu.au/virtual/ The UWA Virtual Universe project]


; Data are standards-based (open source and/or free)
; Made with [[X3D]] (open source and/or free) - It seems that free open source X3D can't get off the ground.
* Flux Multi-User Server (aka Hydra) is a '''free server''' (in alpha/early beta in July 2007)
** [http://www.mediamachines.com/press/pressrelease-03292007.php Flux World] (announcement March 2007).
** [http://www.mediamachines.com/press/pressrelease-03292007.php Flux World] (announcement March 2007).
** See [[Flux multi-user server]] (in hibernation - 10/2008 ?)
** See [[Flux multi-user server]] (in hibernation - 10/2008 ?)
* [http://www.openworlds.com OpenWorlds] open X3D compatible system. (This product seems to be dead - 10/2008)
* [http://www.openworlds.com OpenWorlds] open X3D compatible system. (This product seems to be dead - 10/2008)


; Somewhat standards-based
 
* [http://vrmlworld.net/ VRMLWorld], only works on Win+IE (active X controls) Needs the AB client.


; Dead systems
; Dead systems

Revision as of 14:16, 26 August 2008

Draft

Definition

  • 3D Interactive environments are often referred to as virtual reality or interactive 3D and have a figurative appearance. Much like our own world, this type of world allows interaction with other (networked) beings as well as manipulation of objects (Loeffler & Andersen 1994). They are a kind of virtual habitat.

See also: virtual environment for an overview on different categories.

3D interactive environments became relatively popular by the end of last century. From its start, some educators and educational researchers have been investigating these spaces. However, the "killing application" are shared computer games, in particular MMORPGs.

Types

In education

  • The problem with these environments is that there is not much to do in such an environment, so why use it then after "dressing as avatar" and "let's build a home" effects runs out ... ?
Typical useful applications
  • Role playing
  • Mission training
  • Procedure training

Links

Indexes

Overviews

Services and software for virtual environments

Here is an incomplete list of online services and software for 3D virtual environments.

Proprietary formats (services)
  • Second Life (SecondLife.com). Currently the most popular it seems, includes educational activities.
  • Active Worlds (multiple server spaces). This technology has been around sine 1995 and is still popular. However, they don't seem to answer any emails regarding educational worlds ....
  • DigitalSpace Traveler
  • There. An other on-line worlds
Proprietary educational worlds (services)
  • Quest Atlantis is an international learning and teaching project that uses a 3D multi-user environment to immerse children, ages 9-15, in educational tasks.
  • PlanetQuest (NASA, space missions and interactive activities).
  • Proton Sphere by ProtonMedia. (they sell some learning simulations).
Isolated 3D scenes as services (Your 3D home/chat page hosted on a proprietary service)
Proprietry formats (server/client software)
  • Virtools (Dassault). Production and deployment tools (immersive, Internet, 3D desktop, ..)
  • There are many more of these ...
Open source servers and clients
  • OpenCroquet is a software development environment and software infrastructure for creating and deploying deeply collaborative multi-user online applications and metaverses on and across multiple operating systems and devices. It is derived from Squeak.
  • RealXtend A free open source virtual world platform (server and browser). As of 2008 this is an active project with interesting features. On the road map are some interesting integration features for video, office software, etc.
  • Open Virtual Worlds Project
  • Project Wonderland. Sun's Toolkit for Building 3D Virtual Worlds (Java 3D-based). MPK20 is an example.
  • Multiverse (server and plugin). Written in C/Java and scriptable with Python. Can import several 3D formats.
Made with X3D/VRML (commercial)
Made with X3D (open source and/or free) - It seems that free open source X3D can't get off the ground.
  • Flux Multi-User Server (aka Hydra) is a free server (in alpha/early beta in July 2007)
  • OpenWorlds open X3D compatible system. (This product seems to be dead - 10/2008)


Dead systems

Most 3D virtual worlds die off at some point. In Daniel K. Schneider's experience (since 1995) an open source project or a company usually lasts 3 years before it goes out of business. One of the reasons was that clients/plugin architecture changed a lot and demands rewriting of code. E.g. in the VRML/XD3 world, EAI was replaced by SAI. Examples:

  • Free and/or opensource: Geometrek, VNET
  • Commercial: OZ (they now sell mobile chat)
An alternative for small groups
  • Use a game engine like Neverwinter Nights, have end users buy each a copy of the game and the use a replicator service (not tested).

(More) conceptual meta resources and portals

  • New World Notes. James Wagner's blog on Second Life related stories and issues. Probably the best place to start reading, if the concept of living in virtual environment may sound strange to you ...
  • JISC 3D Visualisation in the Arts Network. The 3DVisA Bulletin is intended as a forum for a community-wide debate on key and current issues in 3D visualisation. It is published every six months, profiling projects and people, and reviewing 3D techniques and resources.

References

  • Barab, Sasha A. ,Kenneth E. Hay, Michael Barnett and Kurt Squire (2001). Constructing Virtual Worlds: Tracing the Historical Development of Learner Practices, Cognition And Instruction, 19(1), 47-94. PDF
  • Ingeborg Krange, Tove Kristiansen, Lars Helljesen, Ola Ødegård and Annita Fjuk, (2000), Collaborative learning, Interactive 3D technology, ICT in schools, Telenor R&D Report ISBN 82-423-0516-1. PDF
  • Pike, Lewis, E-learning in virtual worlds: Skills for Life for the 21st Century, SimTech article, HTML, retrieved, 17:17, 15 September 2006 (MEST).
  • S. Clark, M.L. Maher. (2006) COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN A 3D VIRTUAL PLACE: INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF PLACE IN A VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. Advanced Technology for Learning 3:4,
  • Shelley P. Ross, Ronald W. Skelton, Sven C. Mueller. (2006) Gender differences in spatial navigation in virtual space: implications when using virtual environments in instruction and assessment. Virtual Reality 10:3-4, 175
  • Dickey, Michele D. (2005). Three-dimensional virtual worlds and distance learning: two case studies of Active Worlds as a medium for distance education, British Journal of Educational Technology 36 (3), 439–451. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2005.00477.x