Large Scale Collaborative Virtual Environments

by Greenhalgh, Chris

• ISBN13: 9781852331481
• ISBN10: 1852331488
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-07-01
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc

Summary

Addresses the theory, design, realization and evaluation of collaborative virtual environments, with a particular emphasis on support for large numbers of distributed users. DLC: Virtual reality.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction	1	(16)
1.1. Collaborative Virtual Environments	3	(4)
1.2. Issues of Scale	7	(4)
1.3. Approach	11	(2)
1.4. Thesis Structure and Reading Plan	13	(4)
2. CVEs: a Review	17	(14)
2.1. CSCW	17	(2)
2.2. Multi-user Virtual Reality	19	(10)
2.2.1. Scoping Interaction	19	(6)
2.2.2. Communication Architecture	25	(4)
2.3. Summary	29	(2)
3. The Spatial Model of Interaction	31	(10)
3.1. Motivations	31	(1)
3.2. The Model	32	(4)
3.3. Extensions and Developments	36	(1)
3.4. Demonstrations and Examples	37	(4)
4. MASSIVE-1	41	(14)
4.1. User Interface	42	(5)
4.1.1. Graphical Client	42	(2)
4.1.2. Audio Client	44	(1)
4.1.3. Text Medium Client	45	(2)
4.2. Tools	47	(2)
4.2.1. Message Board	47	(1)
4.2.2. Text to Speech Convertor	47	(1)
4.2.3. Adapters	48	(1)
4.2.4. Summary	49	(1)
4.3. Distribution Model	49	(2)
4.4. Implementation Overview	51	(4)
5. Direct Awareness	55	(20)
5.1. Implementation	55	(5)
5.1.1. Peer Interface	56	(1)
5.1.2. Evaluating Awareness	57	(3)
5.1.3. Adapters	60	(1)
5.2. In Use	60	(3)
5.2.1. Presentation	61	(1)
5.2.2. Focus and Nimbus Control	61	(1)
5.2.3. Context-Driven Interaction	62	(1)
5.2.4. Tool Control	62	(1)
5.3. Evaluation	63	(8)
5.3.1. Trials	63	(1)
5.3.2. Effectiveness	64	(2)
5.3.3. Subjective Awareness	66	(2)
5.3.4. Navigation and Control	68	(3)
5.4. Summary and Conclusions	71	(4)
5.4.1. CVEs	71	(1)
5.4.2. CSCW	72	(1)
5.4.3. The Spatial Model	72	(3)
6. Spatial Trading	75	(20)
6.1. Implementation	77	(3)
6.1.1. Aura Relationship	78	(2)
6.1.2. Managing Multiple Spatial Traders	80	(1)
6.2. Use	80	(2)
6.3. Evaluation	82	(9)
6.3.1. User Model	83	(1)
6.3.2. Application Model	84	(1)
6.3.3. Traffic Model	85	(2)
6.3.4. Reflections	87	(1)
6.3.5. Spatial Trading	88	(1)
6.3.6. Unicast CVEs	89	(2)
6.4. Summary and Conclusions	91	(4)
6.4.1. Spatial Trading	91	(1)
6.4.2. Unicast-Based CVEs	92	(1)
6.4.3. Bridge	92	(3)
7. Third Party Objects	95	(10)
7.1. Theory	96	(3)
7.1.1. Effects	97	(1)
7.1.2. Activation	98	(1)
7.1.3. General Observations	99	(1)
7.2. Examples	99	(3)
7.3. Exploitability	102	(1)
7.4. Summary	103	(2)
8. MASSIVE-2	105	(18)
8.1. User Interface	106	(2)
8.2. Third Party Objects	108	(3)
8.3. Distribution Model	111	(2)
8.4. Implementation Overview	113	(10)
8.4.1. Processes	113	(1)
8.4.2. Classes	114	(9)
9. Contextualised Awareness	123	(18)
9.1. Implementation	123	(7)
9.1.1. Focus, Nimbus and Awareness	124	(1)
9.1.2. Third Party Objects	125	(5)
9.2. Use	130	(6)
9.2.1. Poetry	131	(1)
9.2.2. The Arena	132	(2)
9.2.3. The Panopticon Plaza	134	(1)
9.2.4. WWW-3D	135	(1)
9.2.5. Other Use	136	(1)
9.3. Evaluation	136	(4)
9.3.1. Success	137	(1)
9.3.2. Visibility and Usability	138	(1)
9.3.3. Implementation and Capabilities	138	(2)
9.4. Summary	140	(1)
10. Awareness Driven Communication	141	(38)
10.1. Implementation	141	(8)
10.2. Use	149	(3)
10.3. Evaluation	152	(24)
10.3.1. Application Model	154	(3)
10.3.2. User Model	157	(1)
10.3.3. Process Behaviour and Communication Protocols	158	(1)
10.3.4. Distribution Architecture	159	(1)
10.3.5. Overheads	160	(1)
10.3.6. Putting It Together	161	(2)
10.3.7. Network Traffic Model	163	(1)
10.3.8. State and Updates	164	(1)
10.3.9. Heartbeat Messages	165	(2)
10.3.10. Multicast and Unicast	167	(1)
10.3.11. Unit of Replication	167	(1)
10.3.12. Accuracy of Replication	168	(2)
10.3.13. Replication Overheads	170	(1)
10.3.14. Replication Management	171	(2)
10.3.15. Abstraction and Secondary Sourcing	173	(1)
10.3.16. Examples	174	(2)
10.4. Summary and Conclusions	176	(3)
11. Conclusions	179	(20)
11.1. Summary	179	(4)
11.2. Main Contributions	183	(7)
11.2.1. Philosophy	183	(1)
11.2.2. Theory	184	(1)
11.2.3. Realisation	185	(1)
11.2.4. Experience	185	(2)
11.2.5. Modelling of Use	187	(3)
11.3. Reflection	190	(9)
11.3.1. Future Work (or What I Didn't Do)	190	(3)
11.3.2. Personal Reflections	193	(2)
11.3.3. The Big Picture	195	(4)
Appendix A. User Profiling	199	(14)
A.1. Data Sources	199	(2)
A.1.1. MASSIVE-1 Log Files	200	(1)
A.1.2. Network Traffic Data	200	(1)
A.2. Movement	201	(8)
A.2.1. Time Spent Moving	202	(3)
A.2.2. Group World Transitions	205	(3)
A.2.3. Returning to Worlds	208	(1)
A.3. Audio	209	(4)
A.3.1. Network Audio Data	210	(1)
A.3.2. Visual "Mouth" Data	210	(2)
A.3.3. Audio Data Conclusions	212	(1)
Appendix B. Exploitation and Dissemination	213	(6)
B.1. Primary Publications	213	(2)
B.2. Secondary Publications	215	(1)
B.3. Project Input	216	(3)
References	219	(6)
Index	225