Connecting Students by Integrating the 3D Virtual and Real Worlds We Need 3D Open Source Spaces to Keep Socialization, Communication, and Collaboration Alive Torsten Reiners, Carl Dreher University of Hamburg Curtin University of Technology Simon Büttner Marius Naumann Lone Visser

Connecting Worlds and be able to leave Torsten Reiners, Carl Dreher University of Hamburg Curtin University of Technology Simon Büttner Marius Naumann Lone Visser

in Second Life about Virtual Worlds with recorded classes I do teaching in the classroom in Blended Learning in Distance Learning Information Systems Meta-Heuristics Information Management Simulation Emerging Technologies … Which classes In Europe and Australia

Questions asked by us, by students. And by course feedback How can we improve communication ? How can we improve connectivity ? How can we achieve individuality ?

Questions asked by us, by students. And by course feedback How can we improve communication ? How can we improve connectivity ? instant message, voice, live stream of the real classroom, projection of the virtual world, SmartBoards, … We use How can we achieve individuality ?

Questions asked by us, by students. And by course feedback How can we improve communication ? How can we improve connectivity ? But student still feel “trapped” in “their” world How can we achieve individuality ? instant message, voice, live stream of the real classroom, projection of the virtual world, SmartBoards, … We use

What is the presentation about? Virtual Worlds reflecting their “limits” teaching in the context of life-long learning or offering training / recruiting courses for companies, and Do we need Open Source to open Worlds ? Inter-world connectivity, communication, … Projects to Connect Worlds Conclusion What is the difference to reality? Are Virtual Worlds open?

What is the difference between Virtual Worlds and Reality ?

not much What is the difference between Virtual Worlds and Reality ?

Classroom Real World (true) Reality 3D Spaces face-2-face education learning technical and social skills interaction and communication socializing synchronous

3D Educational Environments 3D Virtual World Alternative Realities 3D Spaces (blended and) distance education learning technical and social skills interaction and communication socializing synchronous

Differences? Definitely Try teleporting Or turning of gravity Ever smelled the Virtuality (Immersion)

becomes reality Virtuality

becomes virtual Reality

What’s the Problem we want to solve

Gaps restrict …

Gaps can be Bridged

Virtuality Reality Gaps can be Bridged a technological view Virtuality Reality

but is “Second Life” open?

not really open source (“just client”) only freedom to “extend” the (in-)world limited internal programming language bound to changing structures and functions restrictions are “hacked” larger prims improved functionality Is Second Life Open ? User is not in charge of data security, privacy, confidentiality, persistence, durability, … Linden Lab plans server … but how about Open Grid Protocol, Open Source Server, … BAD API complicated (in-world) access rights

Outline Gartner Cycle

Open Source in the context of 3D Educational Environments active development What did we look for ? existing and installable versions open source or (unrestricted) APIs allows unrestricted object im- and export education and business opportunities Note: we cannot consider all

Worlds we had a closer look Second Life Project Wonderland Croquet / Cobalt simplicity and flexibility security and application integration peer-2-peer, innovative OpenSimulator simplicity, flexibility, open

Windows into 3D Worlds

Jonny Lee

Input Devices Worlds

Input Devices Sören Leder / Malte Schroller Worlds

Whiteboard to Many Input is distributed to various clients including 3D adaptation (technically and to the user)

Tools Project Wonderland in

Simon Büttner Marius Naumann Lone Visser Server Architecture Graffiti

Keep the worlds synchronous

Further Projects … Mobile 3D Object Handling Inter-World Object Security In-Building Navigation Implications of “Connecting Worlds” other in-world, inter-world ….

Conclusions

Virtuality Practice Reality Edutainment There are 4 Worlds

Virtuality Practice Reality Edutainment Related Worlds …

First Question Do we need more connections between the worlds?

First Question Do we need more connections between the worlds? Second question has to be asked by someone else