VIE V IRTUAL I NTERACTIVE E NVIRONMENT By: Houry Hera Margossian Rabeeh Abou Ismail

P RODUCT The VIE engine can create virtual interactive 3D environments (VIEs) for complex processes from different fields of science. VIEs would be mediums for students to visualize challenging processes, and reenact them step by step by deciding how the components of the scene should behave. The demo VIE for example, was made to illustrate the research of Dr. Rabih Talhouk, from the Department of Biology at AUB and is intended to be used by students taking his course.

F UNCTIONALITY I - E NGINE The following options are possible while designing the different scenes: Models can be specified to be drag-able and attach-able to other models or fixed. Models can be given the option to be viewed in a more detailed view up-close. Information about the scenes and each model can be provided in the form of text in the side panel. Animation paths can be set for objects to perform on queue.

F UNCTIONALITY II – U SER The VIEs are easy to use and require basic computer knowledge. The user has the option to: Drag/drop, attach/detach, and place objects in their right locations. View the models in the scene up close from any angle. Look-up the explanation of the scene and the models from the text provided in the panel. Click on the destination of the object to trigger animation. Hover over an object to get brief properties and hints about it.(ex. For hint “click destination”)

T ARGET C ONSUMERS The target customers are educational and research institutions. Professors and teachers can teach difficult concepts and processes through VIEs. Researchers can increase the exposure to their research by sharing VIEs that describe their work. The target users of the VIEs are thus students and fellow researchers.

C ONCLUSION Complex processes that are difficult to visualize have always been a challenge for students to learn and professors to teach. Teaching should allow students to not only accumulate knowledge but to also reflect on that knowledge. Using VIEs, students will now be able to: Conceptualize the process at hand (see how it works) Understand the dynamics of the process (by initiating different events and seeing the consequences) Reflect on their knowledge by relating it to other processes.