Flavio Fontana, Marina Moscarini, David D’Arcangelo Usability – Media Lab ENEA, University of Rome, Italy Virtual World 3D Platform An Advanced e-Learning System to Manage Virtual Courses and Multimedia in Virtual Worlds

VW-3D is a platform to provide e-learning services like web based information and communication for cooperative works in complete virtual worlds. Goals: to experiment VW3D platform and its virtual scenario; to study both the socio-cognitive visual interface and the corrispondence with real scenario. During the design phase, before the VW-3D platform implemetation, studies (Technology, Functionality, Standards and Infrastructure) have been done. VIRTUAL WORLD 3D - RESEARCH ACTIVITY

MATRIX - e-Learning Application Scenario VW 3D MATRIX

MATRIX General Architecture ( IV Generation) MATRIX and Virtual World 3D Integration DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VCM & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Amministration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm (User registration and profiling) Active Web Matrix Portal Multimedia Databases

MATRIX - Modules DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix “Active Web Matrix” (AWM), it manages all pages of the Portal and the web interface

“Regicomm” module manages the user registration and profiling of MATRIX Platfom DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

The module “Document Management System” manages the documentation in a structured environment DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

“Selecta” module provides the staff to create user groups and document collections to disseminate information and newsletters towards the community. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

“Communicator” manages the messages between the users. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

The “Administration” module manages: the access of the users to the courses; the Didactical Calendar. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

The “Course” manages the course catalogue and the course contents by means of an authoring tool and an AVI. The interface permits user personalisation of the course contents. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

LMS “SI.A.” Authoring Tools manages the course content in real time. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix VCS NetLesson & NetSeminar are the VCMS modules to manage lessons and seminars. MATRIX - Modules

“Monitor” manages the user tracking and the statistics. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

“WorkArea” offers to teh use a personal web space to work. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

“Virtual World 3D” is an experimental module to manage the 3D visual interfacing. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

Database Manager visualises a total view of the etherogeneous and distrbuted databases. DB Manager Virtual World 3D WorkArea Monitor VMS & Video Content Management System LMS & Learning Content Management System Courses Administration Communicator Selecta Document Management System Regicomm Active Web Matrix MATRIX - Modules

Matrix 3 - MODULES COURSE STRUCTURE THEMATICS COURSE 1 MODULE 1 LESSON 1 UNIT 1 UNIT n LESSON n MODULE n COURSE n MDS

The aim of the VW-3D Project is to reach a conceptual validation of methodologies, platforms and technologies supporting the integration, validation and programming, over a distributed environment, to create correct and coerent 3D spaces and objects where users can learn the contents of heterogeneous and distributed virtual courses (VC). VW-3D The e-Learning Application Scenario

User classes a)Generic user (randomly access to the system); b)Professional user (frequently access to course, information and services. Generally students/teachers and tutors); VIRTUAL WORLD 3D - USER IDENTIFICATION & CLASSIFICATION

Frequency of useFrequency of use Computer familiarityComputer familiarity Computer software expertiseComputer software expertise User mental abilitiesUser mental abilities User physical abilities and skillUser physical abilities and skill VIRTUAL WORLD 3D - USER CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA

User requirements a)General requirements (access to the system through the Web, use of the Net to study, easy to use, efficency, effectiveness, robustness, modularity, portability, etc.); b)Functional requirements (use of mouse, access to enquiry functions, real-time and asinchronous communications, etc.); c)Technical requirements (active environment, networks, multi-language, integration with distributed multimedia database). VIRTUAL WORLD 3D - USER REQUIREMENTS

Virtual Component & SIM VIRTUAL WOLRLD 3D - RESEARCH ACTIVITY 3D Objects 3D Worlds Multimedia AVI DBMS Web Site & Java Applet VW-3D Platform VW-3D Platform Structure

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D - WEB SITE a)The Project; b)The VW-3D Applet; c)Download; d)General Informations; e)Links;

The Classrooms; The Classrooms; The Hall; The Hall; The Meeting-Points; The Meeting-Points; The Library; The Library; The Rooms; The Rooms; VIRTUAL WORLD 3D The VW 3D Methodologies has defined the virtual space (External / Internal), the objects, the multimedia and users. The main internal space (ROOMS) are:

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE MODULES The VW-3D is implemented on more than one simple layer. The system is based on a high level 3D representation engine, a Client-Server structure for the communication of distributed messages and a low level layer than starts a precise procedure to retrieve information from the database after that an interactive 3D object has been selected.

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE OBJECTS The Virtual World 3D has defined the objects and their functionality in the 3D scene to stimulate the end-user interaction with this environment. The objects are simple metaphores to retrieve contents and documents from the databases. Each room and 3D space has standard objects configuration that characterize the scene. The objects implemented in the Virtual world 3D are: Wide Screen for video and slides; Wide Screen for video and slides; Whiteboards; Whiteboards; Calendars; Calendars; Books; Books; Personal Computers; Personal Computers; Other. Other.

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE BOOKS The books are the most common objects in the Virtual World 3D scenes. They are available in the classrooms, in the hall and in the private rooms (docent and student). This object retrieves documents available for the user in the contextual space where he is interacting. FADVIGEN DATABASE The object “book” makes a query to the FADIVGEN with the informations of the room where it is placed and of the user that is interacting with it. Vw-3d/Matrix layer

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE BOOKS The book represents also the documents that the end-user saves inside his own repository. The end-user, in the 3D scene, is capable to compose a new document with the Si.A. tool or save paper passed by another user. By this, the end-user will have a new BOOK represented in his library or on his desk. Si.A. Authoring tool

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE WIDESCREENS In the classrooms, in the private rooms and in the meeting-point are available widescreens where the end-user can visualize didactic contents like video and slides. The widescreens visualize the content retreived by the end-user querying the calendar outside a classroom or clicking the query panel. FADVIGEN DATABASE Vw-3D/Matrix layer

The WhiteBoard module is a experimental prototype of shared blackboard that allows to design and to write images. Already experimented in MES project, the WhiteBoard has been integrated in the 3D scene. The WhiteBoard shares the drawings of users that are present in the same room, like the classrooms. VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE WHITEBOARDS

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE CALENDAR The calendar is another interactive 3D object inserted in the 3D scenes of Virtual World 3D. The calendar in the scene informs the end-users which and when a lesson will be available or take place in the real world. The important operation of the object is that each calendar gives a unique info about the lesson. The calendar gives to the user only the info of the lessons available at the classroom or meeting-point that it is associated.

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D THE HALL AND THE MEETING-POINT The Virtual World 3D spaces dedicated to meet other users and to reach general multimedia contents are the hall and the meeting-point. Infact in the hall we have info-point and many wide-screens where the user can connect to internet or listen to general information. The meeting-point is a dedicated space of the hall where the user can stop and interact with other user or make researches on multimedia contents and documents

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D THE STUDENT AND TEACHER ROOM The Virtual World 3D teacher and student rooms are private spaces for the end users as students and teachers. Here the users can display the lessons available in MATRIX platform, save and create their own documents. The objects implemented in all the 3D scene are inserted also in these spaces but each output is differentiated by the context of the space where the user interact with them

VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE CLASSROOM The Virtual World 3D classrooms are the spaces dedicated for the online lessons. Here the users can follow and interact with the lesson in real- time, and be present in the classroom with their avatars. To complete the lesson experience the user have many functionalities available: documents repository, video screens, whiteboards.

Virtual World 3D Internal Space: Avatar real presence Socio Cognitive I. Agent

CORE VIRTUAL WORLD 3D – THE CORE MATRIX VW-3D MODULE VW-3D SERVER FADIVGEN DATABASE VW-3D CLIENT VW-3D SERVER

Usability Lab Multimedia Productions Interviews Videos Trailers (L)Trailers Ulab Server Pinnacle Card Multimedia Real Server Osprey Card Web Seminar Server MATRIX Experimental Platform ODL FAD Web Site, Courses FOTOVinst Matrix 3 - Matrix 3 - Global Multimedia Specifications

Parameters (End User Oriented) Parameters (End User Oriented) Video Windows Size 240X X X240 Video Windows Size Connection rate 56kps Connection rate 56kps File size KB File size KB Audio Audio Compression Compression Video file Format Video file Format Video Resolution Video Resolution 240X192 pixels Matrix 3 - Matrix 3 - Global Multimedia Specifications

PC1PC2PCn Users Internet Remote access 56Kps Web-cam Real server Real producer Real player Digital TLC 56Kps Ulab PC Laptop U1U2Un Kps Sinchronous/Asinchronous Streaming Matrix 3 - Matrix 3 - Global Multimedia Specifications

Internet network Multimedia Class Room Ulab Server MM Repository Real Server End User (Home, Office, etc.) Expert Remote access via modem 56 kps Matrix 3 - Matrix 3 - Global Multimedia Specifications Sinchronous/Asinchronous Classrom Systems Internet network Multimedia Class Room kps NetLesson International Virtual Classroom

Main architecture Client Data Server DB Access file e dir. Intranet ENEA firewall Internet Media Server Client Matrix 3 – Hardware settings for the multimedia streaming

Virtual World 3D Client - Server VW-3D Servers DB Access file e dir. Manager (Staff) Module Docent/Speacker Module Viewer Module Student

Virtual World 3D Server - Server VW-3D Main Server DB Access file e dir. DB Access VW-3D 3D spaces Server file e dir. VW-3D DB Server DB Access file e dir. VW-3D User Server DB Access file e dir.

To implement a distributed platform based on server cluster technology that ensures both a more reliability of the functional modules and a fast service; To design advanced collaborative instruments (designer tools, remote controll classroom system, multimedia repository manager system, etc.) To implement a new Multimedia Library, integrated with an advanced search engine, where the end-user can navigate in a 3D scene of the results. To design specific modules to manage room and objects with indipendent management. Virtual World 3D Future Functionality

Usability Testing results: High Usability degree of VW-3D VW 3D - FINAL RESULTS Net Seminar Net Lesson Ext. Space ROOMS Objects Slides Videos Library Documents Web Site

VW-3D REAL SCENARIO VW-3D REAL SCENARIO ENEA and University (Rome, Ferrara, etc.) 5 Small and Middle Enterprises 3 Elementary and Secondary Schools 10 Courses (Energy, Biotechnology, Envirnoment, Computer Science, New Technologies, Materials, etc) 10 teachers involved 100 users VW-3D More users registered ( ) to MATRIX 3 European Research Projects and 2 National Programmes

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