Virtual World Presented by Group 6: Virtuality Ai Ling Tay Mituri P. Sharma Liz (Hui-ju) Lu Danny Wu Jinzi Wu

What A Virtual World? Virtual communities are forming into predominant method of interactive communication Virtual communities are forming into predominant method of interactive communication Definition: Definition: Virtual world is an interactive environment that implements sounds, graphics, animation and customisable characters. Virtual world is an interactive environment that implements sounds, graphics, animation and customisable characters.

Types of Virtual World Two Dimensional: Two Dimensional: World Away ( World Away ( Three Dimensional: Three Dimensional: Blaxun ( Blaxun ( Active Worlds ( Active Worlds (

Milestones of Virtual World 1970s: Virtual world began 1970s: Virtual world began 1980s: Development of the virtual world tools 1980s: Development of the virtual world tools (USENET, LISTSEVER, MUDs, MOOs and etc.) (USENET, LISTSEVER, MUDs, MOOs and etc.) Mid 1980s: Merging of text based chat channels alongside visual interfaces Mid 1980s: Merging of text based chat channels alongside visual interfaces 1990s: Launch of the 3D internet based world chat 1990s: Launch of the 3D internet based world chat

Popular Examples of Virtual World Combat Oriented Multiplayer Games Combat Oriented Multiplayer Games Quake ( Quake ( Starcraft ( Starcraft (

Methods Conducting Virtual World Building your own virtual world software program Building your own virtual world software program Implementing and existing virtual world software package Implementing and existing virtual world software package Choosing to “homestead” a community within an existing environment Choosing to “homestead” a community within an existing environment

Applications of Virtual World Area in Entertainment Area in Entertainment Area in Organisation Area in Organisation Area in Education Area in Education

Applications in Entertainment Area (Architecturally Based Websites) Origin’s Ultima Online: Multi player virtual world Origin’s Ultima Online: Multi player virtual world 998 Studio’s Everquest: Adventure Games containing tremendous atlas 998 Studio’s Everquest: Adventure Games containing tremendous atlas Alpha World: “Satellite” maps of a growing city Alpha World: “Satellite” maps of a growing city

Architecturally Based Websites (Cont.) Furrymuck: the mapping out of geography based MUDs Furrymuck: the mapping out of geography based MUDs More Information: More Information:

Applications in Organization Area Virtual Global Communities Virtual Global Communities Local Global Communities Local Global Communities Internet communities viewed as places where people are similar to each other Internet communities viewed as places where people are similar to each other

Advantages of Organizational Applications Represent reality more appropriately Represent reality more appropriately Entail a variety of different distinct abilities, views and requirements Entail a variety of different distinct abilities, views and requirements Cut costs and improve work productivity Cut costs and improve work productivity

Disadvantages of Organizational Applications Excessive costs of setting up and maintaining remote work sites Excessive costs of setting up and maintaining remote work sites Effects of social isolation Effects of social isolation Possibility of excessive work hours Possibility of excessive work hours Physical anxiety Physical anxiety

Applications in Education Area Virtual-U Project Virtual-U Project To provide active learning, collaboration and Knowledge building To provide active learning, collaboration and Knowledge building Virtual professors and virtual learners Virtual professors and virtual learners Increased satisfaction and effectiveness Increased satisfaction and effectiveness Financial Savings Financial Savings

Challenges of Educational Applications Accessibility of the Virtual Education Accessibility of the Virtual Education Quality of the Virtual Education Quality of the Virtual Education Short Supply of Finance and Political Support Short Supply of Finance and Political Support

Examples of Educational Applications Peru’s Higher Technological Institute (TECSUP) Peru’s Higher Technological Institute (TECSUP) The University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) The University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) The African Virtual University (AVU) The African Virtual University (AVU)

Examples of Educational Applications (Cont.) The Virtual University of the Technological Institute of Monterry (ITESM) The Virtual University of the Technological Institute of Monterry (ITESM) The University of Phoenix (UP) The University of Phoenix (UP) Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Nova Southeastern University (NSU) The Center for Open Distance Education for Civil Society The Center for Open Distance Education for Civil Society

Questions Considered in Virtual Education How well does the virtual reality technology support the collaborative learning process? How well does the virtual reality technology support the collaborative learning process? Does virtual reality technology favors certain types of students? Does virtual reality technology favors certain types of students? How real should the virtual learning environment to be? Does it need to? How real should the virtual learning environment to be? Does it need to?

Tools Facilitate Virtual World HMDs (Head Mounted Displays) HMDs (Head Mounted Displays) Telepresence Telepresence Video Mapping Video Mapping Utilizing Acoustic-graphic Environments Utilizing Acoustic-graphic Environments Further Explanations: Further Explanations:

Issues of Utilizing Virtual World Developing a norm that builds trust Developing a norm that builds trust Culture and geographically diverse Culture and geographically diverse Electronically communicating work team Electronically communicating work team More references: More references:

Conclusion Succinct overview of how virtual worlds can be of assistance and use includes: Creation of Multi-Player Games Creation of Multi-Player Games Creating Immersive Fantasy Based Surroundings Creating Immersive Fantasy Based Surroundings Viewing 3D Data Viewing 3D Data

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