"VRML Multi-User Distance Learning Laboratory"
Grant Proposal, by Michael Acker, AIM Lab

Goal

To produce a "distance Learning" 3D VRML "Virtual Lecture" in which students will interact and complete group projects, form clubs, and attend lectures with the use of avatars.

Who will be served and how?

The students of University of Illinois will be served using their home computers and course materials, including cosmoplayer vrml browser and blaxxun community browser. Classroom will be monitored by an administrator working in conjunction with the professor. Software will be administered from an NT Server running Blaxxun Community Server 4.0

What will be created and how will it be served?

Using Cosmo Worlds VRML software in conjunction with blaxxun Community Server 4.0, we would be able to create a multi-user learning environment on the internet. Some type of space will first be created in vrml. We will then proceed in setting up the multi-user environment. This course could act as an extension to a course. For instance, students have one "virtual lecture" a week from the professor, and one class with the TA. Prior to class start, students would have the required pluggins installed. At a specified time, students would use their avatars to attend class in this multi-user classroom. The students would be free to talk with each other as well as send the professor anonymous questions. By clicking on other avatars in the class will bring up a background on the individual, including as much or as little information as they like. The lecture could run for 40 minutes, and have 10 minutes available at the end of class for questions. Students at any time they log into "virtual classroom" will have full access to all the notes the professor has said throughout the semester

Why is expected product of this project needed?

The internet has revolutionized the way we have access to information. The same need is being realized in the education industry. A long term goal would be to give everyone access to education to stay competitive in today's global marketplace. The need for "distance learning" is being realized in the education industry. We are in current need of better ways to incorporate distance learning into the curricula. Up until now, distance learning was based upon single user interfaces, such as static web pages/courses. With avatars in an multi-user environment, students receive all the benefits of distance learning in conjunction with sociability skills and student interaction. People tend to stereotype every person they see, more often than not in a negative way. By breaking down the barriers to a room of digital avatars, which is a relatively anonymous entity, students will not be as self conscious and judgmental of others. This combined with the idea that you can click on any avatar in the scene and pull up general information such as name, sex, email, url, hobbies, not to mention the personal body language that can be created as well as the fact that you can send anonymous questions to the teacher, will cause student interaction and collaborative learning to increase tenfold.

Why a VRML chatroom?

  1. People like the 3D virtual experience, and experiences people like are what defines markets.
  2. People remember pictures better than text (as the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words".
  3. With the use of avatars, many people purposely choose to mis-represent themselves, breaking all stereotypical norms, since we all stereotype people. As more online communities grow, people will grow to be more accepting and not judge someone by appearance or stereotypes. Not only does this first hand knowledge help the end user, but our entire society as well. We all know it is a global marketplace.
  4. Considering the popularity of online IRC chat, combined with a comfortable 3D environment, an avatar, voice recognition, behaviors, contact cards, and incentive systems, while having fun at the same time, it is only a matter of time before we see an extreme explosion in this type of application, as well as distant, multi-user learning environments

    Course Ideas:

    1. Use 2 test groups for the same class: Have the same professor give a virtual lecture as compared to a traditional lecture; compile the results
    2. Give the students an entirely online project to be completed in small groups. Students would have to make their own groups online by interacting with other avatars, apply from the admin to form a club so they can keep track of the groups conversation as well as any other information pertinent to their project.


    Technical Requirements

      Software/Hardware Considerations
    1. Cosmo Worlds VRML creation package
    2. Blaxxun Community Server 4.0 multi-user community software
    3. Blaxxun SDK Developers kit Extension
    4. SGI NT 560, quad 450MH running NT Server, 22" monitor
      End-user Requirements
    1. Minimum 17" monitor
    2. Cosmo Player VRML browser
    3. Blaxxun Community viewer
    4. internet access
    5. minimum 200MH computer
      Human Resources:
    1. Administrator
    2. Project Coordinator
    3. professor willing to take part
    4. students

    What can Blaxxun Community server 4.0 do for us?

    1. Community Manager
    2. Agent Manager
    3. Object Manager
    4. Home Manager
    5. Voice Manager

    Community Manager

    1. member and guest management: Members may provide as much or as little information about themselves as they wish. Public information includes a nickname, interests, URL's, as well as other configurable information. Guests are visitors who are not yet interested in becoming a full- fledged member, but are interested in visiting the application. The guest feature is typically restricted.
    2. Registration and Authentication: New users may register for the community. Returning members use usernames and passwords to protect identities.
    3. Place Management: The VRML community may consist of several different rooms, lounges, etc. Members can change places in a variety of ways and access related information, meet other members, and/or participate in place - specific events, chats, etc.
    4. Member Directory: The member directory allows users to find other members. The directory can be sorted according to several criteria and updates itself as soon as new members register. Each member registration can have various fields, such as nicknames, name, experience points, token money owned, or a member role.
    5. Interest Club Management: Clubs can be created and maintained by qualified members of the community or by the operator of the application. Each club is a place that includes all the relevant details about the clubs charter, activities, and communication. Members extend the value of a club through message board contributions, chat, or information uploads. The owner of a club manages the club and receives the appropriate tools and access for proper maintenance of the venue. All clubs are listed and organized in a club directory. Members can join one or several clubs and participate in all relevant events and activities.
    6. Member Roles: The operator of the application can define/assign roles to members. The definition and names of the roles is up to the discretion of the operator. Members with roles receive all the required tools, privileges, and access rights to accomplish their roles. They can also earn virtual money and experience points, which could later be traded for something. Incentive systems help to keep a community together. As members take over tasks in an application, they reduce the overall cost for the operator and at the same time feel more involved in the application, resulting in increased loyalty to the site and community.
    7. Access Rights: All places and objects support access rights, which can be assigned to members. 
    8. Message Boards and Calendars: Asynchronous communication is supported by various customizable features, such as message boards and calendars. Members can read or post entries, privileged members can maintain and archive the information.
    9. Voting and Decision Making: Members can set up elections on topics of interest and voting can be performed either publicly or privately. Voters are allowed to vote during specified time periods and results can be immediately posted at poll closing. Voting is simple to implement, users feature that allows users to express opinions and return feedback almost instantly, and can be applied equally well to community interests as well as market research.
    10. 3D Avatars: To create their online identities, members select an avatar from a number of avatar galleries. Avatars have a number of gestures (up to 8) that a user can "connect" to certain keywords in a conversion (the avatar nods it head when the user types "yes"). The result is impressive body language simulation that adds to a compelling visual experience.
    11. 3D Navigation and Interaction: Users of 3D applications can inhabit virtual venues and experience freedom of movement within these venues. The experience is richer than TV. Users meet other users represented by their avatars, and have the ability to communicate, interact, and influence their environment. 3D itself offers users the added dimension for interacting within some specified venue. Adding multi-user activity into 3D design enhances the experience of the community so that users are compelled to visit often rather than clicking once "just to look at 3D design".
    12. Real Time Chat: At any time, users can engage in real time chat conversations, which are supported in various ways. Public chat allows one to speak or listen to everybody in a venue at the same time. The chat logs of large crowds can be relocated into smaller groups for better manageability. Private chats can also be initiated anytime with other users or agents. Members can also "whisper" quick private messages to other members. Chat is supported in combination with 3D or function in 2D as simple java or html chat, allowing users to participate, even those with old hardware or limited bandwidth. Members can operate an unlimited number of parallel chat lines, and they can switch between discussions with one single click. A variety of support features help to manage big events and turn them into effective discussions. Chats are automatically archived and can be reviewed later.
    13. Instant Messaging/Paging: Members can send instant messages to other members, without being at the same place. This is comparable to a pager, where friends can be contacted and quick messages can be exchanged.
    14. Friends Lists: Each member can maintain a list of friends. The list indicates who of the friends is online and whether s/he is prepared to be approached. As other friends join, a notification can be sent.
    15. Incentives Programs (Experience Points, Experience Levels, Economy): Incentive programs reward active members, similar to the well known frequent flyer program. These programs can be defined based upon: experience levels which can reward access to defined privileges, such as entry to an elite members lounge, experience points which establishes members' reputability and seniority during user interaction, or a token economy which enables members to buy objects, trade objects with other members, or receive some type of salary for their community management activities. Incentive programs increase membership activity and community spirit within the application.
    16. Firewall Support: For performance and scalability reasons, Community Server uses optimized network technology. As many corporations have firewalls that prevent optimized calls, members can specify usage of a firewall- compatible protocol and access all services.
    17. Administration: Community Server 4.0 has an intuitive administration interface. A system administrator can 1) remotely administer the community server 2) start/stop the server and modify the configuration file on the fly 3) monitor, remove, and mute users 4)review usage and network statistics 5) control properties such as the number of people in the scene

    Agent Manager

    Agents are pre-programmed chat participants. They respond to certain keywords posed by users or react to certain trigger events within the scene, such as when entering a room, and someone comes and greets you. Agents respond by making comments asking questions that lead into dialogue, collecting and distributing information, and can be pre-programmed to perform any communication function. Agents may be created to look like students and teachers.

    Object Manager

    Object Manager enables the usage of shared events and shared objects. Objects are virtual items that can exist in any location and can be owned by users. Objects can be represented as text, models, and pictures. Whiteboards, streaming video, and discount coupons may also be created as objects. Their attributes can be managed as "shared" within the environment, meaning that any changes are immediately distributed to all other relevant users. Objects can be created, traded, dropped, picked up, and deleted by users, if they have the appropriate rights. Objects may be used for e-commerce purposes like advertising or promotion, and online education.

    Home Manager

    Home manager allows users to set up homes, clubs, company offices, or other distinct locales on the web. These entities are divided into public and private spaces. Each members space (complete with URL) can act as their personal communication center within which they can invite friends, family and other groups for scheduled chats, meetings, etc. Space owners receive all the tools required to maintain their places and can set up access privileges to protect their privacy. The spaces themselves can be set up from a one- click template or designed more elaborately with their own tools. Personal spaces have all the communication functionality delved by the community manager.

    Voice Manager

    Voice Manager allows users to speak to other users in a meeting or chat with pre- selected voice timbre. It also enables agents to speak to users. The method of vocal delivery is text-to-voice, where dialogue is heard in audio, as well as seen within the chat window. Listening to the dialogue as it occurs enhances the 3D chat experience by allowing users to watch their chat partners, like a video phone, instead of constantly checking the chat scroll window.