Web-based learning in the computer-aided design curriculum

Abstract This study attempts to apply the principle of constructivism and virtual reality (VR) technologies to computer-aided design (CAD) curriculum by integrating network, CAD and VR into a web-based learning environment. Through VR technologies, it is expected that the traditional two-dimensional (2D) computer graphics course can be expanded into a three-dimensional (3D) real-time simulation one. VR technologies provide a novel method to enhance user visualisation of complex three-dimensional graphics and environments. Experience and environmental interaction allow users more readily to perceive the dimensional interrelations of graphics which are typically portrayed through static multiview or pictorial representations. A web-based learning system ( WebDeGrator ) has been developed to simulate a computer graphics learning system for learning. Future developments of the proposed web-based learning framework are also discussed.     

Virtual and augmented reality for cultural computing and heritage: a case study of virtual exploration of underwater archaeological sites (preprint)

The paper presents different issues dealing with both the preservation of cultural heritage using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in a cultural context. While the VR/AR technologies are mentioned, the attention is paid to the 3D visualization, and 3D interaction modalities illustrated through three different demonstrators: the VR demonstrators (immersive and semi-immersive) and the AR demonstrator including tangible user interfaces. To show the benefits of the VR and AR technologies for studying and preserving cultural heritage, we investigated the visualisation and interaction with reconstructed underwater archaeological sites. The base idea behind using VR and AR techniques is to offer archaeologists and general public new insights on the reconstructed archaeological sites allowing archaeologists to study directly from within the virtual site and allowing the general public to immersively explore a realistic reconstruction of the sites. Both activities are based on the same VR engine, but drastically differ in the way they present information and exploit interaction modalities. The visualisation and interaction techniques developed through these demonstrators are the results of the ongoing dialogue between the archaeological requirements and the technological solutions developed.     

基于VR技术的三维射击游戏开发研究

目前三维游戏中利用了虚拟场景,以便捷的人机交互,为游戏者提供最佳的游戏体验.三维游戏的衍生在很大程度上推动了虚拟现实(VR)技术的更新优化,其涵盖了虚拟现实所有技术.本文基于VR技术设计开发三维射击游戏.首先分析游戏开发需求,其次设计三维VR系统结构与游戏开发流程,再次详细规划三维射击游戏功能模块,最后进行游戏人物、场...     

A Survey on Sketch Based Content Creation: from the Desktop to Virtual and Augmented Reality

Sketching is one of the most natural ways for representing any object pictorially. It is however, challenging to convert sketches to 3D content that is suitable for various applications like movies, games and computer aided design. With the advent of more accessible Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, sketching can potentially become a more powerful yet easy-to-use modality for content creation. In this state-of-the-art report, we aim to present a comprehensive overview of techniques related to sketch based content creation, both on the desktop and in VR/AR. We discuss various basic concepts related to static and dynamic content creation using sketches. We provide a structured review of various aspects of content creation including model generation, coloring and texturing, and finally animation. We try to motivate the advantages that VR/AR based sketching techniques and systems can offer into making sketch based content creation a more accessible and powerful mode of expression. We also discuss and highlight various unsolved challenges that current sketch based techniques face with the goal of encouraging future research in the domain.     

An integrated VR–GIS navigation platform for city/region simulation

This paper introduces a virtual city oriented VR–GIS platform which synthesizes several latest information technologies including virtual reality, 3D geographical information system, remote sensing, and multi‐dimensional visualization. The platform is a seamless integration of VR functions and GIS analysis methods, which can be used to organize and present massive spatial data. It also supplies 3D spatial analysis functions, 3D visualization for spatial process and natural simulation, and serves as an engine platform for digital city. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Taking a 2D educational title into 3D

Maturing software for creating real-time interactive 3D (3D/VR) and hardware enabling its delivery give us the chance to explore practical issues involved in making commercially viable 3D/VR content. In October 1996, The Learning Company released the educational title Logic Quest, built using Sense8's WorldToolKit software. One of the first commercial 3D/VR children's titles for Windows 95, Logic Quest provides an example of what is involved in converting a 2D title (Think Quick!) to 3D. Studying the process the company followed lets us evaluate some of the challenges and benefits of moving a 2D title to 3D     

基于3D和VIRTOOLS技术的物理虚拟实验室架构设计

3D和VIRTOOLS技术是一种VR技术,采用该技术开发的虚拟实验具有真实性、沉浸性、交互性和易实现等特点.提出了一个基于3D和 VIRTOOLS 技术的物理虚拟实验室模型,分析了该模型的结构框架以及组成模块,介绍了如何进行相关设置实现虚拟实验室的优化,最后列举了伏安法测电阻的虚拟实验.     

Platform is not destiny: Embodied learning effects comparing 2D desktop to 3D virtual reality STEM experiences

Experiences in immersive 3D virtual reality (VR) are more presence-inducing, and so it may be tempting to claim that content will be learned better in VR. This randomized control trial study on natural selection challenges that assumption. This study answers the question of whether learning STEM in an immersive 3D VR environment is always superior to learning via a 2D monitor (PC). This is a 2 × 2 × 3 design. The first factor is platform immersivity (low = 2D PC, or high = 3D VR), the second factor is level of embodiment (lower = watching playback video, or higher = using mouse/controller to agentically manipulate content), and the third factor is test time (pretest, posttest, and follow-up). There was a significant main effect for embodiment, the high embodied and agentic groups learned the most. There was not a main effect for platform, because the participants in the low embodied VR group performed significantly worse than the three other groups. Although, the one high embodied, VR group learned and retained the most knowledge. A path-analysis revealed that the effect of platform was significantly mediated by presence, agency, and engagement. The smaller learning gain in the low embodied VR condition suggests that participants come to the immersive VR experience with expectations about agency and control of the virtual content, and when those expectations were not met, the disconnect was deleterious for learning. More agentic and interactive control of manipulable virtual content is encouraged. Design is critical, and platform is not destiny.     

虚拟现实的支付研究与设计

近几年来,虚拟现实（Virtual Reality,VR）技术发展迅猛,成为炙手可热的新兴行业.VR硬件已达到基本成熟的阶段,VR应用也应势成为新的掘金点,在影视娱乐、游戏、教育等各个领域都得到了广泛的应用.但在支付领域,市场暂无优秀的VR支付解决方案.本文基于虚拟现实的支付研究,旨在利用token技术,通过VR设备内安全模块加密保护银行卡数据和支付数据,并利用3D建模技术构建沉浸式VR支付场景,以寻求安全、便捷、开放的VR支付方案.研究结果表明,该设计解决了现今VR支付产品交互难、安全性低的问题,并且有效提高了支付成功率.     

Ontology‐Based Representation and Modelling of Synthetic 3D Content: A State‐of‐the‐Art Review

An indispensable element of any practical 3D/VR/AR application is synthetic three‐dimensional (3D) content. Such content is characterized by a variety of features—geometry, structure, space, appearance, animation and behaviour—which makes the modelling of 3D content a much more complex, difficult and time‐consuming task than in the case of other types of content. One of the promising research directions aiming at simplification of modelling 3D content is the use of the semantic web approach. The formalism provided by semantic web techniques enables declarative knowledge‐based modelling of content based on ontologies. Such modelling can be conducted at different levels of abstraction, possibly domain‐specific, with inherent separation of concerns. The use of semantic web ontologies enables content representation independent of particular presentation platforms and facilitates indexing, searching and analysing content, thus contributing to increased content re‐usability. A range of approaches have been proposed to permit semantic representation and modelling of synthetic 3D content. These approaches differ in the methodologies and technologies used as well as their scope and application domains. This paper provides a review of the current state of the art in representation and modelling of 3D content based on semantic web ontologies, together with a classification, characterization and discussion of the particular approaches.     

Making virtual reality more accessible

VR systems use software and hardware to create and manage a virtual, interactive 3D environment that includes visual and sometimes audio and tactile elements. They generally include various types of display, sensor, and user-tracking and -navigation technologies. The systems can either simulate a real environment, such as a building, or create an imaginary one. Newer VR systems are less expensive and complex than their predecessors and thus are accessible by more people for simpler projects.     

The impact of engineering information format on task performance: Gaze scanning pattern analysis

The emergence of new visualization technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) had been widely implemented in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Although cumulative evidence pointed out a positive impact of these visualization technologies on construction task performance, there is still an obvious disagreement on the benefits or implications of these new visualization technologies, due to the lack of understanding of the mechanisms in which the visualization affects cognitive processes related to information processing. To obtain more evidence, this paper presents a human-subject experiment (n = 90) to investigate the impact of information format on the performance of an industrial pipeline maintenance task. The investigation centers around how different engineering information formats affect the attention patterns as a potential explanation for the changes in performance. A between-group experiment design was used where the participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups (2D group, 3D group, and VR group) depending on what type of information was given to review the pipe operation instruction. After the review session, the participants were asked to perform the operation task in the virtual environment based on their memory. The results showed that the 3D and VR groups outperformed the 2D group in task performance. The analysis of eye-tracking data further indicated that the information format significantly changed the gaze scanning pattern when participants were reviewing the operational instructions. We also found that the task performance was correlated with eye-tracking features including gaze movement and pupil dilation. Our findings provided more evidence about the mechanisms in which new visualization technologies affect the attention patterns, helped resolve the current disagreement within the literature. In addition, a prediction model was proposed to use eye-tracking features to predict construction task performance.     

基于Web的虚拟校园的构建及漫游系统的实现

虚拟现实技术是当今计算机科学研究的一个热点,将虚拟现实技术引入数字校园的研究中,为校园的规划和设计提供了一种全新的手段。该文介绍了一种基于3D和Webmax技术的虚拟环境的开发方法,即:用3DMAX构建三维模型、制作三维动画;用Webmax进行交互控制。并结合实际开发经验,对虚拟环境下3D建模、交互式漫游、碰撞检测、音效等技术进行了探讨。     

基于OpenGL的三维地形可视化技术研究

三维地形可视化技术一直是地理信息系统、数字摄影测量、虚拟现实等领域的研究热点.对 OpenGL 的发展现状和数字高程模型(DEM)的相关知识进行了介绍,重点讨论了利用 Visual C 6.0 平台和 OpenGL 编程技术,建立虚拟地形三维可视化系统的关键技术和实现过程.     

Investigating learners’ attitudes toward virtual reality learning environments: Based on a constructivist approach

The use of animation and multimedia for learning is now further extended by the provision of entire Virtual Reality Learning Environments (VRLE). This highlights a shift in Web-based learning from a conventional multimedia to a more immersive, interactive, intuitive and exciting VR learning environment. VRLEs simulate the real world through the application of 3D models that initiates interaction, immersion and trigger the imagination of the learner. The question of good pedagogy and use of technology innovations comes into focus once again. Educators attempt to find theoretical guidelines or instructional principles that could assist them in developing and applying a novel VR learning environment intelligently. This paper introduces the educational use of Web-based 3D technologies and highlights in particular VR features. It then identifies constructivist learning as the pedagogical engine driving the construction of VRLE and discusses five constructivist learning approaches. Furthermore, the authors provide two case studies to investigate VRLEs for learning purposes. The authors conclude with formulating some guidelines for the effective use of VRLEs, including discussion of the limitations and implications for the future study of VRLEs.     

New algorithm for 3D facial model reconstruction and its application in virtual reality

3D human face model reconstruction is essential to the generation of facial animations that is widely used in the field of virtual reality (VR). The main issues of 3D facial model reconstruction based on images by vision technologies are in twofold: one is to select and match the corresponding features of face from two images with minimal interaction and the other is to generate the realistic-looking human face model. In this paper, a new algorithm for realistic-looking face reconstruction is presented based on stereo vision. Firstly, a pattern is printed and attached to a planar surface for camera calibration, and corners generation and corners matching between two images are performed by integrating modified image pyramid Lucas-Kanade (PLK) algorithm and local adjustment algorithm, and then 3D coordinates of corners are obtained by 3D reconstruction. Individual face model is generated by the deformation of general 3D model and interpolation of the features. Finally, realistic-looking human face model     

基于WEBVR和RIA技术的三维虚拟社区研究与应用

该文从VR和WEB技术的发展入手,对基于WEBVR技术的三维虚拟社区的特点以及发展前景进行了分析,同时介绍了RIA技术体系特点。并据此提出了基于WEBVR和RIA技术的三维虚拟社区的技术架构,详细介绍了基于WEBVR技术和RIA技术的三维虚拟社区的信息组织、存储以及交互等关键技术问题。最后介绍了WEBVR和RIA技术在未来网络交互中具有的广泛应用前景。     

Integrated BIM,game engine and VR technologies for healthcare design: A case study in cancer hospital

The results of healthcare design should meet the requirements of design teams as well as healthcare stakeholders. However, misunderstandings that occur between the design teams and healthcare stakeholders when using 2D illustrations leads to the need for re-design and rework during the design phase. To overcome this problem, this study develops a Database-supported VR/BIM-based Communication and Simulation (DVBCS) system integrated with BIM, game engine and VR technologies for healthcare design special in the Semi-immersed VR environment. The DVBCS system is applied in a case study of a design project of a cancer center in Taiwan to verify the system and demonstrate its effectiveness in practice. The results demonstrate that a DVBCS system is an effective visual communication and simulation platform for healthcare design. The advantage of the DVBCS system lies not only in improving the communication efficiency between the design teams and healthcare stakeholders, but also in facilitating visual interactions and easing the decision-making process while communicating in the 3D VR/BIM environment. The effective use of the proposed DVBCS system will assist design teams and stakeholders significantly in systematically handling healthcare design work in future healthcare design.     

虚拟现实的三维实体的场景储存结构

虚拟现实技术是一门由应用驱动的涉及众多学科的新的实用技术,是集先进的计算机技术、传感与测量技术、仿真技术、微电子技术等为一体的综合集成技术。在论文中,作者讨论了虚拟现实技术中的三维实体的场景储存结构理论、结构构成原理与设计方法以及典型应用系统等内容。作者特别列举了一个汽车模型的三维实体的储存结构的例子。     

基于GIS技术的城市3维景观动态仿真技术研究

虚拟城市是3维城市地理信息系统研究的前沿领域,为此首先对如何建立城市3维景观进行了初步的探讨研究,同时概述了城市3维仿真的发展概况和基本原理;然后分析了建立城市3维景观的两种方法路线;接着重点介绍了3维场景的建模、动态仿真和实时驱动的实现方法,并提出了城市3维景观动态仿真技术的作用、意义和发展前景;最后总结了城市3维仿真与GIS结合应用的可能性和发展方向,并制作出了城市3维景观动态仿真的应用实例。