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PANEL
FOUR - Science Education
in Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE's)
Chair:
Margaret Corbit, Cornell Theory Center, Dr.
Cinzia Gandini, Medico Veterinario, Spec. Clinica dei Piccoli Animali
Omar Khan, Cornell University, SciCentr Project, Chad Rooney, University
of California, Santa Cruz
Cinzia Gandini - Vetunimi:
Medical Education in a Virtual World A Preliminary Investigation
queenbee: for our first talk, I would like to welcome Cinzia Gandini,
DVM, a seasoned user of AW and now AWEDU, a veterinarian, and a creative
thinker, Cinzia, the floor is yours
"Eep": who?
mira20: hi vr (dad)
Vetunimi: thanks
Brainstorm: Hurra, Go Cinzia !
"Quiddity": Where is the presentation?
Roberto: go Cinzia (fan from Holland)
Vetunimi: Hi everybody I am the developer of the Vetunimi project,
which is affiliated to the University of Veterinary Medicine of Milano
- Italy, Bioinformatic Area
Vetunimi: I am very glad to have the opportunity to participate in the
VLearn 3D 2000 Event and I would like to thank Bonnie De Varco and Margaret
Corbit and the whole AWEdu staff
Vetunimi: And also thanks to the Vetunimi1 back up who volunteered himself
for this event
Vetunimi1: <-- that's me
Vetunimi: I am presenting a preliminary report based on one year experience
with a VE (Virtual Environment), running in this AWEDU universe, using
the Active Worlds Technology
"Quiddity": what's the e/w coordinate?
Vetunimi: If you have any questions I please you to address them to
vetunimi1 and type into the whisper chat
Vetunimi: your questions will be saved for the end of the talk or considered
during the general discussion depending on timing
Vetunimi: The Vetunimi project explores the technology and its reliability
in achieving a useful educational resource for the Veterinary Medical
field
Vetunimi: http://www.bioinfovet.unimi.it/vetunimi/virtual/abstract.html
Vetunimi: The project is also analysing the virtual contacts and interests
that arose over a period of one year
Vetunimi: First of all I would
like to say a few words to introduce the aim of the project:
Vetunimi: The fast improvement of the 3D technology is very promising
and the new features available in the new AW 3.0 browser and the upcoming
projects are amazing: http://www.activeworlds.com/help/aw30/aw30.html
Vetunimi: I am aware the
3D graphic rendering on the Internet is still far behind what can be achieved
on a CD ROM or video http://www.3dcafe.com/asp/tutorial.asp
Vetunimi: but I also believe
that the application of the 3D through the internet allows a more interactive
VE
Vetunimi: The rapid growth of the technology is helping and today it seems
to be more like a question of new and innovative ideas and strategies
in design, architecture and applications rather than a more advanced technology
Vetunimi: The results of the
Vetunimi project are analysed over a period of one year, the main aspects
considered are:
Vetunimi: 1-Graphic, building and interactive features for scientific
purposes and theirs reliable applications
Vetunimi: 2- Virtual contacts
and emerging collaborative work and interests arising during the past
year
Vetunimi: -1- a)
The main feature that cannot be achieved elsewhere and with any other
technology meant to build online VEs, is the possibility of modifying
the 3D VE in real time while interacting with users
Vetunimi: building a modular object composed of many sub-objects enable
its components to be modified depending on what is necessary or requested
by users in order to clarify or better explain a concept
Vetunimi: In other words if I am building the Skin, to show how this tissue
is and what can occur during pathological processes
Vetunimi: I can use modular components like layer objects and change them
to explain modifications.
Vetunimi: I will then be able to apply changes following the user's requests
and questions as needed.
Vetunimi: I would like to point out that textures represent the main
part of a 3D object and that RWX objects allow textures to be changed
without directly modifying the script. Changes can be made by modifying
the contents of the object action box
"Eep": <cough>
Vetunimi: The use of commands inside the action box can perform a multi
subunits object scene where I can hide, reveal or animate as needed
Vetunimi: This means great flexibility
in presenting a 3D scene
Vetunimi: b) Diagnostic Imaging can be used as a shared library and communicating
system
Vetunimi: The need for creating open or collaborative virtual environments
(CVEs) where users can share experiences doesn't seem to be easily achieved
on the web
Vetunimi: Rooms where to share images, texts, videos and anything the
new technology can offer to enable a full communication with the supporter,
can be easily achieved inside 3D VEs
Vetunimi: c) Further interesting applications seem to be the creation
of simulators and tutorials inside VEs
Vetunimi: In Vetunimi world
you can find simple applications of the AW Technology as demo tools for
self or assisted learning concerning:
Vetunimi: basic HTML learning tutorial, physical examination simulator
of a dog patient, Library and vet web search tutorial, eye anatomy and
color vision tutorial
Vetunimi: -2-
queenbee: FYI The wall objects to the right of the stage are linked to
Cinzia's web page and larger images.
Vetunimi: thanks queenbee
Vetunimi: Vetunimi can be considered
a simulation of a 3D Vet Node, some virtual contacts led to real works
over a period of one year
Vetunimi: During these past months virtual contacts with distant colleagues
brought to a positive discussion about the aim of the project
Vetunimi: and also brought to real conferences, interviews and articles
concerning the Vetunimi project
Vetunimi: Some of the new interests and future applications emerging from
discussion are:
Vetunimi: Large Animal and Agricultural fields: assistance to isolated
areas to meet the need for information and cultural exchange
Vetunimi: Veterinary support:
information aimed to pet's owners, the use of webcams inside the VE as
a new technological approach to follow-up and diagnostic aid was in great
demand
Vetunimi: The study and application
of these new computer-based technologies seem to lead to a real virtual
environment oriented (RVE) system rather than what is in progress on the
web now
Vetunimi: Thanks again for your participation and interest
queenbee: CHEERS!!! for Cinzia
Vetunimi: thanks again
topcat: yay1
Roberto: Cinzia for President !
"Timaeus2": Another fascinatiing project
queenbee: he he
vr: that was really inspirational!
Brainstorm: Congratulation for you achivments so far
"Quiddity": What do you mean by: The study and application of these new
computer-based technologies seem to lead to a real virtual environment
oriented (RVE) system rather than what is in progress on the web now
HenrikG: <clap> <clap> well done :)
Roberto: can we put questions ??
Lucrezia Borgia: *claps*
spans1: hear hear!
mira20: yay
"Eep": <puts a question>
vr: can u do "virtual surgery"?
Vetunimi: (to "Quiddity") By REVs I mean the exact copy of the same
original environments, where random events and objects are avoided. To
accomplish this, the RVE should reproduce a real environment in all its
particulars
Vetunimi: (to "Quiddity") in
order to allow users to do the same exact things they'd do in the same
real environment where they work or live.
Vetunimi: (to "Quiddity") The
aim is to match a real environment to its virtual one, giving the user
the opportunity of interacting in two different ways within the same environment
Vetunimi: (to vr) maybe surgery
cannot be performed but a tutorial and images that can show step by step
a particular surgery can be surely done
Vetunimi: (to vr) maybe surgery cannot be performed but a tutorial and
images even through webcams that can show step by step a particular surgery
can be surely done
OMAR KHAN - SciCentr - Informal
Science Education in a Virtual World
queenbee: Ok, we have to keep moving along, I'm afraid. Next up is Omar
Khan.
omar:
Hi, I'm Omar Khan. I'm a student in the Engineering College at Cornell
University. I'm the submarine over here on the left hand side of the space.
omar:
I'm going to discuss the science exhibits we have here in SciCentr, in
order to both address the development process for these exhibits, and
their unique potential as tools to facilitate learning and collaboration.
omar: If something makes absolutely no sense, please interrupt me and
I'll try to clarify. Otherwise, please hold your comments and questions
until the end. Thanks.
omar: tell me if i go to fast..
Brainstorm:
too fast
omar: ok.. i'll go slower. just so much to talk about
omar:
Ok, before I get started, could everyone click on the sign board labeled
Omar Khan, Cornell University. In your browser panel you should get the
first slide of the presentation that I'm going to follow…
omar: Wave to me when you have this, or say yes if you can't wave.
topcat: yes
"Timaeus2": yes
vr: yar
omar: excellent... ok i'll continue
scifair22: yes
"ecuddihy": yes
Roberto: yes
"chris2": yes
omar: The points I bring up here may be intuitive already for some
of you, but others won't understand specific VR world terms so I'll might
define them. Please be patient.
matix: yes
omar: Where we are right now is SciCentr, a virtual Science Museum
created at Cornell University.
omar:
Exhibit Spaces (next slide):
omar: Look around you: This is an exhibit space, in a general sense. Think
about this generality as I explore the idea of the exhibit space now.
omar: The exhibit space contains both static objects, and dynamic objects
that can respond to user actions. This dynamism is achieved with bots.
omar: for those of you who don't know...
omar: Bot: an avatar that is controlled by a computer program that instructs
the avatar to perform set tasks.
omar: The browser panel is used to convey information to the user. In
some cases it can be thought of as a kind of professor that leads you
through an experiment.
omar: As you interact with the exhibit, the pages in the browser panel
change to perhaps explain what is happening, give the user more references,
guide the user, or even act as another layer of interactivity.
omar: now onto the exhibits..
omar: Gene House (next slide):
omar:
Using an interactive mechanism for the cross breeding of tomato plants,
the exhibit tries to teach about elementary plant genetics.
omar: Unfortunately I don't have the bots running here in this space,
but we can nevertheless look at the basics. If everyone wants to look
over here at these yellow tomato plants that I'm standing beside.
omar: A user selects using this panel here that I'm standing near the
plants he or she wishes to cross breed.
omar: so these yellow plants are the tomato plants...
omar:
When the user is ready and clicks breed, the information passes through
that double helix over here (think abstractly) and…
omar: the green helix over here..
omar: Then the machine (the bot) chugs away and produces the plant for
the user to view. The user knows what plants they have selected, and the
bot gives the user information about these plants in the browser panel.
omar: In the exhibit, The browser panel also gives information about the
genetics behind breeding, so the user should ultimately be able to predict
what he or she is creating. That's the basics.
omar: Implementation :
omar: Inside the bot (simply a C program), we implement the logic of
the genetics, so that when the user crosses A and B, the proper plant
C is produced (the one with the right characteristics).
omar:
This is quite a simple to achieve; yet this environment gives this simplicity
far reaching abilities.
omar: The Benefits:
omar: In a way, this is a hands-on demonstration of an aspect of genetics
that for the most part can only be viewed in classrooms as an abstract
idea.
omar: Here the user is really taking the knowledge and applying it to
produce something in an environment of collaboration.
omar: This idea can be viewed as a virtual laboratory!
omar: Fourier Fountain (next slide):
omar: Using crystals that emanate sound as a starting point, explore the
physics of sound in a visual way.
omar:
The crystal I'm standing beside right now is one of the crystals in the
Fourier Fountain. When you click it, it emanates a sound and changes colour.
While it doesn't shimmer now because the bot is turned off, I have it
giving off a sound.
omar:
Did anyone hear the sound?
omar: When the keys are struck enough, the sounds are superimposed and
a new sound is created and played back to the users.
omar: Images and video of the sound are produced in the browser panel
and in the 3D space, and an explanation of the physics is given in the
web panel.
omar: Implementation:
omar: The reason behind my choice of this ordering of the discussion of
the exhibits is not random.
omar: While the Gene House utilized a bot that was standalone and quite
simple, the Fourier Fountain's bot is linking together multiple applications
in order to give the user the best learning experience possible.
omar: MatLab generates the visualizations of the sound; RealServer puts
the sounds together and projects it to the entire exhibit space. The bot
itself manipulates the objects in the world to give both an aural and
visual feel to the exhibit.
omar: The Benefits:
omar:
The unique possibility here seems clear to me: There are an infinite number
of applications that achieve a diverse array of ends. These ends are generally
abstract in the sense that they aren't tangible in physical space like
say an apple is.
omar:
These virtual worlds seem the perfect place to quickly link together these
applications and generate objects that more naturally interface with the
abstract form of software. Wow that was a bit much, and would take some
unpacking to understand…
omar: but the main idea is that just as we physically link together all
kinds of diverse hardware to achieve a monumental goal in our world, virtual
worlds give us a way to link together software to achieve monumental goals,
if only we will.
omar: GridBot (next slide):
omar: I name this exhibit directly as a bot, because in fact the bot is
what actually makes the exhibit.
omar: Given a set of data that the user has formatted in a geographical
way (i.e., given data that can define a surface in 3 space), the bot then
generates this surface with features that can be specified by the user
(texture, colour, etc.).
omar: on the slide you should see a picture of the surface made by
the bot
omar:
Users are then free to roam the world and make changes, annotate important
features… very generally, explore!
omar: Implementation:
omar: The bot takes the user's data set, and the objects that are going
to be used to represent this data set in the virtual world, and generates
a surface.
omar: Benefits: What do you want to visualize? GIS data? A solution set
to problems in science, economics, etc?
omar: Indeed, couldn't it be useful for a team of users to move on their
surface and annotate important features, or say leave questions on signs
asking for input about a certain feature?
omar: The power of the virtual world as a visualization tool just seems
to demand exploitation!
"Quiddity": too fast
omar: sorry...
omar:
soak it up...
omar: Conclusions:
omar: If you can immerse yourself, then you can truly take advantage of
the technologies that are available. While these creations aren't real
in one sense, they engage us in a way that can be really beneficial.
omar: These exhibit spaces have potential in themselves, and looking at
both the technology behind them, and the larger implications of the spaces
themselves (i.e. the power of visualization) I think we must see something
valuable for pedagogical use.
omar: and i think that's all i have for now... sorry it was so fast...
queenbee: applause again and thanks omar
"Quiddity": That's OK. Bravo You said a lot, Sounds exciting!
"Timaeus2": clap clap
topcat: very provocative discussion; nice use of tools inworld for presentation!
nadya: yey omar
Vetunimi1: cheers omar
Rolland: alright omar!
Roberto: Very nice Omar
Rolland: CLAP CLAP's until his hands fall off
omar: thanks
vr: i love this world
Big Al: excellent
Vetunimi: thanks!
spans1: fascinating possible intercourses between data and visualised
forms
Vetunimi: very good indeed
katy: omar could you tell us your e-mail address - thanks!
"Quiddity": what you're doing looks really interesting.ditto on the email
omar: sure... omar khan, ohk2@cornell.edu
omar: and this presentation will be up on the web with a connection from
the vlearn site
Chad
Rooney - ECollegE - Development and Pedagogy in an Envrinmental
CVE
queenbee: ok, now we are going to listen to Chad Rooney form UCSC
chaderik2: ok then
chaderik2: Bonnie (hypatia) will be transcribing for me today . . . .
hypatia: Typing for Chad
jitterbug: omar, You are very close to an idea i have, (not that it is
all that origional) Have you considered using objects as a way to "program"
a bots behavior?
hypatia: ECollege was an experiment
hypatia: in using a virtual environment
 hypatia:
toreach out to high school students
omar: in what sense? the bot derives its behaviours from attributes of
the object that are dynamic in themselves?
hypatia: as a simulation of an environmental crisis center
Brainstorm: where else can virtual environments help users interacting
with technology ?
hypatia: we are hoping to use this medium as a way to excite high school
students to work
hypatia:
collaboratively in a distributed way
hypatia: I am typing for Chad
hypatia: As an examination of concepts of space,
hypatia:
and concepts of community
hypatia: it was intended to create an interdisciplinary space
hypatia: for collaboration and interaction
hypatia: using bot technology to greet students
hypatia: provide them with tutorial assistance
hypatia:
we are currently investigating the use of bots
hypatia: as realtime writing tutors
hypatia: who can point students in the direction of resources online
hypatia: both for research and more formal aspects
hypatia: such as rhetoric
hypatia: (Chad is presenting this in person)
hypatia: We curated our virtual space into four wings
Damir: hello
hypatia: with different aspects of the environment as a focus point
Nandi: hi where should i go?
hypatia: for example, one of our exhibition spaces has become a gallery
hypatia:
focusing on biology
vlearn8: (to Nandi) this is the lecture here
Damir: cekaj andro dogovaram se sad
hypatia: with computer terminals which we will link to existing online
resources
hypatia: I think it is really important to take advantage of
hypatia: dynamic online resources and not to become repetitive
hypatia:
and that way the space can serve as a way of bringing
Damir: andro idemo u centar tamo cemo pitati
hypatia: all those resources together in one physical/virtual space
hypatia:
to conclude, ECollegE is
hypatia: very much a work in progress and we are looking forward to a
time
hypatia: when we can let high school students use this world and tailor
it to their own needs.
Nandi: aloha
"Timaeus2": What is your e-mail address, Chad?
roberto cuccu: do you know where the conference is?
chaderik2: chadr@cats.ucsc.edu
spans1: flap flap buzzz, for hypat
queenbee: Well thanks so much Chaderik
queenbee:
Bonnie, is Greg Steltenpohl with you?
vr: yes thanks a bunch
MrC: nice project!
hypatia: No, he will be presenting physically at 2
hypatia:
in AW -- was unable to present virtually and physically
omar: the proposed dynamism of the college is really intriguing... i'd
like to know more about how you would achieve that...very interesting
queenbee: sounds reasonable :>)
hypatia:
but appreciate that chad was able to talk a bit about ECollege
padraic: having
student put their own projects in the virtual science fair wdould be important
for that, O
queenbee: well
then, sorry to miss Biolearn/LifeLearn project presentation folks. Come
back for a visit in a round table, we will post.
spans1: Thank
you all.
spans1: Do you
have everybody wordless?
padraic: If
by dynamism you mean interaction?
queenbee: That
being the case, Mike Heim of the Art Center College of Design has joined
us to lead you off to another and evocative dimension
ommm: thanks,
queenbee
Vetunimi1: ooo!
topcat: yay
Mike!
ommm: are we
ready to roll?
ommm: hi Vet
omar: i suppose
what it is is something like the web: a constantly evolving entity, and
i think you're right on one level with student exhibits P
"Timaeus2":
All ready!
Vetunimi1: ommm
hi
ommm: how this
world Sci-C has grown!
ommm: this rich
environment!
ommm: we are
now going into a black hole...
ommm: a reduction
of values
"Timaeus2":
Great projects going on in this world!
Vetunimi: hi
ommm
ommm: we are
going to accd world
ommm: for a
special "experiment"
"Timaeus2":
sounds ominous...
ommm: please
enter ACCD world in the next couple minutes
Click
here for transcripts from KEYNOTE EXPERIENCE - Avatecture: Merging Physical
and Virtual Spaces
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