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Art 311
V
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Virtual Spaces
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Lecture 16
Dr. J Parker
Fall 2010
What Does ‘Virtual’ Mean?
Means ‘nearly’; a simulation or
approximation.
Virtual reality is nearly real, or looks/
seems real.
A computer creates a visual and
auditory simulation of some 3D
space. Interacting with an object
causes it to change, and makes a
sound. Maybe other things …
What Does ‘Virtual’ Mean?
In some cases the virtual
environment is seen by the user
‘directly’, through goggles and
speakers/headphones.
In other cases the environment is
seem from the perspective of a
simulated person within the
space. That person can move
around in the space, and the view
changes as it does.
It is called an AVATAR.
What Does ‘Virtual’ Mean?
This is an example of direct VR.
The helmet being worn is an
example of a head mounted
display, and has binocular
displays to show stereo images.
When the user turns their head, the
display detects the motion and
changes the view seen in the
display.
What Does ‘Virtual’ Mean?
These helmets are often
cumbersome.
What Does ‘Virtual’ Mean?
Another form is the CAVE.
What Does ‘Virtual’ Mean?
CAVE was developed by the University of Illinois. It has four
screens (three
walls and one
floor) on which
stereo-color
images are
projected.
What Does ‘Virtual’ Mean?
CAVE was developed by the University of Illinois. It has four
screens (three
walls and one
floor) on which
stereo-color
images are
projected.
Art in VR
"Crayoland", one of the first and most successful CAVEvisualizations. Created by Dave OPape in 1995, 2d-crayon
drawings serve as textures for the objects in this 3denvironment.
Art in VR
A project by Austrian artist Peter Kogler in collaboration with the
Ars Electronica Futurelab, was realized in 1999. As a visitor,
you could navigate through Kogler's abstract shapes..
Art in VR
"World Skin" is an award-winning CAVE-project created by French
artists Maurice Benayoun and Jean-Baptiste Barrière. What
was special about it was the novel approach to the user's
interaction with the environment. The wand served as a
photocamera. When you took a photo of the scenes around
you, the object was washed out, leaving a blank space.
CAVE - Calgary
Calgary has
at
least two
CAVEs
– one in
Medicine,
one in
Engineering.
CAVE - Calgary
Virtual reality at his level is expensive, and requires a vast
technical expertise to use effectively.
Needs at least 4 theatre grade projectors, a good audio
system, computers, stereo display, goggles for the
audience, interaction devices …
Virtual Worlds
Virtual spaces need less compute power and little in the
way of special devices.
Example: There, Second Life.
Second
Life
Here is Second Life in action.
During the 2009 Skills Expo, someone created a Second life
implementation of the Stampede Grounds.
What is Second Life?
It is a computer simulation of a world. Rather like a video
In that ‘objects’ are constructed that can be seen (and heard)
and can be manipulated within that space. Except that you
can walk around objects and interact with them.
It’s really a program that shows objects from a specified user
defined point of view.
What is an object then? It is something that someone has
constructed out of geometric shapes that the computer can
draw.
Practical I – Sign up
You are given a link from which you can download the Second
Life ‘client’. This is the program that displays things on your
screen (like a browser).
http://secondlife.com/support/downloads.php
Download and install the client.
Our class page has a link to the client
Download as well.
Practical I – Register
To participate, you need to register with the Second Life
server. This is like a login name and password, and really
is since the world is transmitted to your screen by their server.
You select a name (remember it) and a password.
Second Life sends you an Email confirming your registration.
You click on a link in your Email to start your travels in SL.
Return Mail
Welcome to Second Life, James D---------! Please keep
this email in case you need to retrieve your account name
later. Account Name: James D--------CLICK HERE TO ACTIVATE YOUR ACCOUNT:
https://join.secondlife.com/activate.php?id=
fe7b7da7-27c6-4f97-91e9-3154b19bff99&lang=en-US
(If you are unable to click the above link, copy and paste it into
your browser.)
Did you know in Second Life you can: 1. Fly, surf, snowboard,
take off in a jet fighter or on a flying carpet. 2. Attend a concert,
job fair, and college lecture...all before breakfast. 3. Craft a new
identity - go from office worker to international fashion designer
in sixty seconds. 4. Buy a Mansion or rent an apartment. The
choice is yours. 5. Explore a virtual Italy, Japan, Germany,
France, New York, Las Vegas, or Brazil. Meanwhile, here …
Select initial avatar
Identification
Login Stuff
The User
Residents assume an identity which is represented in the
space as a cartoon-looking character called an “avatar”.
People control their avatar via keyboard and mouse.
What the user sees is from the geometric perspective of their
avatar. Can see other people’s avatars, and talk to their user
through them, for instance.
Login Screen
Orientation
Now run the client and log-in.
You will be on ‘orientation island’. Take some time to figure out
How to move, look at things, touch, things, fly, etc etc.
You cannot leave the island until you have learned a few things.
Orientation
How can I leave this island? Can I come back?
Go to the end of the path, there is a white pavilion.
Inside the pavilion are 2 signs. One takes you to the
Mainland, the other to Help Island.
Click a sign and use the teleport option.
If you want to come back to Orientation Island Public:
(Inventory> Library> Landmark Folder> Orientation Island Public >
double click on it to open > choose teleport)
Tidal pool
Chemistry
Astronomy
Langauges (Chinese)
Arts (Opera)
Arts (Theatre)
Arts (Theatre)
Theatre is one of my special areas.
In my second year Drama class we put on a short play
In the New Media Arts theatre.
The play was ‘Guppies’ by Clem Martini (current chair of
Drama); students did set design and construction,
Sound and sound effects, and acted the three parts.
Preparation took 13 weeks.
Arts (Theatre)
Arts (Theatre)
Places – Oasis Nightclub
Places – Stargate Command
Places - Little Mos Eisley
Places – Ancient Rome
Places – New Media Campus
The largest educational presence in Second Life. The U
of C is a member (for now) and needs to continue. You’ve
seen the theatre – here’s more. The Amphitheatre:
Places – Grace Murray Hopper Exposition centre
Places – Green Theatre
So How Do We Build Things?
Build a Flagpole
(This is on my own property)
(This is on my own property)
Textures - Uploads
Sounds upload in the same way!
Live Voice
Avatar is ‘speaking’
Push to talk.