Virtual Research Arena: Presenting Research in 3D Virtual Environments

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Virtual Research Arena:Presenting Research in 3D

Virtual Environments

Mikhail Fominykh and Ekaterina Prasolova-FørlandNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Norway

30.03.2011AACE International Conference Global Learn Asia Pacific, Melbourne, Australia

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How do we present research?

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How do we present research?

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3D Collaborative Virtual EnvironmentsDefinition• three dimensional, multiuser,

synchronous, persistent environment, facilitated by networked computers

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3D Collaborative Virtual Environmentsfor presenting research• Collaborative work on 3D content• Sense of presence

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Virtual Research Arena

• a framework for creating awareness about educational and research activities, promoting cross-fertilization between different environments and engaging the general public– Virtual Science Fair at Norwegian Science

week– Student projects cooperation technology

course

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Virtual Research Arena contextEducational virtual city design

Virtualcampus

VirtualResearch

Arena

Virtualmuseum

Virtualclub

Multi-usergame

Contextualgame

Informationplace

Socializingplace

Virtuallab

Universcity

Entertainment layer

Layer of education and research

Cultural layerSoci

al la

yer

Virtualstage

Seriousgame

Communityfacilities

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Virtual Science Fair

• Reconstruction of a real place• Augmentation of a virtual environment

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Visualizing Science Fair projects

• A region in SL for studying Norwegian history

• Intersection of art and technology• A reconstruction of medieval city in VR• EU project a 3D virtual serious game• Women Academics in Virtual

Environments• A free online tool for language experts• A project advertizing SN and mobile

technologies• An educational virtual world project

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Visualizing research projectsat cooperation technology course

• Study– 25 students in 7 groups (master and PhD,

Norwegian and international)

• Task– Visualize a representation of any research

project and present it by role-playing

• Data– direct observation,– virtual artifacts (chat log and 3D

constructions)– group essays

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Visualizing research projectsContext

• TARGET International Summer School– seminars– international visitors

• Norwegian Science Week festival– visualization examples– social environment– real life visitors

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Student projects

• Programming history museum• The effect of Kung-Fu training on

health• The biggest solar skin in Norway• Furniture constructing design project• Prototype presentation workshop• Concurrent design methodology• An intersection between digital art

and software technology

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Visualizing research projects

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Virtual Research Arena impact

• Inspiration– from past generations– from Virtual Science Fair

• Adaptation– recognizable environment

• Outlook of the technology– TARGET summer school seminars

• Role-playing– organization– audience

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Virtual Research Arena impact

• Enhancing learning– deep understanding– practical experience– creativity– global thinking

• Possibilities of visualization in CVEs– topics– methods

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Recommendations

• Demonstrate the possibilities of the technology

• Provide tutorials and building resources

• Involve participants from different communities

• Support activities in a virtual environment with real-life events

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Conceptualizing Virtual Research Arena

VirtualResearch

Arena

Workplace (tools & tutorials)Virtual libraryVirtual stage

Virtual gallery

CreativeVirtual

Workshop

Social layerLayer of ed. and research

Cultural layerEntertainment layer

Universcity

Authentic environmentLearning & researchingSocializing

VirtualCampus

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Conclusion

• Studying the possibilities of the virtual environments for presenting research projects

• Evaluation of the Virtual Research Arena framework

• Development of the Virtual Campus and Virtual City frameworks

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Thank you!

Mikhail Fominykh and Ekaterina Prasolova-Førland NTNU, Norway

E-mails: [email protected]

Slides: http://slideshare.net/mfominykh/Second Life: http://slurl.com/secondlife/NTNU/

[email protected]