MV-4473 Virtual World & Simulation Systems Syllabus

Course Description

MV-4473 Virtual Worlds and Simulation Systems (3-2). This course covers the design and implementation of real-time, visual simulation systems for animating and interacting with virtual environments. The course pays special attention to practical issues involving performance/realism tradeoffs; experience with computer/human interaction, especially novel input devices and paradigms; and simulating kinematic and dynamic behaviors in real-time.

Co-requisite: MV-4202 (Computer Graphics)

Other Books of Interest

• Neuromancer, 1985, William Gibson
  • A Science Fiction novel from which much of today's terminology arises.  A "must read" for anyone in the business of VE's or the internet.
  
  
• Snow Crash, 1991, Neal Stephenson
  • The comments for Neuromancer apply to Snow Crash as well.
  
  
• Essential Virtual Reality Fast, John Vince, Springer-Verlag Press, ISBN 1-85233-012-0
  • Covers many of the technologies of VR.
  
  
• National Research Council report: "Virtual Reality: Scientific and Technological Challenges"
  • An overview by Mike Zyda, who was a member of the committee which wrote the report.
  • The book is available from the National Academy Press (ISBN 0-309-05135-5)
  • An online version is available here.

Course Objectives

• An understanding of the principles of designing, constructing, and interacting with 3D virtual worlds
• Recognize and describe human factors issues relevant to designing virtual worlds
• Recognize and describe engineering and technology issues relevant to constructing virtual worlds
• An understanding of the difference and importance of both the technological and human factors aspects of virtual worlds
• An understanding of the relationship between human error and poor design and how to circumvent both
• Select appropriate interaction devices and techniques from among alternatives based on human requirements and limitations
• An understanding of training issues related to virtual worlds
• An understanding of the relationship between simulation and entertainment technology, and how to use both
• Critique existing or proposed virtual world interfaces using concepts taught in the course

Course Outline

• Introduction
  What is a virtual environment?
  What problems demand a virtual environment solution?
  What are the important issues in designing and building virtual environment interfaces?
• An Abridged History
  Ivan Sutherland & MIT
  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  NASA Ames Research Center
  VPL Research
• The Man in the Loop
  Human strengths and limitations

  Perceptual:  Visual, auditory, and haptic channels

  Cognitive

  Motoric
  Simulation sickness
  Human performance
  Navigation
  Interaction techniques, Artifacts

  Selection, Manipulation, Gesture, Voice
  Training
  Evaluation
• Technological Issues
  Hardware

  Image generation and Visual displays

  Aural displays

  Tracking devices

  Haptics

  Locomotion devices

  Networks
  Software

  Real-time interaction

  Multi-modal interfaces

  Natural language

  Multi-user environments

  Autonomous agents and avatars
• Applications
  Training
  Telepresence & Telerobotics
  Manufacturing
  Entertainment
• Design/Build/Evaluate
  The importance of evaluation
  How to evaluate
  Training transfer
• Case Studies
  Information visualization
  Training; Command and control
  Social applications
  Gaming
• Future Research
  Will virtual worlds live up to expectations?
  NRC report "Virtual Reality: Scientific and Technological Challenges"
• Effect upon Society (if time permits)
  Effect of VE's upon society to date
  Boons/horrors VE's hold in store for society

Course Notes

The slides used in the course are available at:
http://www.movesinstiute.org/~mcdowell/mv4473/notes.html

From within the NPS firewall, you can access them faster from the //airborne/temp/MV-4473 directory.

Course Requirements

Participation.   This is a seminar class; therefore, participation is a major factor in grading.  Absence, tardiness, and an inability to discuss assigned readings equates to a lack of participation.   Therefore, if you are going to miss class for any valid reason, please let me know ahead of time, especially if you are going on travel.

Presentations. Students will make an in-class presentation based on readings and independent research on an assigned topic.  The presentation will consist of two parts, a lecture and an HTML website, which will count equally in the grading.  Further information on the presentations can be found at http://www.movesinstitute.org/~mcdowell/mv4473/presentation.html

Final Exam.  There will be a final exam administered during the eleventh week. The exam will be a cumulative test, with a focus on essay questions.  The intent of the exam is for the student to demonstrate familiarity with:

• major virtual environment systems
• major software and hardware components for virtual environment systems
• the state of the art in virtual environment technology
• benefits and hindrances of various virtual environment design approaches

Grading.  The grades will be assigned as follows:
    Exam: 33%  Presentation/HTML: 33%  Participation:  34%.

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Last updated on 06 July 2002