VRML world as a navigational interface

1
VRML world as a navigational interface

• Helsinki Arena 2000 - a virtual city as a
  navigational interface to different services

2
What is VRML

• VRML is an acronym for virtual reality modelling
  language

VRML is neither virtual reality nor a modelling
language, instead it is

• 3D HTML, 3D graphics on the Internet
• simply a 3D interchange format

The final appearance of VRML graphics is
determined by a VRML browser
3
What is navigation

• Spatial metaphors are used to describe searching
  information e.g. from a menu hierarchy or
  hypertext, therefore the term navigation

PAGE DOWN
FORWARD
BACK
PAGE UP
4
Navigation in a VRML world mimics real world
navigation

• VRML world a 3D environment built with VRML
• Walking or
• Flying in a VRML world

5
VRML world as a navigational interface

• Links
• to other VRML worlds
• to HTML pages
• from HTML pages to VRML worlds
• Final appearance of the VRML file is determined
  by the browser
• The navigational functions are determined by the
  browser user interface
• Too much load on hardware makes navigation
  difficult or impossible
• Design of the VRML world can further affect how
  easy the world is to navigate

6
Spatial mnemonics

• Method of loci invented in ancient Greece
• Remembering large number of items (e.g. parts of
  a speech) in a correct order
• First, a series of locations is memorized, such
  as places along a familiar walk
• Second, mental imagery is used to associate each
  of the items in turn with a specific location
• Recalling the items by carrying out a mental
  walk
• A.R. Lurija, The mind of a mnemonist remembering
  items by associating them with the streets of
  Moscow

7
Helsinki Arena 2000 - Virtual city as a
navigational interface to different services

• VRML model of Helsinki
• Citizens of Helsinki can utilize their existing
  knowledge about the structure of the city, their
  existing cognitive map

8
Usability issues

• VRML browsers offer many alternative ways to
  navigate
• walking, flying, a viewpoint list
• browser interface can be complicated and
  difficult for beginners
• Too much load on hardware makes VRML browsing
  unusable, but too little details makes buildings
  difficult to recognize
• Large individual differences in how easily
  citizens of Helsinki can recognize places in a
  VRML model

9
Usability issues

• Getting lost into an empty space or inside a
  building
• reversing with an undo button
• going back to a near by familiar viewpoint
• Determining the right avatar size
• In Helsinki Arena 2000 3D navigation is meant to
  be used in combination with alternative
  navigation methods, such as alphabetical lists,
  search engines and especially 2D maps

10
Other aspects

• VRML worlds can be more entertaining than
  traditional 2D web pages
• VRML model can be used for learning a route in
  the real city, not just the other way around