vwgexternal

The Virtual Worlds Group Microsoft Research: 

The Virtual Worlds Group Microsoft Research

Slide2: 

“To research and develop tools and technologies that contribute to effective online communication between individuals and among groups.”

Virtual Worlds Group Activities: 

Virtual Worlds Group Activities Research Studies Onsite Online UI Prototyping Advanced Product Development V-Chat, MS Chat (Comic Chat) Virtual Worlds platform technology Virtual Worlds applications; UI prototyping

Research Questions: 

Research Questions User and environmental representation How can variations in representations of users and online space improve social interactions? Trust and cooperation online How can UI design and communication modality improve trust and cooperation online? Online identity and profiling Identity: How does online social identity affect online interaction? Profiling: How does profile information affect your online interactions with others?

Research Questions (continued): 

Research Questions (continued) Authored/structured environments How can structure improve online social interactions? Use of attention for communication How are the demands on a user’s attention affected by different types of communication? Social support/community Can social support be enhanced by computer mediated interactions? Can online social support improve well-being?

Onsite Studies : 

Onsite Studies Enhancing Trust and Cooperation How do changes in the user interface and modalities of communication affect trust and cooperation? Prisoner’s Dilemma Game Commons Game Structured Authored Interaction How can structure influence online decision making? “Standard” Chat Lead Line Threaded Chat

Trust and Cooperation Study: 

Trust and Cooperation Study

Structured Interaction StudyLead Line: 

Structured Interaction Study Lead Line

Online Studies: 

Online Studies User and environmental representation How can variations in representations of users and online space improve social interactions? V-Chat Social support/community Can social support be enhanced by computer mediated interactions? Can online social support improve well-being? HutchWorld Online Lab: An online web site that allows for controlled, online studies.

UI Prototypes: 

UI Prototypes

Contacts : 

Contacts

Shared Shopping: 

Shared Shopping

Family Page: 

Family Page

Advanced Product Development: 

Advanced Product Development

V-Chat  : 

V-Chat

MS Chat (Comic Chat): 

MS Chat (Comic Chat)

Virtual Worlds Platform: 

Virtual Worlds Platform SDK for creating distributed, persistent, multi-user environments COM-based object model extensible via C++, Java, JScript, VBScript Supports graphical (2D, 3D) and non-graphical UIs Available for noncommercial use: corporate research and universities Web site and download: http://www.vworlds.org

V-Worlds PlatformArchitecture: 

Server Client Virtual Worlds Server World A World B Client 2 Persistence Client updating Synchronization Scripting security Graphics rendering Sound rendering User-interface Animation Client 3 Client 1 Rooms Rooms V-Worlds Platform Architecture

Multiple Layers of Authoring: 

Multiple Layers of Authoring Core: C++, COM UI customizable: text, 2D, 3D, web content, ActiveX objects UI Object model Integration Multimedia ActiveX container Virtual World Foundation Class

Current Projects: 

Current Projects Social support/Information exchange: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Zora Distance learning: Flatland Learning simulation: Exploring Ancient Egypt Entertainment: Interactive Music Album, Wind-Up World, Ages of Avatar

Social Support/Information Exchange: 

Social Support/Information Exchange

Social Support/Information Exchange: 

Social Support/Information Exchange A personal home made by a 13 year-old boy.   The Jewish Temple made by a 17 year-old girl. The City Hall with the rules of Zora created by the kids.

Distance Learning: 

Distance Learning

Learning Simulations: 

Learning Simulations

Entertainment-Interactive Music Album : 

Entertainment- Interactive Music Album

Entertainment: 

Entertainment

Entertainment: 

Entertainment

Discussion: 

Discussion