Creating Multi-person Virtual Environments / Winter '04
Instructor: Andy Beall
Location: Life Sciences Computing Facility, 2242 Noble Hall
Meetings times: Tue/Thu 10:00 - 11:50
Phone: x5957
email:
beall@psych.ucsb.edu
Office hours:
Wed. 1:30 -
3:30
Enrollment code for Psy 169BV: 77040
Enrollment code for Psy 594BV: 77032
Description:
Students in this
course will learn basic techniques for building virtual environments in which
multiple participants interact in real time. Students will work in teams to
develop a final project that combines many of the techniques covered, including
avatar design and control and networked
programming. Requirements for the course are knowledge in at least one of the
following areas: 3D modeling (eg., 3D Studio Max, Maya), 2D image manipulation
(eg., Photoshop), programming (eg., VB, C, Python), or animation (eg, Director,
Poser). The course is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who meet
the requirements and obtain permission from the instructor.
Please note that some basic computer programming skills will be required to
complete this course. If you have never programmed before, you will need to
learn fundamental programming on your own. Regardless, all students will need
to familiarize themselves with the particular programming tools used by this
course.
OBTAINING PERMISSION FOR ENROLLMENT
Required readings:
See
below
Schedule:
Week 1 (Jan. 5)
Overview of virtual environments
Week 2 (Jan. 12)
3D graphics principles
Virtual Reality Utilities (Vizard) introduction
Assignment #1 (simple event-driven script)
Week 3 (Jan. 19)
Vizard networking
Environment creation tools overview
Assignment #2 (2 person pong)
Week 4 (Jan. 26)
Human perception and the
impact on computer interfaces
Animating hierarchical models
Assignment #3 (articulated figure)
Week 5 (Feb. 2)
VR system design principles
Mixed-reality applications
Assignment #4 (n-person shared space) (2/16)
VR technology presentations (2/9)
Project
proposals (2/17)
Week 6 (Feb. 9)
Motion capture principles
VR technology presentations
Week 7 (Feb. 16)
Proposal feedback
Hands-on demonstrations of
immersive VR (2/19)
Week 8 (Feb. 23)
MIDTERM exam - covering readings up thru "Vehicles"
Avatars and agents
Week 9 (Mar. 1)
Image-based vs. geometry-based rendering
Advanced 3D modeling &
texture mapping
Week 10 (Mar. 8)
Work on projects
Week 11 (Mar. 15)
Project presentation & critiques
Software & tutorials
LifeSci Computing Facility Schedule
Assignment downloads
| Homework | Due Date |
| Assignment #1 | Jan. 19, 9am |
| Assignment #2 | Jan. 26, 9am |
| Assignment #3 | Feb. 4, 5pm |
| Assignment #4 | Feb. 19, 9am |
| Final project proposal | Feb. 17, 10am |
Demonstrations
| Talking head |
Optional text books:
Virtual Reality Technology, Second Edition with CD-ROM
by Grigore C. Burdea & Philippe Coiffet
Learning Python, Second Edition
by Mark Lutz & David Ascher
Required readings
Week 1, IVET as a tool for psychology
Week 2, Modern VEs, Terminology
Week 3, Managing shared states
Week 4, Vision, Audition, Haptics
Week 5, User tracking, Motion sickness
Week 6, Vehicles