Virtual Reality Adventure

Destination 1: Wikipedia on Virtual Reality

Based on what you know RIGHT NOW, what promise does virtual reality hold for instructional technology?
After reviewing Wikipedia I realized that Virtual Reality (VR) has two models. One model attempts to re-create a real world surrounding and the other creates a fantasy based reality. Both models hold great potential for world of instructional technology. The real world model can provide training in a virtual environment for a skill that requires practice but can not be performed in a real setting due to budget constraints, risk of personal injury, etc. For example the training of astronauts, bomb squads, fighter pilots, combat personnel, etc. Softskills could be taught through either type. The possibilities are endless.

Destination 2: Tools for creating VR
Alias, Maya (Expensive)
Autodesk, 3D Studio Max
Blender (Free and very cool for the “armchair” 3D designer
Alice 2.0 (Free and used for teaching people basic computing programming concepts)
Do any of these tools interest you?
Maya: I had problems looking at demos for Maya. It was impossible on dial-up at home but it was too slow at work on the T1 as well. I never really got a good feel for how the program works although the results look great. This program is too expensive ($7000) and has to high a learning curve for any applications at KKI.  
3D Studio Max: This site was great. I loved the demo videos, I have a good idea how the software works. The price ($3500) is a little better on this program but it still has a high learning curve.
Blender:  More problems viewing demos. I downloaded the VLC viewer at work but still couldn’t get the Divix avi files to open. Overall though the site gave me a good idea of what the software can do. The price is right (FREE) so we might be willing to deal with a medium level learning curve to explore how we could use 3D animation. I loved the information about Spiderman 2.
Alice 2.0: The work of The Research Group at Carnegie Mellon University developed Alice 2.0 with an interesting focus: to provide the best possible first exposure to programming for students from middle school to college. This program is different than the others because it is creates 3D object behaviors not 3D objects themselves. While it only creates files in its native format, The Research Group is working on being able to save a world as an applet for insertion onto a webpage or an avi file. This would make the product more viable for instructional technology projects.

Destination 3: Examples of VR in use today
What is VRML? Virtual Reality Modeling Language is a standard file format for representing 3-demensional (3D) interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind. (see Wikipedia)
Why is it not popular?  The company which championed the format was sold and did not develop or distribute the software.  The VRML Consortium changed its name to the Web3D Consortium and began work on a successor format X3D. VRML is still used in education and research because of the open source programs available to develop it.
How can MOOs/MUDs be used for learning?
MOOs and MUDs are confusing. The literature was not creating a clear picture of what this environment was so I wanted to go on to one. I tried to go to DU MOO but again I hit another technology block- apparently my browser is not java enabled at work.  From what I could find, this seems to be old technology. The MUD’s appear to be an early form of on-line virtual games. The MOOs seem to be early versions of chat rooms and remind me of what we are using our class blogs for as well.
What can Macromedia’s Shockwave do?
Shockwave is a movie format that is created in Director. It is a streaming file that can be viewed on the web by any platform and usually combines animation and scripting. Director movies/files create interactive content for both fixed media (CD/DVD/ Kiosk) and the Internet. It can incorporate multimedia such as photos, graphics, Flash movies, DVD video, CD video, sounds, text, hyperlinking, bitmaps, 3D models, etc.  
Note: Downloading shockwave was a problem at home and at work. Finally I did get Shockwave installed at work (after getting permission from the HelpDesk) and I did get to see and play the Got Milk game. It was fun!
Why hasn’t virtual reality caught on like other web technologies?
Creation of good virtual reality programs/files is still very specialized field usually requiring a team of knowledgeable professionals. The programs/files are generally larger than most of the other web technologies like Flash and thus require a high speed internet connection to view properly over the internet and another player is required to view as well. It just isn’t easily accessible for a majority of the population.
  
Destination 4: Knowing what you know now, what promise does virtual reality hold for instructional technology?
As the file formats evolve into a smaller file size, virtual reality will become widely available to a larger audience on the internet and than accepted as another tool for solving training challenges. An increase in those with the skills to develop 3D models will occur as 3D open source ware gains in popularity. Currently anyone can edit a video and place on the web so it will be with VR programs in the future.

Bonus: Found on Wikipedia: Perhaps the first use of computer graphics specifically to illustrate computer graphics was in Futureworld (1976), which included an animation of a human face and hand - produced by Ed Catmull and Fred Parke at the University of Utah.Although the above was found I have always believed that Tron was the first movie to use computer generated graphics.