“Applying ‘Second Life’ to a CAVE™-like system for the elaboration of interaction methods with programmable interfaces” by Kuka, Lindinger, Hörtner, Berger and Zachhuber

With its multiple types of interaction scenarios both between people and between people and objects in virtual space, ‘Second Life’ can be used as a platform for both social and technological research. Set up in a stereoscopic environment, the Open Source Viewer is implemented in a technological framework for iteratively creating, evaluating and optimizing appropriate input/output patterns and interface metaphors for immersive environments. Focus of R&D are the real-time interaction methods rendered possible by a programmable Interface. Thus, the Ars Electronica Futurelab has developed a technological framework based on own R&D results. The framework consists of an interaction wrapper (Palmist), a distribution engine (ARSBOX) [Berger et al. 2004] and a render unit (VRizer) [Berger et al. 2005].

1. Berger, F., ., Lindinger, C., Ziegler, W. 2004. VRizer — Using Arbitrary OpenGL Software in the CAVE or other Virtual — Environments. In IEEE Virtual Reality 2004 Workshop – Proceedings. Pape, D., Roussos, M., Anstey, J., Ed., Virtual Reality for Public Consumption
2. Berger, F., Hörtner, H., Lindinger, C., Maresch, P., Plösch, R., Pomberger, G., Praxmarer, R., and Ziegler, W. 2005. ARSBOX and Palmist — Technologies for Digital Mock-up Development in Immersive Virtual Environments. In Proceedings of IASTED International Conference on Internet and Multimedia Systems and Applications — EuroIMSA 2005, ACTA Press / IASTED, Grindelwald, Switzerland, February 21–23, 2005, 521–526