Designing shared virtual environments

The purpose of this course is to inform the audience how to design and scope successful shared virtual environments. The emphasis will be on employing good visual design, strong realistic conceptual ideas and proven interaction styles. New application concepts have been emerging within the field of virtual environments that offer exciting application possibilities but suffer from a number of problems which, once known and understood, can be avoided. The course also includes a short workshop where the audience will participate in creating a storyboard for a virtual environment. be addressed including a discussion on user authoring and self generating content.* Ideas about how to improve navigation in virtual environments will be explored. A large part of the course will be addressing the impact af user representation or avatars in shared virtual environments, looking at avatar customization, symbolic behavior, accentuated gestures and the effects of “insignificant” expression on communication and engagement.