Bruno Barberi Gnecco

Graphical interaction devices for distributed virtual reality systems

This paper explores the possibilities of using portable devices in multiprojection environments, such as CAVEs, Panoramas and Power Walls. We propose and implement a tool to generate graphical interfaces in a straightforward manner. These interfaces are light and can be run on PDAs. The interface application communicates transparently with a graphic cluster, via any underlying network system, which processes the events and maintains the synchrony of the rendered images in real-time. This tool is part of Glass, a library for distributed computing. We present two examples of applications: Cathedral and Celestia.

3D Semantic Models for Dental Education

This paper explores the benefits of using immersive and interactive virtual reality environments to teach Dentistry. We present a tool for educators to manipulate and edit virtual models. One of the main contributions is that multimedia information can be semantically associated with parts of the model, through an ontology, enriching the experience; for example, videos can be linked to each tooth demonstrating how to extract them. The use of semantic information gives a greater flexibility to the models, since filters can be applied to create temporary models that show subsets of the original data in a human friendly way. We also explain how the software was written to run in arbitrary multi-projection environments.

Design and evaluation of an advanced virtual reality system for visualization of dentistry structures

This paper presents the development of an application created to assist the teaching of dental structures, generate rich content information and different manners of interaction. An ontology was created to provide semantics informations for virtual models. We also used two devices gesture-based interaction: Kinect and Wii Remote. It was developed a system which use intuitive interaction, and it is able to generate three dimensional images, making the experience of teaching/learning motivating. The projection environment used by the system was called Mini CAVE.

Teaching astronomy and celestial mechanics through virtual reality

We discuss in this article issues involved in using state interactive and immersive virtual reality (VR) environments to the teaching of Astronomy, and how it improves student understanding. We also show that VR systems can nowadays be deployed with low‐cost, off‐the‐shelf components, and that they do not require the huge amount of expertise to be setup as they did only a few years ago, allowing all institutions to acquire them.

Immersive and interactive virtual reality applications based on 3D web browsers

This study explores the possibility of effectively using web-standard technologies (i.e., HTML5, JavaScript, WebGL, and WebRTC) to deploy full immersive and interactive virtual reality applications. These applications are based on computer clusters and run in multi-projection environments, such as CAVEs, Panoramas and Power Walls. Until recently, these applications were build using tailored solutions, such low-level libraries to distribute data. We discuss the modern-day web technology which allows these applications meet a multi-platform requirement. This paper also evaluates the communication and synchronization requirements of these applications that are traditionally the main bottleneck. As a proof-of-concept to show the feasibility of our study, we devised and implemented an immersive and interactive virtual reality application employing only web technologies. Our proof-of-concept runs on a miniCAVE environment with three displays and a 6-node cluster.

Virtual Home Decoration in Web and Mobile Platforms

In this paper we show how current web technology can be used to preview home decoration and design, using real photos and virtual objects with real time visualization and edition in a web application. A tool for this purpose was implemented in HTML5, with a native version for smartphones that do not support HTML5 in its entirety yet. This paper describes the application, explaining its implementation, the support for user content with image background removal, camera calibration for perspective correction and distance measurements, how we can support both 2D and 3D meshes and our design concerns for users with no previous experience with this sort of technology.

Data Network in Development of 3D Collaborative Virtual Environments: A Systematic Review

Background: 3D Collaborative Virtual Environments (3DCVE) have been used to allow multiple geographically distant users to share virtual reality environment. This remote user collaboration requires to deal with network problems. Objective: The objective of this systematic review is twofold: (1) to identify possible solutions to network issues, especially those related to the Internet, such as jitter, latency and packet loss; and (2) to identify the protocols and network topologies commonly used in 3DCVE. Results: We selected 132 papers from the most commonly used search portals, i.e., IEEE, ACM, Scopus, Springer, Science Direct and Web of Science. We also describe the studies conducted over the past 10 years, highlighting the network protocols and topologies, which are commonly used. Finally, we suggest a framework architecture for 3DCVE based on graphic cluster.

Interactive architecture for interactive social inclusion applications

Interactive Digital Television Systems enable a new range of services involving the digital television programs, allowing the application and services inclusion with user interaction focus. Interactive shows create a new way to produce and deliver television content, where a show has some information beyond audio / visual content. This paper aims to present an interactive architecture, with the characteristics of an Interactive Service Provider that supports service storage and delivery on applications submitted along with interactive programs. We also present a proof of concept example, where an interactive application with the aim specified in the Brazilian Presidential Decree No. 4901 developed with the goal of social inclusion and information dissemination.

A practical strategy for teaching algorithms (CS1) to beginners

Learning algorithms is a challenging task faced by novice computer science students. These students are expected to become proficient in the basics of programming and logic, but the failure and dropout rates in the introduction to algorithms courses are usually high. This paper aims to present a practical strategy for teaching algorithms to beginners in computer science, addressing issues such as teaching strategy, student engagement, and institutional planning. This strategy was developed and implemented over a decade of teaching algorithms in a variety of contexts (bachelor degree, information technology, and major in computer science). During this period, a pass, failure, and dropout rate survey of 603 students was conducted by the same instructor. The analysis of these data and reflections about the teaching strategies are presented.

Graphical High Level Analysis of Communication in Distributed Virtual Reality Applications

Abstract Analysing distributed virtual reality applications communicating through message-passing is challenging. Their development is complex, and knowing if something is wrong depends on the states of each process, defects (bugs) cause software crashes, hangs, and generation of incorrect results. To address this daunting problem we specify functional behavior models (for example, using synchronization barriers and shared variables) for these applications that ensures correctness. We also developed the GTracer tool, which compares the functional behavior models developed with the messages transmitted among processes. GTracer checks for violations of these models automatically and displays the message traffic graphically. It is a tool made for libGlass, a message library for distributed computing. We have been able to find several non-trivial defects during the tests of this tool.