home

Group Members

• Katy Börner
• Sven Bertel
• Mitja Hmeljak
• Matt Jadud
• Bob Najlis

Subprojects

• Notebooks
  • AI
  • UI
  • Sound
• Outlines
  • AI / Data Mining
  • Interface
  • Sound
  • Animation
  • Video
• Project Goals
  • User Interface
  • Interface Sonification
  • Conceptual Engine
  • Animation Library

• Performer
• VSS
• CAVE
• RCS
• AI
• WWW Site

• Scheduling
  • Schedule of Talks
  • Project Mtgs.

Creating Smart Virtual Environments Y790: Graduate Independent Study (Software System Development) via "Concept-Based Human-Computer Interaction" Spring 99

Course description

The project aims at the development and implementation of audio-visual, adaptive systems that support  manipulation and navigation tasks. The CAVE system at IU's VRVE Lab is used to suite the computer interface better to the sensorimotoric capabilities of human users. AI techniques, in particular, the approach of Conceptual Analogy (CA), are exploited to adapt human-computer interaction (HCI) dynamically to the cognitive capabilities of their users. The primary goal is intuitive and efficient HCI.  Students will learn how

• to implement a VR environment that is commonly shared by human and computer and permits tracing human behavior in an extensive way.
• to use resulting behavioral protocols as a basis for nonobstrusive data acquisition, data mining, and user modeling.
• to exploit AI techniques to support human problem solving (manipulation and navigation tasks) based on user models.

Prerequisites:  Preference is for students with speciality in artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, computer graphics. Proficiency in C++ is required. Experience with OpenGL or Performer is a plus. Must be able to collaborate and work in a team setting. | Credits: 3 for Y790.

Instructor: Katy Börner | Email: katy@indiana.edu | Office: Main Library  019, 855-3256

Project Meetings: W 10:00P-11:00P, Lindley Hall 201 D | Talks: T 3:00P-4:30P, Wylie Hall 111

Course homepage: http://ella.slis.indiana.edu/~katy/smartenv, containing all course related information.

Course Outline

There will be weekly talks (1h + discussion) as well as weekly project meetings (15 min update on each subproject + 15 min discussion) Students work in groups of at least two on different subprojects.

The Group

Katy, Bob, (below) Mitja, Sven, and Matt

DB / Data Mining, User Modelling, User Support (Sven Bertel & Robert Najlis) Virtual Reality Interface & The Animation Library (Mitja Hmeljak, Sven Bertel & Matthew Jadud) Sound (-Feedback) (Mitja Hmeljak, Matthew Jadud & Robert Najlis) Video (Mitja Hmeljak)

---

Resources

Here is a simple Makefile as well as a simple application that work on japan in LH 310 as well as mammoth in LH 135.
The application is called mani.c++. It loads in table.iv , places a number of objects (e.g., object1.iv, object2.iv, object3.iv) on it that are passed as arguments, and allows you to manipulate these objects via the wand using grabberDCS.c++, grabberDCS.h. It also writes out the wand position on the console whenever the wand button is pressed.
Save all files in one directory. Compile with 'make'. Run with 'mani object*.iv'.
VSS 3.1 is installed on mammoth in /usr/local/CAVE/audio/vss.

Computer Graphics Lab in LH 310: Students taking Y790 are allowed to use the machine "india" in LH310. Other idle machines can be used, but need to be yielded up on demand to the PhD students.
Please keep always in mind that access to LH310 is a privilege. The room is usually reserved for PhD students which have valuable (oftentimes unique!) belongings and software, and need relative quiet.  The machines are not to be left unattended or xlocked for significant periods of time, and the door is to be closed carefully WHENEVER the room is empty.

CAVE in LH 135: In order to use the CAVE, you need to apply for CAVE time. Check the User and Tour Calendars first and send mail to Eric Wernert or John N. Huffman with the desired date & time. Make sure that you understand the VR Facility Usage Policy.

Useful links:
- The VR/VE Labs at IUB & UIPUI esp. IUB CAVE User's Guide
- IRIS PerformerProgrammer's Guide
- CAVE Programming Resources from EVL (Dave Pape)
- CAVE info page
- Performer-CAVE Programming Information
- VSS: The NCSA Audio Development Group's sound server, User's Guide, Reference Manual, Tutorial and Examples

-  UCS Knowledge Base
-  Indiana University Computer Science Department Home Page