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Chain SID: Telepresence and Distributed Virtual Environments (DRAFT 3)
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Objectives

The Telepresence and Distributed Virtual Environments (T&DVE) chain brings together projects active across a wide range of technologies, and applies their expertise to the field of telepresence, multimedia and virtual reality as well as application development, assessment and human factors evaluation. The objective is to develop, demonstrate and help standardise advanced T&DVE generic services and to maximise synergy between the various contributing projects.

Target Recipients

The group works in conjunction with other initiatives targeted on particular user communities. These include sector-specific initiatives such as; the ACTS GAT (Telework/Tele-co-operation) chain; standardisation bodies in the multimedia representation, coding, networking, and visualisation area including VR; potential T&DVE service providers, application developers and users. Results may also be of interest to strategy planners interested in techno-economic assessment of new technology.

Technology

Responsibilities of participating projects have been assigned for core technological issues (see the figure below):

Figure 6.4.2: Telepresence and Distributed Virtual Environments (SID) Chain

Figure 6.4.2: Telepresence and Distributed Virtual Environments (SID) Chain

  • an architecture defining a model organising technology, tools and interactions between people (RESOLV/CICC)
  • input/output devices such as helmet, multimedia hard hat including camera (CICC), shutter glasses, joy stick, master / slave robot etc...(TELEBORG)
  • 3D modelling and dynamics (TELESHOPPE)
  • networking and distribution including the type of networks, bandwidth and latency requirements, interoperability, protocol stacks used and distribution schemes (COVEN)
  • fusion of virtual and real world issues such as registration, augmented reality, taxonomy, interaction real/virtual world, virtual worlds with physical parameters etc..(MAESTRO)

Particular attention will be given to user-oriented issues (MIDSTEP) such as prototyping and usability assessment since the immersion in a Virtual Environment creates a particular experience which may have an impact on the user with respect to his/her normal activities.
Market-related aspects (VISINET) such as market potentialities in the domains of games / entertainment, education, hostile environments, tele-manipulation, teleshopping and design will also be researched and shared.

Expected Results

The group of projects intends to set up joint demonstrations and trials of T&DVE-based services (possibly involving projects and organisations outside of ACTS) raising the awareness for the potential of such services. These will lead to common specifications. The following scenario are considered:

  • Using 'master' devices as drivers for remote robots of various types.
  • Implementation of "kinaesthetic" feedback in virtual environments.

Work will result in joint demonstrations and trials of T&DVE-based services (possibly involving projects and organisations outside of ACTS) raising the awareness for the potential of such services. The following Guidelines will be produced :

  • SID-G1: Contribution to standardisation (including proposal for new standardisation items) of TSVE systems and services. Target group: FIPA,MPEG4-7, DIS, VRML...)
  • SID-G2: TDVE Networks requirements. Target group: PNO, TDVE application developers
  • SID-G3: TDVE usability aspects. Target group: TDVE systems vendors
  • SID-G4: Societal and ethical aspects of TDVE services. Target group: regulators, politicians
  • SID-G5: Market projection and development scenario of TDVE services. Target group: all relevant actors

The Chain may also propose an Action Plan aimed at supporting the concerted and organised development of advanced T&DVE technology and applications (involving industrial sector, network operators, the internet community, application developers etc...) in the framework of future R&D initiatives.

Output/End Date

End 1998

Participants (see ACTS projects page for further details of the individual projects)

  • CICC (AC017)
  • COVEN (AC040)
  • IBCOBN (AC101)
  • MAESTRO (AC233)
  • MIDSTEP (AC214)
  • RESOLV (AC021)
  • TAPESTRIES (AC055)
  • TELEBORG (AC216)
  • TELESHOPPE (AC099)
  • USINACTS (AC224)

Chairperson

Ray Earnshaw +44 1274 384001 r.a.earnshaw@bradford.ac.uk

EC Monitors

Eric Badiqué +32 2 296 34 66 eric.badique@bxl.dg13.cec.be
Carlos Morais Pires +32 2 296 34 01 carlos.morais-pires@bxl.dg13.cec.be