Final #6 BUILDING MY IMMERSIVE LIBRARIES/MUSEUM

Step 1: 

Logging into MeshMoon, Creating an account and creating a new build for my virtual Immersive Education Library.

Step 2,3,4 (building): 

Here is my avatar beginning to build objects, here I am using some cubes to build some shapes

Step 5: 

Simply put, Immersive Education is making it easier for people to learn.  People can learn things from the comfort of their own home instead of having to visit a class room or library, making learning much easier for those who wish to continue their education.  Online and Immersive Education allows those who wish to continue their education access to thousands of virtual world experiences to enhance their knowledge that would not be available simply through standard class room and textbook education.

Through virtual worlds, learning games, simulations and virtual reality, students can take advantage of the incredible learning experiences that Immersive Education has to offer that engage all the stimuli instead 2-D traditional learning. According to the Immersive Education Journal,  "Immersive Education gives participants a sense of "being there" even when attending a class or training session in person isn't possible, practical, or desirable, which in turn provides educators and students with the ability to connect and communicate in a way that greatly enhances the learning experience." 

As technology continues to advance, so does the world of Immersive Education.  At first this technology was only available to students who were enrolled in university and college level courses, however through the changing times and through technological advancements, this technology is now being implemented in the K-12 educational experience as well.  To me, this is excellent news because the generation of children growing up now can be exposed to information and experiences that we never were exposed to.

This year marked the first Immersive Education K-12 Summit that was held in Boston.  Researchers, Professors and supporters of Immersive Education all gathered to discuss the future of the Immersive Education Initiative and to promote the use of the amazing educational tool.  

Information provided by The Journal of Immersive Education

Step 6 Final Screenshots of Building my Own Immersive Education Library: 

These are some final screen shots of my final project #6, creating a 3D library for my articles regarding Immersive Education.  I had to create layers in order to display my videos, and articles I found about utilizing Immersive Education  in a K-12 classroom enviornment.  This is a finals exercise from the Immersive Education course I am taking at Boston College.  The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics.  For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc.

Final #4 High Resolution Avatar

Here are some screen shots of me making my avatar in make human.  I started off with adjusting the facial features.  I couldn't use my photo to sync in with the Make Human app so I had to do it free hand.  I couldn't really figure out how to adjust some of the facial features without resetting the entire avatar.  I played around with the facial features until I thought I found the look that resembled me the most.

 It was interesting to me that the "gender neutral" avatar that I had to use since I had to make mine from scratch was very feminine looking.  Also I had a lot of issues trying to figure out how to make clothes and hair for my avatar.  I wanted to change the hair color but could not figure out how to adjust the hair color from brown to blonde. So I had to settle with this look:

This is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc

WebGL Chrome Experiments the FAIL IN FIREFOX

A list that worked in FireFox:

Saint- Jean Cathedral: However took longer to load, flashing graphics

Parallax

Planet Maker

Stopping By woods on a snowy evening






A list that did NOT work in Firefox:

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug- A journey Through Middle-earth: No 3D elements

Interactive 3D skeleton: No skeleton....

PickFlyOrbit City

Indra's Net

Find your Way to Oz

Delight Engine Demo

Class #11 WebGL Chrome Experiments using Google's Chrome Browser

1) Chaos to Perfection, a virtual tour of the Palace of Versailles
http://www.chaostoperfection.com/

Each of these screen shots are from the virtual 3D WebGL Chrome Experiments using the Google Chrome Browser.  This is a virtual tour of the Palace of Versailles.  Having been to the Palace of Versailles and studied French, I think this depiction of the Palace is very accurate an beautiful. The details of the virtual tour our amazing, from the stone textures, to the clouds in the sky.  It's almost as if the viewer is at the Palace of Versailles. 

2) Cross-hatch
http://www.clicktorelease.com/code/cross-hatching/

These screenshots were taken in the WebGL Chrome Experiment using Google Chrome Browser of a cross- hatch.  What I really liked about this experiment is that you could adjust the different features to change the 3D shape. 

3) Skin

http://alteredqualia.com/three/examples/webgl_materials_skin.html

These are screenshots from the WebGL Experiment using Google's Chrome Browser of the 3D experiment entitled "skin".  As you can tell the simulation is kind of creepy and very life-like.  The shadowing of the experiment is spot on as well as the life-like qualities of the human skin such as oil is even replicated in the experiment as well.

This screen shot is linked the the Immersive Education Education Grid Website.  On the Education Grid Website you can learn about the education grid's history, legal liability, using the grid with secure servers, and the fact that the education grid allows a broad and global access to its users. 

FINAL 5a: Greenfoot JoC #4 Finally some code!

These are screen shots of the greenfoot assignment using the scenario trick the turtle.  I followed along with the Joy of Code Video and programmed the turtles to move in a circle using the move and turn code.  It is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc

Class 10, Monocular Depth Cues

In today's class we did some reading on six types of monocular depth cues.  These include: size difference, occulsion, lighting and shading, texture density, linear perspective and atmospheric perspective.  Below are screen shots of all of the different examples of the monocular depth cues found in virtual worlds.


1) Size Difference

The trees on the top cliff are an example of a size difference monocular depth clue.  Even though the trees on the top cliff appear to be smaller, they are the same size trees, it is just my character is farther away from the trees on the cliff as opposed to the trees at the bottom of the cliff.

2) Occulsion

Occulsion is when there is an object in front of your view that is blocking your way so you can not see the other object behind it.  The example of occulsion in this screen shot is the sign blocking the bottom part of the waterfall.  

3)  Lighting and Shading

This screenshot is an example of lighting and shading.  The way the light hits the stairs is a perfect example of lighting and shading because the top of the stairs are being more immersed with sunlight as opposed to the bottom of the stairs.  

4) Texture Density 

When you see a pattern further away it seems to become more dense in the Texture Density Monocular Depth Clue.

5) Linear Perspective

This screenshot is an example of Linear Perspective.  Linear perspective is when straight lines seem to revene together when heading off into the distance.

6) Atmospheric Perpective

The first screen shot is an example of atmospheric perspective.  Atmospheric perspective states that colors, shapes and objects will be more clear when close up.

The second Screen shot is of Atmospheric Perspective at a far away angle.  The colors, and designs of the tent see to all blur together due to the Atmospheric Perspective Monocular Depth Cue.

Class 9 WebGL assignment

WebGL stands for Web Graphics Library and is used  a JavaScript in 3D as well as 2D graphics programs through web plugins.  WebGL is fairly new with prototyped being created by Vladimir Vukicevic at Mozilla in 2006.  Companies such as Apple, Mozilla and Google have all worked with WebGL.  It is featured on many desktop browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer.  WebGL is also used on mobile browsers such as Blackberry Playbook, Firefox for mobile, Firefox OS, Google Chrome and Apple IOS technologies.  WebGL is code written in Javascript that is executed through computer graphics.

Class 9 Cloud Party Assignment

The following screenshots are of me building in cloud party.  I used a bunch of premade materials to create a "sculpture".  I used 5 end tables, 4 tv stands, 2 lamps and a television to make my sculpture.  I found it a lot easier to build within cloud party rather than the OS Grid, however the options are very limited in cloud party to "build your own".  Even though OS Grid seems limited to only build your own items, it was nice that you have the option to build your own custom items.  I really think it depends on what you are trying to build with which virtual world you should build it in.  For example, if you want to build a custom object it would be best to do so in OSgrid, if you would like to build a house or something of the sorts it would be best to do so in Clod Party.

Class 9 assignment in OSGrid

Our in class assignment for class 9 was to explore another virtual reality world.  We had to download another program Firestorm to do so.  Since I had some trouble downloading Firestorm to my computer, I had to use Singularity, but I had no issues with that virtual world.  Our assignment was to create a "rocket ship", a cylinder and a cone top, in a virtual reality world.  The most trouble I had with doing this was finding an area where I was allowed to build and create in a virtual world.  After visiting a few builds, I searched "sandbox" and found a lot of different areas to build and create in.  The following screenshots are my progress screen shots of building the rocket.

I had to play around with the size of both the cylinder and cone to make sure they fit and were resting on top of each other.  I used the scale button to adjust the size of the shape and the position button to adjust where they were in relationship to one another.  I also used the texture button to change the colors on my rocket.  

Class 7, FINAL PREPARATION: Choosing a JavaScript programming track

The first thing I was assigned to do was research the differences between Java and Javascript

Then we were assigned to review 3 other completley different JavaScript programs.  These include, Khan Academy, Learn Street and Code Academy.

The first tutorial I reviewed was Khan Academy.  I like this tutorial because the narrarator of the turotial seemed to be very excited about computer programming and how they believe that anyone can get involved with computer programming.  I liked how they explained how so much of or world today is influenced by computer programming from designing movies and games to designing robots and desinging self-driven cars.

The second tutorial I reviewed was Learn Street, I found this tutorial to be more confusing than the Khan Academy Tutorial. 

The third tutorial I participated in was the Code Academy Tutorial.  I found this to be easier to learn code this way compared to Learn Street.