Virtual worlds offer new possibilities for computer-mediated communication and cooperation because of their threedimensional (3D)-environment, which supports immersive feelings, and because of enhanced interactive techniques. Furthermore, interfaces exist to directly connect virtual worlds with other technologies such as social software, for example wikis, blogs, social networks, and traditiona...

The eld of information visualization is in permanent expansion and new and innovative ways of visualizing large volumes of abstract data are being developed. The use of virtual metaphoric worlds is one of them, but these visualizations per se are only truly useful if the user is provided a means of exploring the information. A common way of data exploration is navigation. In the case of three-d...

While abundant research has been devoted to investigate successful learning prospects of 3D Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs), sparse research explores users’ satisfaction from buildings used within these 3DVLEs. No research depicts users’ contentment levels, preferences or requirements from 3D educational buildings’ different constructional and architectural design elements. This paper is p...

Virtual worlds (a.k.a. virtual realities) are 3D computer-generated environments created through the use of high-performance computers, 3D interaction devices, and 3D display systems. Most of the virtual worlds systems that have been so well publicized over the past five years use head-mounted displays that block off the wearer from the surrounding real world, effectively immersing her within a...

Many applications, including 3D Geographic Information Systems and flight simulation, rely on 3D terrain models. A system that supports these applications should ideally provide real-time interactive rendering of section of a large set of terrain data that may be accessed remotely using a client/server system. We present a Web-based system for interactive 3D terrain rendering using Virtual Real...

In this paper, we present experimental network management tools developed within the context of the CyberNet research project. The aim of this project is to study how metaphoric 3D visualization may help the user in the process of monitoring large amounts of dynamic information. Although the project focuses on a specific application domain, network management, it is designed so that it can be a...

This paper introduces The Vertex Project, a school-based action research project currently underway at Middlesex University, which sets out to explore the educational applications of shared 3D virtual worlds. Working with three primary schools, the project aims to actively involve children in designing, constructing and populating their own virtual community on the Internet and, in doing so, wi...

The field of Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) focuses on the design and development of systems composed of autonomous entities (i.e. agents) which interact in order to perform specific activities. In general, direct human participation in these systems is not considered. We advocate that 3D Virtual Worlds technology can be used to facilitate human inclusion in a MAS system. In this demo we present an ...

The paper explores the use of virtual worlds to support online role-play as a collaborative activity. This paper describes some of the challenges involved in building online role-play environments in a virtual world and presents some of the ideas being explored by the project in the role-play applications being developed. Finally we explore how this can be used within the context of immersive e...