Virtual Worlds and the 3D Web – time for convergence?

Hussein Bakri; Colin Allison; Alan Henry David Miller; Iain Angus Oliver

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-41769-1_3

Virtual Worlds and the 3D Web – time for convergence?

Hussein Bakri, Colin Allison, Alan Henry David Miller, Iain Angus Oliver

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

6 Citations (Scopus)

14 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Multi-User Virtual Worlds (MUVW) such as Open Wonderland and OpenSim have proved to be fruitful platforms for innovative educational practice, supporting exploratory learning and generating true engagement. However, when compared with the way educational activities have flourished through the use of the constantly evolving WWW, MUVW learning environments remain a relatively obscure niche. Since the advent and promise of Second Life more than twelve years ago there has been no critical mass reached and no movement towards standardisation. Concomitantly, the 3D Web has emerged as a recognisable if loosely defined concept. With the advent of technologies such as WebGL and a plethora of plug-in 3D viewers for web browsers, the question arises: will MUVWs converge with the 3D Web? If so, can existing educational content be migrated to the 3D Web for mass dissemination? The paper contributes a survey of 3D Web and MUVW terms, concepts, technologies and projects, illustrating their similarities, their value for education and discusses the likelihood of convergence. The survey is complemented by a cultural heritage case study of Unity 3D support for the deployment of virtual worlds in web browsers using two different approaches.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Immersive Learning Research Network
Subtitle of host publication	Second International Conference, iLRN 2016, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, June 27 - July 1, 2016, Proceedings
Editors	Colin Allison , Leonel Morgado, Johanna Pirker, Dennis Beck, Jonathon Richter, Christian Guetl
Publisher	Springer
Pages	29-42
ISBN (Electronic)	9783319417691
ISBN (Print)	9783319417684
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41769-1_3
Publication status	Published - 2016
Event	iLRN 2016 Conference - Santa Barbara, United States Duration: 27 Jun 2016 → 1 Jul 2016 https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2016/

Publication series

Name	Communications in Computer and Information Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	621
ISSN (Print)	1865-0929

Conference

Conference	iLRN 2016 Conference
Country/Territory	United States
City	Santa Barbara
Period	27/06/16 → 1/07/16
Internet address	https://immersivelrn.org/ilrn2016/

Keywords

3D Web
Web-based Virtual World
Multi-user Virtual World
HTTP/2
VRML

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-41769-1_3

MUVE and 3D Web Convergence
© 2016, Springer. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at link.springer.com / https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41769-1_3
Accepted author manuscript, 553 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

Bakri, H., Allison, C., Miller, A. H. D., & Oliver, I. A. (2016). Virtual Worlds and the 3D Web – time for convergence? In C. A., L. Morgado, J. Pirker, D. Beck, J. Richter, & C. Guetl (Eds.), Immersive Learning Research Network: Second International Conference, iLRN 2016, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, June 27 - July 1, 2016, Proceedings (pp. 29-42). (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 621). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41769-1_3

Bakri, Hussein ; Allison, Colin ; Miller, Alan Henry David et al. / Virtual Worlds and the 3D Web – time for convergence?. Immersive Learning Research Network: Second International Conference, iLRN 2016, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, June 27 - July 1, 2016, Proceedings. editor / Colin Allison ; Leonel Morgado ; Johanna Pirker ; Dennis Beck ; Jonathon Richter ; Christian Guetl. Springer, 2016. pp. 29-42 (Communications in Computer and Information Science).

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title = "Virtual Worlds and the 3D Web – time for convergence?",

abstract = "Multi-User Virtual Worlds (MUVW) such as Open Wonderland and OpenSim have proved to be fruitful platforms for innovative educational practice, supporting exploratory learning and generating true engagement. However, when compared with the way educational activities have flourished through the use of the constantly evolving WWW, MUVW learning environments remain a relatively obscure niche. Since the advent and promise of Second Life more than twelve years ago there has been no critical mass reached and no movement towards standardisation. Concomitantly, the 3D Web has emerged as a recognisable if loosely defined concept. With the advent of technologies such as WebGL and a plethora of plug-in 3D viewers for web browsers, the question arises: will MUVWs converge with the 3D Web? If so, can existing educational content be migrated to the 3D Web for mass dissemination? The paper contributes a survey of 3D Web and MUVW terms, concepts, technologies and projects, illustrating their similarities, their value for education and discusses the likelihood of convergence. The survey is complemented by a cultural heritage case study of Unity 3D support for the deployment of virtual worlds in web browsers using two different approaches.",

keywords = "3D Web, Web-based Virtual World, Multi-user Virtual World, HTTP/2, VRML",

author = "Hussein Bakri and Colin Allison and Miller, {Alan Henry David} and Oliver, {Iain Angus}",

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Bakri, H, Allison, C , Miller, AHD & Oliver, IA 2016, Virtual Worlds and the 3D Web – time for convergence? in CA, L Morgado, J Pirker, D Beck, J Richter & C Guetl (eds), Immersive Learning Research Network: Second International Conference, iLRN 2016, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, June 27 - July 1, 2016, Proceedings. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 621, Springer, pp. 29-42, iLRN 2016 Conference, Santa Barbara, California, United States, 27/06/16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41769-1_3

Virtual Worlds and the 3D Web – time for convergence? / Bakri, Hussein; Allison, Colin ; Miller, Alan Henry David et al.
Immersive Learning Research Network: Second International Conference, iLRN 2016, Santa Barbara, CA, USA, June 27 - July 1, 2016, Proceedings. ed. / Colin Allison; Leonel Morgado; Johanna Pirker; Dennis Beck; Jonathon Richter; Christian Guetl. Springer, 2016. p. 29-42 (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 621).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution