This paper explores the issues involved in designing and developing network software architectures for large-scale virtual environments. We present our ideas in the context of NPSNET-IV, the first 3-D virtual environment that incorporates both the IEEE 1278 distributed interactive simulation (DIS) application protocol and the IP multicast network protocol for multiplayer simulation over the Internet.
The Laboratory for Human Interaction in the Virtual Environment at the Naval Postgraduate School is one of the leading groups for the comprehensive study of humans in the virtual environment. The lab builds on work completed by the NPSNET Research Group to push the edge of human interaction. The HIVE Lab is additionally working towards the acceptance of a Masters program for this work at NPS and is driving the creation of the da Vinci Consortium for the study of humans in the virtual environment.
This paper examines the representation of humans in large-scale, networked virtual environments. Previous work done in this field is summarized, and existing problems with rendering, articulating, and networking numerous human figures in real time are explained. We have developed a system that integrates together some well-known solutions along with new ideas. Models with multiple level of details, body-tracking technology and animation libraries to specify joint angles, efficient group representations to describe multiple humans, and hierarchical network protocols have been successfully employed to increase the number of humans represented, system performance, and user interactivity. The resulting system immerses participants effectively and has numerous useful applications.
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