The Applications of Online, Multi-User Virtual Environments for Architectural & Interior Design Communication

Abstract

Architectural & Interior design communication is a process of exchanging information between architects and other professionals, clients, and prospectus users, and a design medium is a means of communication. Using non-immersive, conventional media, it is challenging for architects communicate physical details and users' activities in not yet built three-dimensional buildings to others. Recent advances online, Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) allow architects and other professionals to experience a virtually constructed building together using anthropomorphic avatars. In addition, MUVEs also enable them to be aware of the presence and activity of each other. Previous studies suggest that the aforementioned characteristics of MUVEs may facilitate communication between architects and others. But these are focused on communication in controlled experimental conditions. This paper discusses the ways in which MUVEs are applied for authentic and long-term collaboration, design studio, and cultural heritage reconstruction projects, produced by digital design group at the UC Berkeley and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and analyzes the influences of MUVEs on those projects. MUVEs helped more precise communication between architects, electronic engineers, and medical staffs, who are collaborating for developing pioneering technology for hospitals. In design studios, MUVEs allowed students to experience other students' design outputs, and thus helped them share ideas mutually. In addition, in cultural heritage reconstruction projects, MUVEs were used for communicating with historians and residents in order to collect evidence. Based on this study, we propose that MUVEs have strong potential for enhancing the communication between architects and other professionals.