Collaborative Tools and Extinsible Object Interaction Techniques for Virtual Environments

Open Tech proposes to develop a fully extensible collaborative tools framework that combines powerful features, and intuitive user interface, and the ability to easily implement new and imaginative object interaction techniques. The tools will allow users of both local and remote immersive VE systems to join together in a single shared VE that allows them to interact with each other and with objects in the VE simultaneously. Desktop and immersed users can collaboratively leverage the strengths of both platforms simultaneously to conduct research. Communication and collaboration are important aspects in most scientific research, and our proposed collaboration technologies will bring these aspects to a new level in the field of scientific visualization. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The collaborative tools package developed under the SBIR will benefit any company that has multiple researches working on a project that requires the use of a VE for data visualization. The collaborative tools will help the researches become more productive by facilitating cooperation and communication in the shared VE. The collaborative tools can be marketed along with DIVERSE and VEWL in order to continue to build the user bases of these tools. Open Tech will leverage its relationships with companies like Fakespace and Vis Box in order to make the collaborative tools more available to users of immersive virtual environments. Open Tech will also attend conferences such as the annual Supercomputing conference in Pittsburgh in order to develop new relationships with potential customers.