Odysseus

This project focuses on the development of intelligent software components that will be accessed through a holographic screen to enhance the use of students' virtual personal spaces, through innovative graphical user interfaces relying on web-based systems. This project proposes the use of a 3D interface and a holographic screen to display intuitive directional information signs.

The student working on this project will build a demonstrator for this uniquely intuitive graphical user interface to give directions for visitors and students of our department. The screen will be projected in the foyer of a large and busy building and will allow for multimodal interaction. It will be based on an existing 3D model of the department that will be used to provide visitors with directions on how to reach labs, lecturers' offices, etc. The system will also be accessible via a standard web-browser and will therefore also be available remotely. The students will be able to access their personal virtual space through the Holographic Screen, which is to work in high ambient light and remains clear see through glass from the rear, while it enables the users to walk very closely round the screen without cutting through images. The projector is compatible with any software system and it will be linked with existing research projects of Dr Mangina (ABITS) and Dr Bertolotto (CLEVER). The screen provides a variety of interactive systems such as touch screen interactivity, remote button interactivity and mobile phone interactivity. The implementation will be supported by the latest technology of Intelligent Agents which will employ cooperative software components to assist the students (allocating useful web sites, relevant to their studies, reminding of important deadlines etc.) based on decision-making functions, while the 3D multimedia interface will allow the users to navigate interactively through a virtual model of the campus. The effectiveness of this interface will also be evaluated at the end of the project.

The main research challenges relate to the development of interactive intelligent virtual and intuitive GUI, personalised web interfaces, intelligent agents for the creation of personal virtual spaces, use of handheld devices for interaction with the students' virtual spaces, utilisation of existing technology for the educational needs of higher level education in the 21st century. The tools and technologies students will be introduced to include holographic screens, agent-based technology, web-based learning environments, tools and technologies for developing user interfaces, Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) and handheld devices.

Relevance of Project to the Host Laboratories:

The Holographic directional information signs project is one which brings together experts in virtual personal spaces, image analysis and experts in user interface design. Our developed systems are important in providing direction to the students and the academics within the academic institution.

Supervisors:

Dr. Michela Bertolotto and Dr. Eleni Mangina (Computer Science and Informatics, UCD)

Keywords:

Web-based and virtual learning environments; holographic projectors; VRML; handheld devices.