Virtual Worlds for Design 2007-08

Presentation

Class overview

Second Life

Videos

Introduction to class (5:33)

Strathclyde University’s island (1:44)

Jack’s project (1:43)

Student projects

CAD systems can be used to simulate proposed or existing designs.

Internet communications tools can be used to form virtual online communities.

Recently, these technologies have been combined to form virtual worlds, rich modelling environments in which users can experience 3D environments, interact with others, and establish online communities.

This class investigates how one can use a virtual world for designing, prototyping and simulation.

Areas of investigation in virtual worlds

Identity

Communicating and collaborating

Designing

Building

Presentation

Marketing

Teaching and learning

Real vs. virtual worlds

boundaries, links, behaviours and needs

Tools used

Second Life virtual world

Blogs

Wikis (collaborative web pages)

Online forum

Skype (voice over internet)

Panoramic photography

Image processing & movie making software

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world created entirely by its Residents.

It can be considered a

3D Web

Learning environment

Design, prototyping & simulation environment

Social environment

Marketing environment

Presentation & communication environment

Game

Immersive reconstruction…

… Traditional architectural designs…

… and those not possible in Real Life

Dynamic art installations

Reflexive Architecture / Generative Design

Collaborative design processes

Introduction to Virtual Worlds class (5:33) http://blip.tv/file/985971

Class meeting…gravity not required

First student builds…Seating

Student pods

Class exhibition John Rodger & Scott Gordon

Reflexive display panels

Media Theatre Scott Thomson

Machinima Kathryn O’Hare

Introduction to Virtual Worlds class

Strathclyde island

Jack’s Project

Strathclyde University’s island An early incarnation December 2007 (1:44) http://blip.tv/file/985970

Strathclyde Info Centre Jack Shepherd

Reflexive Architecture

‘ Holodeck’ pod changer

‘ Holodeck’ pod changer

Jack’s Project (1:43) http://blip.tv/file/985969

Virtual Reality Room Gavin Scott

360 panoramas…

… in a sky box with surrounding info-pods

Panoramic immersion…this is not Photoshopped!

Never Ending Tower Himanshu Thakkar

From this, as you climb…

… to this

The fast way down

Wikitecture

Open source, collaborative method of designing in-world

Wikitecture

Open Architecture Network’s 2008 Asia Challenge

Competition entry

Studio Wikitecture’s competition entry won

3 rd prize in the Open Architecture Network’s 2008 Asia Challenge (design of a health clinic in Nepal)

Overall Founder’s Award ( from 566 entries) for ‘ embracing a truly collaborative way of working using online crowd sourcing and Second Life as a way to create a highly participatory design approach’

Virtual Worlds team