Lessons about Virtual-Environment Software Systems from 20 years of VE building

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Software Engineering

Background:

• Virtual environments (VEs) are complex systems requiring well-defined software architectures for optimal functionality.
• Existing VE systems offer valuable insights into desirable and undesirable architectural features.
• Understanding these features is crucial for developing more useful and efficient VE applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and discuss desirable and undesirable features of virtual-environment (VE) software architectures.
• To provide guidance on structuring VE systems for maximum utility.
• To share lessons learned from designers and architects of VE applications and toolkits.

Main Methods:

• Synthesizing experience from application designers, toolkit designers, and VE system architects.
• Analyzing useful features from existing VE systems.
• Organizing topics under key headings: 3D space management, display hardware, interaction, event management, time management, computation, and portability.

Main Results:

• Identified key architectural considerations including 3D space management, hardware support, interaction paradigms, and event/time management.
• Highlighted the principle that 'less can be better' in VE system design.
• Presented practical lessons learned through discussions, field experiences, and case studies.

Conclusions:

• Optimal VE software architecture balances essential features with simplicity for enhanced usability.
• Architectural decisions in areas like interaction and event handling significantly impact VE system utility.
• Adopting a 'less is more' philosophy and learning from practical case studies leads to more effective VE software.