The research on Virtual Reality being carried out at VRLAB is around the topic of multimodal human-computer interaction in virtual environments. We focus mainly on developing new interaction metaphors integrating 3D sound, stereo visualization, and force feedback, towards more intuitive and immersive systems for several applications.

Multimodal Interactive VR Systems

One of the investigated topics concerns the use of intelligent avatars (or autonomous virtual assistants) to efficiently perform tasks in cooperation with the user. In this context, natural ways of communication between the user and its virtual assistant are being investigated within a multimodal interactive application.

Another topic of research is to define VR systems able to dynamically change the interaction mode, adapting themselves to each situation and to the preferences and motor skills capabilities of each user, offering personalized interaction metaphors in order to optimize the comfort and sense of presence in interactive VR systems.

Take as example the simple problem of grabbing an object with a dataglove: the used interaction mode may dynamically vary according to the different motor skills and manipulation precision requirements: (1) the user must close its virtual hand around objects to grab it, (2) the user simply places the virtual hand near to an object an the virtual hand automatically grabs it, (3) only by pointing to a desired virtual object will trigger an automatic animation of the virtual hand to grab it, or (4) the user asks his “intelligent avatar” (vocal or gesture instructions) to grab the object.

Interaction Metaphors for Specific Applications

Depending on the target VR application, different interaction solutions have been developed for specific applications:

• Interaction with virtual vehicle controls in an immersive vehicle simulation system for training and ergonomics in the scope of the European project VIRTUAL.
• Navigation and interaction in virtual environments for the purpose of test and training of volunteers for emergency situations in the scope of the EU project JUST.
• 3D immersion for therapy of patients suffering of PHOBIA diseases.
• Precise interaction with a virtual piano keyboard.
• Higher level modes of interaction with “smart objects”, allowing concurrent operation with autonomous virtual humans.

Source : Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

The Ontology Web Language (OWL) is a set of markup languages which are designed for use by applications that need to process the content of information instead of just presenting information to humans. OWL ontologies describe the hierarchical organization of ideas in a domain, in a way that can be parsed and understood by software. OWL has more facilities for expressing meaning and semantics than XML, RDF, and RDF-S, and thus OWL goes beyond these languages in its ability to represent machine interpretable content on the Web. OWL is part of the W3C recommendations related to the Semantic Web.

Integrating Applications on the Semantic Web

The Semantic Web is an extension of the current Web in which information is given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation. It is based on the idea of having data on the Web defined and linked such that it can be used for more effective discovery, automation, integration, and reuse across various applications.

Ontology Web Language for Services (OWL-S)

This document defines Ontology Web Language for Services with examples, technical examples, references, and diagrams.

OWL Web Ontology Language Overview

The OWL Web Ontology Language is designed for use by applications that need to process the content of information instead of just presenting information to humans.

OWL Web Ontology Language Semantics and Abstract Syntax

This description of OWL, the Web Ontology Language being designed by the W3C Web Ontology Working Group, contains a high-level abstract syntax for both OWL DL and OWL Lite, sublanguages of OWL.

W3C Semantic Web

The Semantic Web provides a common framework that allows data to be shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community boundaries. It is a collaborative effort led by W3C with participation from a large number of researchers and industrial partners.

Source : WebOpedia

PICS is a pair of Protocols, allowing labels to be applied to WWW content. These Protocols empower any individual or organization to design and distribute labels reflecting their views about the content. PICS was pioneered by W3C as a practical alternative to global governmental censorship of the Internet. In addition, the same technology facilitates searching the WWW and provides a foundation for establishing trust in information on the WWW. PICS labels are rather limited in their expressiveness. A new version of PICS will be based on RDF, facilitating more complex labeling of resources.

Lists of PICS-compatible products and services

Technology Inventory [broken link as of July 2005]. Lorrie Cranor and Paul Resnick. This inventory was first distributed at the December 1997 Internet On-line summit: Focus on Children. The on-line version was updated until the summer of 1999. It also lists some products and services that are not PICS-compatible.

The following resource lists are being maintained by members of the PICS developers’ community. Contact the maintainer of each individual list with additional links.

• Client software [broken link as of July 2005] that reads PICS labels.
• HTTP servers that distribute labels along with documents.
• Proxy servers [broken link as of July 2005] that perform filtering based on PICSRules.
• Label bureaus: HTTP servers that distribute third-party PICS labels through the PICS label bureau query protocol.
• Rating services
• Search engine that can use PICS labels in its selection criteria

Innovative Uses of PICS Labels

The most common uses of PICS labels have been in filtering products that block access to certain materials based on labels associated with those materials. The technology inventory, however, identifies a range of other actions that can be taken based on labels: suggest, search, inform, monitor/log, and warn.

Source: W3C

Article from the Isolani Blog…

If you TRULY think that Flash is accessible, then you have just lost any credibility with me (as a professional web developer). Show me how Flash is accessible (to everyone, not just disabilities). It requires a plugin, and is virtually blind to a very important visitor - the search bot. Flash STILL has not come up to par with being optimized with searching and search engines.

Flash tries to replace the medium itself and remove the browser. Though some of these are due to poor development practices, please show me a site that handles the following:

1. Can send a direct link to a specific point in a flash movie via a URL.
2. The back/forward button both work without a problem.
3. Hovering over a link in flash will tell the status bar the destination of the link.
4. The many issues that still revolve around printing.
5. Flash display on other devices without issues.
6. Flash that allows me to use my operating system and accessibility features such as increasing/decreasing text.
7. Flash that allows me to use my browser controls to turn off pop-ups or other unwanted pieces (see number 3).

These are just a SMALL fraction of the issues with flash, and I have yet to see a website that addresses these issues. This has NOTHING to do with disabilities (or I could have brought in assistive devices, screen readers, and lynx) - and everything to do with usability.

Then, when you DO find me a site that handles those above - please explain to me why there is a need to use Flash versus CSS/XHTML/DOM.

I fail to see how Flash should be in the accessible developers toolbox - please enlighten me.

Source: Isolani