201 3-d virtual learning — easier, and more robust

Advanced Interactions: Building Real Engagement

into Your eLearning

June 2 & 3, 2011

201

3-D Virtual Learning — Take Another Look. Cheaper,

Easier, and More Robust

Caroline Avey, CS Learning Services - A Xerox Company

Advanced Interactions: Building Real Engagement into Your eLearningJune 2 & 3, 2011

Session 201 – 3-D Virtual Learning: Take Another Look. Cheaper, Easier, Page 1and More Robust – Caroline Avey, CS Learning Services - A Xerox Company

Page 1 June, 2011

3-D Virtual Learning: Take Another Look. Cheaper, Easier, and More Robust

Caroline Avey – ACS Learning Services, a Xerox Company

June 2011

Agenda for this Session

What is new to 3-D worlds that provide a better user experience

How thin-client solutions compare to thick-client solutions for download and fidelity issues

What factors to consider when selecting a 3-D learning environment

About newer cost models that enable rapid and inexpensive entry into 3-D learning

Questions



June 2011

Distance Learning

Telecom

Skype

Telepresence

3D virtual (Immersive) World

Webcast/ Virtual Classroom

Quasi-3D (Dynamic Learning Portal)

Page 4 June, 2011

DefinitionA virtual world is a genre of online

community that often takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment, through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects.

Wikipedia



Page 5 June 2011

How Are We Using 3D?

Recruiting, Onboarding, Orientation Process, Practice Simulations

Coaching, Mentoring, Knowledge-Sharing Face-to-Face Facilitated Sessions

Page 6 June 2011Slide 6

What Is Different?

Staggered timing

Working dimensionally

No boundaries

Links to the 2D world



Page 7 June 29, 2010

Poll:How are you or would you use 3D Virtual

Worlds?

Page 8 June 2011

What’s New? – Dozens of Worlds

Second Life/ IBM Sametime 3D

OLIVE

ProtoSphere

TelePlace/OpenQwak

Web Alive

Active Worlds

Assemblive

VenueGen

Reaction Grid’s Unity Jibe

Nexus

VastPark

Immersive Work Spaces

Virtual Magic Kingdom

Small World

Perfect World

Fandange

IMVU

MEEZ

Sims Online

Guffins

http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/catagories



Page 9 June 2011

What’s new

Minimizing IT issues, Ports, Bandwidth, Download, Firewall

New interface

Pre-launch instructions

Movement: fly, run, walk, point and click

Increased use of video

Avatars: quick creation and more realistic

Audio enhancements

Linking to real world documents

Real world functionality

Page 10 June 2011

ProtoSphere 1.5.2 Full List of New Features and Updates

17 newly designed spaces available

Laser pointer

Annotation function on presentation boards

Moderator ability to lock multi-slide presentation boards

Added ComplianceWire specific connectivity functions and reporting methods

Addressed ProtoSphere updating procedure to make it proxy compliant

Allows for single sign-on between ComplianceWire LMS and ProtoSphere

ProtoSphere “Virtual Event” is listed as a training item in the ComplianceWire “To-Do” list

ProtoSphere usage reporting lets administrators track metrics, including how long learners spend within sessions, levels of participation, and VoIP and text chat usage

ComplianceWire tracking lets administrators record and monitor learners’ successful completion of live virtual events

Links to ComplianceWire courses can be added to Presentation Boards and Media Carousels through the web link functionality

Right-click anywhere in the 3D environment that is not already a clickable surface

Red laser pointer appears coming from your avatar’s hand

Available only while in 3rd person view

Other users see the laser line and where you are pointing

•Ability to annotate on these surfaces is available to all users in the environment, unless that particular presentation board is being moderated

•Annotation toolbar appears here at the top of the 3D window when you zoom into a surfaceAvailable to only those users who are logged in as a Moderator

Right-click on the surface and choose Enable Moderation Mode. This will lock the presentation and keep others from being able to control it

Enabling the moderator mode only affects the abilities of normal users who are logged into the zone.

When a presentation board is moderated, the ability for other users to annotate over top of the surface is temporarily disabled



Page 11 June 2011

Demo: VenueGen

Page 12 June, 2011

CHAT:For a 3D virtual world to be effective in

your environment, what features are most important to you?



Page 13 June 2011

Spectrum of Virtual Worlds

Public or Private

Gaming or Business to Business

Software for Sale or Software as a Solution

Thick-Client (software download) or Thin-Client (browser-based)

Virtual Real Estate or Pre-Built Sets and Functionality

Virtual World or Virtual Meeting

Fully 3D versus Quasi 3D

Page 14 June 2011

3D Virtual Worlds Spectrum

Public Thick Client(Second Life)Part of a wholeOpen source real estateDownloadBandwidth intensiveHigh degree of functionality

Public Thin Client(Reaction Grid Unity Jibe)Part of a wholeOpen source real estateRuns in browserBandwidth lightEmerging functionality

Private Thick Client(OLIVE, ProtoSphere, Teleplace)PrivateCustomized EnvironmentDownloadBandwidth intensiveHigh degree of functionality

Private Thin Client(Nexus, VenueGen, Assemblive)PrivateCustomized EnvironmentRuns in browserBandwidth lightEmerging functionality



Page 15 June 2011

3D Worlds

3D World Versus 3D Meeting

3D Worlds

• Persistent “destination” environment

• Environment can be sub-divided into regions (realms)

• Users can teleport to other areas in the environment

3D Meetings

• Provide conference rooms for one-time events

• Users access environment via hyperlink or URL and join a single location

• Teleporting to other regions (realms) is not supported

Active Worlds Open Wonderland Reaction Grid Web Alive Assemblive VenueGen

3D Meetings

Page 16 June 2011

3D Virtual World Providers

3D Virtual World

3D Virtual Meeting

3D Simulation Development

Vendors to Watch

• Second Life

• IBM Sametime 3D

• Protosphere

• OLIVE

• Teleplace

• OpenQwak

• 3DXplorer*

• Amphisocial*

• Nexus

• Active Worlds

• Open Wonderland

• Reaction Grid

• Assemblive

• VenueGen

• Web Alive

• Thinking Worlds

•Visual Purple

•Aptara / Infinite

•MTS Technologies

•Vactor Studio LLC

• Immersive Workspaces

• VastPark



Page 17 June, 2011

Chat:What 3D providers do you have experience

with?

Page 18 June 2011

Criteria

Theme Criteria

Environment Avatar identity/behavior, Structure, Graphics, Audio, Scripting, Scalability, 508 compliance

Navigation Teleport between regions, WASD navigation, Camera perspective, Zooming capability

Communication Tools Voice, Text, Video, Telephone integration, Email integration

Productivity Tools Presenter tools, User tools

Social Networking User profile, User search, Buddy list, Social platforms

Documents and Links Integration with learning portals, Integration with user computer, Upload and download documents

Business Application Live meetings, Live training, Online training and education resources accessed through intuitive hyperlinks, Just-in-time information, Branding

Administration Event management, Measurement

IT Services Security, Access, Customization, Deployment, Reliability

IT Equipment Computer requirements, Mobile devices, Computer accessories, Servers

Costs Vendor pricing model, Solutions deployment, Training deployment

Implementation and Support

Implementation less than 90 days, Technical support, Creative support, Training support, Technical skills requirements



Page 19 June 2011

Big Picture Questions

What is the business driver?

What IT constraints /enablers re computing, security, downloads, ports open, and bandwidth?

Are you willing to be a market leader with the risks of a rapidly changing emerging technology?

How will you use the virtual world – live discussions or self-paced activities?

What level of support will you require to support future growth and evolving functionality requirements?

Do you need an environment that can be fully customized, or would an “out of the box” environment with limited customization suit your needs?

Are you looking for a persistent environment that can be accessed at any time or could on demand access to learning events meet your needs?

Page 20 June 2011

Demo: Soft Skills in Second Life



Page 21 June 2011

Environment

Criteria Trends

Avatar identify/behavior

Variable customization

Move toward realismStructure Variable customization

Graphics Most have high-resolution graphics.

Audio Stereo audio

Just as important as ‘seeing in the environment”Scripting Ability to adjust the software varies, causing niche players

Scalability Maximum simultaneous users ranged from 56–5,000.

Number of users dependent on how the server is provisioned

508 compliance No one environment truly addresses. Vendor workaround required

Page 22 June 2011

Navigation

Criteria Trends

Teleport between regions

Unique to World versus Meeting Spaces

WASD navigation

Two main navigation methods: point-and-click and WASD or arrow keys.

Fly, run, walk

Grab a buddy Camera perspective

Change view direction Toolbar for direction or Screen Grab

Third person,/ first person. Lateral or overheadZooming capability

Zoom in or walk up

Some views pre-programmed



Page 23 June 2011

Communication and Social Networking

Criteria Trends

Voice None of the vendors currently supports speech-to-text., but possible third-party solutions

Live video (e.g., webcam)

Live video steaming appears to be an emerging area; not many vendors currently support this capability.

Telephone integration Dial in and Dial out

User profile Move to include profiling

User search Few provide user search

Social platforms Many are leveraging online social networking features such as blogs, widgets, mashups and Twitter.

Page 24 June 2011

Productivity and Integration Tools

Criteria Trends

Presenter tools Vendors are offering a variety of tools to enhance the facilitator’s ability to deliver material in-world.

User tools Vendors are providing several tools to increase learner engagement and interaction.

Integration with learning portals

Most do to link to URLs, documents or browsers.

Integration with user computer

Assemblive is the only vendor where a user cannot access programs on their computer while in-world.

The screen share feature enables vendors to meet this criterion.

Upload and download documents

Move towards drag-and-drop file-sharing.

Reaction Grid is the only vendor that does not support document formats (only image and video formats supported).

ProtoSphere integrates with SharePoint



Page 25 June 2011

LogisticsCriteria Trends

Live meetings

Live training

Just-in-time knowledge content

Online training and education hyperlinks

Each environment can be used to support each of these business applications.

Branding Most support the ability to brand various locations.

Some do not support the ability for an instructor to brand an environment.

Event management Most provide event management systems that provide planning and management of instructors and registrations.

Measurement Several vendors can meet this requirement via customization.

Page 26 June 2011

IT and Equipment

Criteria Trends

Security Most B to B platforms place a high priority on security and privacy to provide customers with all of the tools necessary to meet virtually in complete confidence.

Access Some more “firewall” friendly,

Customization Private sites often do not allow source code control.

Deployment Nexus and Reaction Grid are vendors who have a thick-client version.

Reliability All vendors claimed high availability.

Mac or PC Active Worlds and Web Alive are the only vendors who do not support both Mac and PC.

Mobile devices This capability is a future feature for Reaction Grid and VenueGen.



Page 27 June 2011

Costs and Implementation SupportCriteria Trends

Vendor pricing model monthly or annual subscriptions, credit systems and one-time fees.

Solution deployment For most, solution deployment costs are included

Customized deployment (behind client firewall, in the cloud or hosted on client server) available

Ongoing support Many public platforms provides free resources but no in-person support. Support is offered via third-party consultants (e.g., Wonder Builders).

Training deployment Most require additional training or fielding support required additional fees.

Implementation in less than 90 days

Length of implementation depends on where server is hosted and customization.

Creative support • Either from provider or third party

Training support All virtual meeting vendors provide free training support for active customers.

The virtual world vendors offer for a feeTechnical skills requirements for ongoing support

Most vendors claimed only basic skills were required for ongoing support of the product.

Page 28 June 2011

Overall Results Sample

Requirement Ranking

Vendor A Vendor B Vendor C Vendor D Vendor E Vendor F Vendor G

# % # % # % # % # % # % # %

Mandatory Yes 74 82% 67 74% 61 68% 62 69% 52 58% 63 70% 72 80%

Custom 2 2% 18 20% 21 23% 5 6% 14 16% 7 8% 8 9%

Future 4 4% 0% 0% 13 14% 7 8% 5 6% 1 1%

No 10 11% 5 6% 8 9% 10 11% 17 19% 15 17% 9 10%

Total 90 100% 90 100% 90 100% 90 100% 90 100% 90 100% 90 100%

Useful Yes 13 68% 12 63% 11 58% 9 47% 10 53% 13 68% 10 53%

Custom 1 5% 5 26% 3 16% 2 11% 4 21% 0 0% 3 16%

Future 0% 0% 0% 5 26% 0% 2 11% 2 11%

No 5 26% 2 11% 5 26% 3 16% 5 26% 4 21% 4 21%

Total 19 100% 19 100% 19 100% 19 100% 19 100% 19 100% 19 100%

Not required Yes 6 75% 3 38% 3 38% 4 50% 1 13% 4 50% 3 38%

Custom 2 25% 4 50% 4 50% 1 13% 4 50% 0 0% 5 63%

Future 0% 0% 0% 2 25% 2 25% 1 13% 0 0%

No 0% 1 13% 1 13% 1 13% 1 13% 3 38% 0 0%

Total 8 100% 8 100% 8 100% 8 100% 8 100% 8 100% 8 100%



Page 29 June, 2011

Poll:Which criteria are most important to you?

(select your top three)

Page 30 June 2011

Demo: Live Facilitation in Reaction Grid’s Unity Jibe



Page 31 June 2011

Pricing Models and Considerations

Pricing Models

Software for Sale or Software as a Service?

Real Estate or Intact Environment

Enterprise License (Concurrent) or Per User License

Annual Fee or Monthly Fee or Per Use Fee

Pricing Considerations

Virtual World or Virtual Meeting and/or Collaboration Space

How much branding or customization?

What are you getting and what would you need?

Page 32 June 2011

Slide 32 Slide 32

Case 1: Planning Session in IBM Sametime 3D

Presentations

Brainstorming

Polling

Action Planning

Timelines



Page 33 June 2011

Slide 33

Case 2: Enhancing Blended Curriculum with Collaboration Tools

Solution: ACS team used a combination of open source software and a 3D environment to enable collaboration and relationship-building within an ILT onboarding curriculum that orients new employees.

GOAL: Shift 100% ILT Blended Learning

Result: learners are able to develop remote relationships before class, collaborate in teams during class and maintain those connections after class.

Used as a collaboration space for team-based class assignments, surveys and assessments

Used as a 3D virtual team meeting space and forum where students can connect with company experts

Page 34 June 2011

Slide 34

Case 3: Program Launch in 3D TradeShow

15,000 participants

Live launch

Four modules

Performance support

Networking



Page 35 June 2011

Demo: Th!nkTank

Page 36 June 2011

Slide 36 Slide 36

Case 4: Asynchronous Sim in Second Life

Independent Learning

Real-Life Scenarios

Time, Quality, Capability



Page 37 June 2011

Demo: MTS Technologies Virtual Lab

Page 38 June 2011

Industry Observations and Recommendations

Industry Observations

• Evolving technology: Feature enhancements and functionality continue to be added

• Open-source: Many vendors supporting the ability of client to customize environment

• Persistent versus one-time events: Vendors are focusing on different uses of the environments and developing features based on these uses

Continuing Challenges

• Credibility: Can learners learn better in 3D?

• Scalability: Rendering sustainable

• Audio: In general with computer technology

• Versions: Rapidly changing environment

• Simple: Can not emphasize enough “simple is better”



Page 39 June, 2011

Poll:In terms of supporting the learning function, at

what stage of development are 3D Virtual Worlds within your organization?

Page 40 June 2011

Questions?

Caroline Avey

Director of Innovative Learning Solutions

ACS Learning Services, a Xerox Company

[email protected]

Twitter: @aveyca

LinkedIn: Caroline Avey

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