George's Journal

ALL OTHER WIKI CONTRIBUTIONS

Oculus Screenshot Wiki - quick wiki on how to take screenshots

Sketchbox - a 3D collaboration workspace allowing one to manipulate models and meshes in a virtual space.

Engage - a virtual environment that allows users to engage with 3D content in virtual lessons and simulations

Wonda VR - a collaborative workspace allowing one create their custom spaces and share with others

Glue - a collaborative meeting space with fun avatars and cool spaces

Immersed - a collaborative workspace allowing one to manipulate multiple screens and share virtual whiteboards in a 3D space.

Softspace - a design space allowing one to put down ideas in a virtual space.

MeetingVR - a virtual meeting software allowing on to collaborate with members, share screens, and content

Spatial - a virtual workspace that allows users to create lifelike avatars and work closely together sharing content and collaborating

Mozilla Hubs - a collaborative space that allows users to explore a virtual environment, play with 3D objects from Google Poly, and import various media.

BigScreen - a collaborative movie and content watching experience

HOURS SUMMARY

Total: 142 hours

HOURS journal

1/26/21 - 1 Hours

  • Created this journal page

  • Joined course Slack page

  • Picked up the Oculus Quest

1/27/21 - 6 Hours

  • Set up the Oculus Quest by going through the tutorial, set up paper space, and explored Google Earth

  • Explored some VR software/Games in the Oculus like Rec Room, YouTube VR, Netflix VR, Supernatural, etc.

  • Explore various collaboration software:

    • 3D creation

      • The Wild : move 3D objects collaboratively and import custom objects (paid software, can potentially talk to sales?)

      • Sketchbox : AR design tool, can export an FBX to use in Unity or Unreal (free trial)

      • Nvidia Holodeck: Photorealistic design and creation space (online application)

    • Virtual Simulation

      • Acadicus: Library of free to use simulation content (Free basic mode, has pro subscription)

      • Engage : has virtual simulation software (Freemium)

      • WondaVR : create interactive presentations and simulations (Freemium)

    • Virtual Workspace

      • Glue: Mimic a virtual workspace including virtual whiteboards, expressive avatars, managing files, etc. (Can request a demo)

      • Immersed: Allows for multiple desktops, virtual whiteboards, and collaboration (Freemium)

      • Softspace: Virtual Workspace builder (Freemium?)

      • Dream: large virtual desktop (Free)

      • Meeting VR: 3D stickynotes and whiteboards (Free 30 Day trial)

      • Spatial: Create photorealistic avatars, allow for screensharing, upload 3D models (Free individual trial)

    • Social

      • Facebook Horizon : create a customized 3D play space (currently in beta, I applied but...dunno about this)

      • Mozilla Hubs: web based virtual rooms, built in virtual chat and allows for content sharing like screen share/importing 3D models/etc. Can be used w/out a headset. Mozilla Hubs Spoke allows one to build 3D scenes

      • Big Screen: Screen sharing, 3D drawing, cool virtual spaces to hang out and talk in

  • Potential Project Proposal:

    • Continue to research more options to try and see what is currently implemented and possible

    • Evaluate the platforms listed above and narrow down on one field for further exploration

    • Ideate on how to potentially improve upon these software to better fit our course foal of collaboration, 1) collaboration, 2) VR, 3) scientific visualization

    • Focus on the user experience

    • Create my own virtual space using the software listed above and see how effective it can be used for TAing

1/29/21 - 2 Hours

  • Explore some VR software such as Mozilla Hubs, BigScreen, etc.

  • Found that BigScreen allows for 3D drawings and Screensharing

  • Mozilla Hubs has Spoke which is an online 3D modeling software (good potential for further exploration)

2/1/21 - 5 Hours

  • Added more software to my exploration list above and

  • Class Activity (Depending on feasibility, we could try out some of the software above especially if I end up creating a virtual space of my own)

  • Potential Deliverables:

    • An evaluation table with the following information:

      • List of Features

      • Unique Features

      • How to set up (Potential Wiki tutorials)

      • Accessibility (free/paid/freemium/etc)

      • Compatibility (hardware and software requirements)

      • 1-5 Ratings

        • Learning Curve

        • Ease of Use

        • Ease of Collaboration

        • Ease of Visualization

        • General Look/Feel

      • Choose 1 From Each Section or Top 3

        • Create an in depth Pro Con analysis of the software as it compares to each other

        • Create Potential Classroom demo/tutorial for in class activity

        • Create a virtual space/demonstration in the software to see how it actually works in a classroom setting

2/3/21 - 5 Hours

  • Contacted People at The Wild (turns out they don't have student licenses so can probably cross this software off the list)

  • Planned Milestones

    • 2/9 Create the Google Sheet and start evaluating the "Free Software" (Sketchbox, Acadicus) & contact/apply to demo ones (Nvidia Holodeck, Glue)

    • 2/11 Continue evaluating software (Engage, WondaVR, Immersed)

    • 2/18 More Evaluations (Softspace, Dream, Meeting VR)

    • 2/23 More Evaluations (Spatial, Mozilla Hubs, Big Screen)

    • 2/25 If we have access to the online application software (Facebook Horizon, Glue, Nvidia Holodeck) evaluate those, if not, pick 3 to start with and build an in class activity around it

    • 3/2 Create an in depth Pro/Con analysis as it adhere to class goals of Collaboration, VR, and Scientific Visualization

    • 3/4 Create something new using the chosen software as part of the project or as the start of the next project

VR Evals

2/4/21 - 2 Hours

  • Finally Got DinoVR Working After Class

2/8/21 - 4 Hours

Exploring existing VR Collaborative Software in 3D Creation, Virtual Simulation, Virtual Workspaces, and Social Applications.

2/10/21 - 2 Hours

  • Create a wiki for taking screenshots

2/15/21 - 5 Hours

  • Downloaded and played around in Immersed and Engaged

2/16/21 - 5 Hours

  • Collaborated with Paul Krupski in Immersed and checked out the software

  • Create a wiki for Immersed

2/17/21 - 5 Hours

  • Explored WondaVR and Softspace and created corresponding wikis

  • Reached out about a free demo of Acadicus



Alejandro Evaluation

Criteria:

Journal activities are explicitly and clearly related to course deliverables

  • 4 == meets expectations

deliverables are described and attributed in wiki

  • 4 == meets expectations

report states total amount of time

  • 4 == meets expectations

total time is appropriate

  • 4 == meets expectations

Self Evaluation

Criteria:

Journal activities are explicitly and clearly related to course deliverables

  • 4 == meets expectations

deliverables are described and attributed in wiki

  • 4 == meets expectations

report states total amount of time

  • 4 == meets expectations

total time is appropriate

  • 4 == meets expectations


2/24/21 - 6 Hours

  • After getting access to Acadicus, found out that paperspace's windows machine is incompatible so will probably just drop the software

  • Dream will not launch from the oculus store through virtual desktop, might look into it later but will focus on other software for now

  • Reached out to Glue and MeetingVR for a demo, not sure if they will reply in time for in class activity

  • Contributed to the Wiki for Spatial and Engage

  • Reviewed and Created a Wiki for BigScreen

2/28/21 - 4 Hours

  • Explored Glue and planned for in class activity

3/1/21 - 6 Hours

  • Created Glue in class activity

3/2/21 - 4 Hours

  • Analyzed results from Glue activity

3/5/21 - 3 Hours

  • Explored MeetingVR and wrote a wiki for it

3/6/21 - 3 Hours

  • Explored Mozilla Hubs again and wrote a wiki for it

3/8/21 - 4 Hours

  • Worked on the Final Project Presentation and synthesized findings

3/15/21 - 4 Hours

  • Worked on ideation for project 2

Project 2 Proposal:

  • Try to Teach something in VR (Focus on Engage?)

    • Try to go deeper into Engage and see if I can create my own education experience in VR

    • Look into available models within Engage and see if I can synthesize something myself or try importing some of my own models to teach something

    • How can I potentially TA in VR and diving deeper into the scientific visualization part of the software, try to hold TA Hours?

    • Do a comparison study of teaching/explaining a concept in VR vs real life


Project 2 Proposal Evaluated by Alejandro

    • The proposed project clearly identifies deliverable additions to our VR Software Wiki (4)

    • The proposed project involves collaboration in VR (5)

    • The proposed project involves large scientific data visualization along the lines of the "Data Types" wiki page and identifies the specific data type and software that it will use (4)

    • The proposed project has a realistic schedule with explicit and measurable milestones at least each week and mostly every class (5)

    • The proposed project includes an in-class activity (5)

    • The proposed project has resources available with sufficient documentation (4)


3/17/21 - 2 Hours

  • Worked on Project 2 Proposal


Project 2 Proposal Evaluated by Laila

    • The proposed project clearly identifies deliverable additions to our VR Software Wiki (5)

    • The proposed project involves collaboration in VR (5)

    • The proposed project involves large scientific data visualization along the lines of the "Data Types" wiki page and identifies the specific data type and software that it will use (5)

    • The proposed project has a realistic schedule with explicit and measurable milestones at least each week and mostly every class (4)

    • The proposed project includes an in-class activity (5)

    • The proposed project has resources available with sufficient documentation (5)

3/20/21 - 5 Hours

3/21/21 - 5 Hours

3/27/21 - 5 Hours

3/28/21 - 5 Hours

  • Tested Engage some more with Alejandro and played with Engage some more

3/31/21 - 5 Hours

  • Worked on Project 2 and read through Engage Create an Events Guide to see if I can create an Event for class, also signed up for a free trial of Engage Pro

4/2/21 - 5 Hours

  • Explore some more of the activities in Engage and evaluated them, tried out the ballistics activity and the cosmic pig activity

  • Thought about what kinds of activity benefits from being in VR and testing them out in Engage

4/3/21 - 5 Hours

  • Explore even more of the activities in Engage and evaluating them, tried out the skeleton assembly activity and the Engine Block assembly activity

4/5/21 - 5 Hours

  • Made slides for the in class update

  • Finalized on the in class activity (baby medical simulation) and tested it out fully with Alejandro as well as a few of my house mates

4/6 Update

4/7/21 - 3 Hours

  • Completed the write up for my in class activity

  • Had Alejandro test it out again

  • Went through the activity to make sure everything will be ready

4/8/21 - 6 Hours

  • Started on the final project presentation

  • Reviewed the responses from my in class activity and tried to synthesize the information:

Trainer Section:

General Experience:

  • Pros:

    • Instructions were clear, concise, and easy to read

  • Cons:

    • wished could go back and forth on the instructions

    • more instructions?

    • could be difficult to see the trainee and interact with objects

    • not a lot to do but speak the instructions as the trainer

    • good if there were UI pointers such as a laser pointer to use as the trainer

    • video demo of the actions?

In Person vs in VR:

  • Pros:

    • More efficient to do this in VR than in Hospital

    • Easy to do remote training

    • Possibility for group training

    • Experience is fairly immersive

  • Cons:

    • Awkward at times

    • Hard to pace yourself

    • No "tactile" feeling, learning in person would be more "realistic" and helpful especially in a medical situation

Trainee Section:

  • General Experience:

    • Pros:

      • Good audio visual simulation

      • Better than using a doll (since the baby actually moved)

    • Cons:

      • Missing the "touch" element

      • Some objects were hard to pick up

      • Experience doesn't feel very polished, this training requires a more in person touch

Overall Experience:

  • What other training would you try in VR?:

    • Medical activities:

      • simulated surgeries

      • cutting into the skin,

      • inspecting the body

      • anatomy

    • Engineering:

      • machine/car assembly

    • Skill Development:

      • How to play an instrument

      • Learning to Drive

      • How to play a sport

      • Painting

      • Math visualizations (geometry/multi-calc)

  • Pros of doing VR Simulations:

    • Visual/Audio learning

    • Technical components benefit from virtual labeling and highlighting

    • Some technical skills require specialized tools/equipment that will be more accessible in VR to more people

    • Remote collaboration ability

    • Ability to fail without consequences

    • No risks to patients/participants especially in medical demonstrations

    • Not experiencing unpleasant "feel" and "smells"

  • Cons of doing VR Simulations:

    • No "touch" feedback, "fakery," does not feel like the "real thing"

    • Can be difficult to navigate especially if the participant is not used to doing things in VR, not as accurate to real life

    • Software crashes & unrealistic graphic/visualization limitations

    • Never be able to be physically accurate (especially for medical operations that could potentially save lives)

4/14/21 - 6 Hours

  • Finished up the final presentation

Final Class Presentation

4/17/21 - 3 Hours

  • Reviewed my wiki entries and my journal, made some slight finishing touches

4/18/21 - 3 Hours

  • Reviewed my wiki entries and my journal again

4/19/21 - 3 Hours

  • Reviewed final presentation from feedback on last class and made some slight changes