CVE'96: Call for Attendance

The aim of this workshop is to present the current state of the art in Collaborative Virtual Environments and foster inter-disciplinary links between researchers in this field.

Aims and Scope

A Collaborative Virtual Environment (CVE) is one that actively supports human-human communication in addition to human-machine communication and which uses a Virtual Environment (including textually based environments such as MUDs/MOOs) as the user interface. This is an exciting field with much potential for inter-disciplinary collaboration particularly in the fields of computer science, psychology, sociology, architecture & urban planning, cultural & media studies and Artificial Intelligence.

The aim of this workshop is to present the current state of the art in Collaborative Virtual Environments and foster inter-disciplinary links between researchers in this field.

The main topics of the workshop include:

techniques for supporting communication and collaboration in virtual environments.
metaphors for collaboration
experiences and evaluation of collaborative environments and applications.
systems architectures for collaborative environments.
applications of Collaborative Virtual Environments
collaborative DIS and VRML applications
studies of social action and interaction in Collaborative Virtual Environments
user centred development of Collaborative Virtual Environments

Demonstrations of systems and applications are also welcome.

Final Programme

Thursday 19th September

9-11am	Registration & Coffee

11am	Welcome

11:15am	Introduction to Collaborative Virtual Environments Steve Benford (University of Nottingham, UK)

11:30am	Session 1 - Applications 1
	Using Usage Data in Collaborative Information Environments Matthew Chalmers (UBILAB, Switzerland)
	A Collaborative Environment for Role-Playing in Object Space Chris Hand & Mark Skipper (De Montfort University, UK)
	Discussion

1pm	Lunch

2pm	Session 2 - Applications 2
	Virtual Administration: Providing a DIVE VR interface to POLITeam David England, Wolfgang Prinz, (GMD, Germany) Kristian Simarian & Olov Stahl (SICS, Sweden)
	A Shared Virtual Environment for Architectural Design Review Jon Mandeville, Jim Davidson, Dace Campbell, Austin Dahl, Paul Schwartz & Tom Furness (HIT lab, USA)
	Discussion

3:30pm	Tea & coffee

4pm	Session 3 - user interfaces
	Shared Space: An Augmented Reality Interface for Computer Supported Collaborative Work. Mark Billinghurst, S. Weghorst & T. Furness (HIT lab, USA)
	"Studierstube" - An Environment for Collaboration in Augmented Reality Dieter Schmalstieg, Anton Fuhrmann, Zsolt Szalavari & Michael Gervautz (Vienna University of Technology, Austria)
	A Conversational Agent to Help Navigation and Collaboration in Virtual Worlds Olivier Bersot, Pierre-Olivier El Guedj, Christophe God Reaux & Pierre Nugues (ISMRA & University of Caen, France)
	Discussion

6pm	End of day one

Meal & social.

Friday 20th September

9am	Session 4 - Implementation issues
	Extending VRML to Support Collaborative Virtual Environments Wolfgang Broll (GMD, Germnay)
	A Concurrency Control Model for the Real-time Interactive Shared Virtual Environment UnJae Sung & K. Wohn (KAIST, Korea)
	Supporting Awareness in Shared Workspaces using Relevance-dependent Event Notifications Uwe Rauschenbach (University of Rostock, Germany)
	Discussion

11am	Tea & coffee

11:30am	Session 5 - Metaphors
	Drama as a Metaphor for Design of Situated, Collaborative Distributed Learning Annita Fjuk & Elsebeth Korsgaard Sorensen (Norway)
	Interacting with people and objects in Virtual Environments Metaphors for User Centered Design Mirco Bolzoni, Giuseppe Riva & Luca Melis (University of Padova, Italy)
	Discussion

1pm	Lunch

2:30pm	Session 6 - Design
	Interactive Collaborative Media Environments J.Bowskill & D.Traill (BT, UK)
	Collaborative Interactive Design in Virtual Environments Tomas Axling (SICS, Sweden)
	Discussion

4pm	Tea & coffee

4:30pm	Session 7 - Experiences
	An Organisational perspective on Collaborative Virtual Environments Helen Walker (University of Bath, UK)
	Technology for Collaborative Virtual Environments Michael Rygol, Stephen Ghee, Jon Naughton-Green and John Harvey (Division, UK)
	Concluding Discussion

6pm	Workshop ends

Posters

In addition to the presentations, the following posters will be on display throughout the workshop:

"Effects of Virtual Presence in Collaborative Environments: Social and Cognitive Aspects of Video-Mediated Interaction"
Mirco Bolzoni (University of Padova, Italy) and Revital Marom (Theseus, France)
"A Language of Design for a Virtual Community"
Anna Cicognani (University of Sydney, Australia)
"Finding People in the Virtual World"
Alistair Duke (BT, UK)
"A visual MUD system on the WWW: Computer supported co-operative learning for part-time students on theoretical social science or humanities modules"
Graham Gibbs (University of Huddersfield, UK)
"Making People Persistent in Collaborative Virtual Environments"
Chris Greenhalgh (University of Nottingham, UK)
"VR User Health and Safety - Implications for Virtual Reality Developers"
Sarah Nichols (University of Nottingham, UK)
"Psychological Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Body Representations"
Giuseppe Riva, Mirco Bolzoni and Luca Melis
"A Single-user Perception Filter for Multi-user Collaborative Virtual Environments"
Paul M. Sharkey, Paul D. Sandoz, David J. Roberts and Robert Cruse (University of Reading, UK)

General Information

Nottingham is famous around the world for many things from fine lace to football, from Robin Hood and the Sheriff to household names such as the Boots Company and Raleigh bicycles. It is a cosmopolitan city, with a diversity of cultures, and countryside close at hand. To those who know Nottingham it came as no surprise that in a recent national survey it was voted the best city in the UK in which to live.

The city combines the best of old and new. Shoppers have excellent modern shopping centres and traditional markets. Cultural life thrives, with a superb modern concert hall attracting well know names from the classical, pop and rock worlds, and two theatres - including the lovingly restored Theatre Royal. These provide both repertory productions and touring opera, drama and ballet from major national companies - and offer student discounts. Film buffs have varied viewings at multi-screen and arts cinemas, and there is a lively rock scene.

Many fine old buildings remain in the city, including the 15th century church of St Mary on High Pavement, Georgian town houses and several picturesque pubs. Some have medieval origins: The Trip to Jerusalem at the foot of Castle Rock, reputedly the oldest pub in England, the Bell Inn, the Royal Children and the Salutation Inn. A former Unitarian church on the fringe of the city's Lace Market area is now converted into a Lace Hall, illustrating the history of Nottingham's most famous product

Venue and Fee

The workshop will be held at the Department of Psychology on the University of Nottingham campus.

Attendance fees will cover the meeting facilities, coffee breaks, accomodation for one night, evening meal and the workshop proceedings. The fee will be 85 UK pounds sterling.

All payment must be in UK pounds sterling and may be either by money transfer or by cheque.