Level: This course is a senior Computer Science course intended primarily for CS majors. Thus you are expected to be proficient programmers, Web and Windows users, problem solvers and writers of English. You'll have to do all these things this semester.

Approach: We'll go for breadth, by talking and reading about lots of topics - ranging from head mounted displays, to special sound systems, to psychophysics, to dramatic theory. We'll also go for depth, by building a high quality demonstration virtual world that illustrates basic principles of interactive graphics and simulation.

Teaching Style. I will give specific assignments involving reading, net surfing, experiments, and expect you to fill out a questionnaire called a Query. Most class time will be spent discussing these queries.

You'll be working on your projects in teams. The best team size is two, since your partner probably won't let you slack off much. Three person teams only work if they worked last semester for you (i. e. if these are people you know and trust.) Four only makes sense if you propose a BIG project. If you hate teams, or live in a place where you cannot work with other students, I will negotiate a solo project with you. But that makes me have to grade more LABS and so it is wise to find a partner.

Graphics Software. We will be teaching about a variety of graphics systems this semester. Our principal tools will be VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language), and the Alicesystem from Carnegie-Mellon University.  We will use a free suite of tools from Sony, called the Community Place Browser and Community Place Conductor. These used to be available on the Web, but now I'll have to provide them to you. (Not ready yet- I'll let you know when you can download them.) We will also use the Cosmo Player which (used to be) built into Netscape Communicator V4.0 and later releases.

Assignment #1: Go read about VRML and Web3D at www.web3d.org.

If you manage to find a VRML browser before I get one to you (or after!) you can fetch down the first VRML example and play with it. It's at this location:

www.cs.ucf.edu/~moshell/CAP4021/example1.wrl

While we're at it, there's one more very important Web site: www.amazon.com is one of the best places to buy books. And a book you may want to seriously consider buying is Hartman, Jed and Wernecke, Josie: VRML 2.0 Handbook. It costs around $30.00 if delivered by two day air, $34.00 if you get it by one day air. And it takes about 4 days either way. Go figure.
 

I am NOT requiring that you purchase the above book. Our class notes will come pretty close to meeting all your needs, together with the on-line VRML specs we will be pointing you to. But for those who like a comfort factor, there it is. I'll be telling you some tales about VRML's state of obsolescence, which may convince you not to buy the book!

Projects: There will be one standard VRML project, which everyone undertakes. You can do this on your own computers, using the CPC software. There will then be two pathways: the individual project, or the standard Lab 2 and Lab 3 pathway. Standard Lab 2 and 3 will involve building some nifty worlds using either VRML or Alice. The individual projects can go in lots of directions, including Direct3D, Unreal Engine or other topics I'll tell you about in coming weeks.

Tests: All my tests are open book and notes. DO NOT RELY on my notes as your only source of memories! Take good notes if you expect to get an A in this class.

Grades:  Midterm Exam 30%. Final Exam 25%. Lab 1: 10%: Labs 2 & 3, or Special Project: 25%. Class participation: 10%. I will take up homework (Queries) twice during my 7 week interval. Also I will randomly call on folks from the Seating Chart. This will determine 5% of your grade. The other 5% is up to Dr. Clarke and Mr. Martin.

Moshell will set and grade the Midterm and Lab 1. Clarke will set and grade the Final Exam. The entire team will collaborate on grading class performance and Labs 2, 3 or Special Projects.

Back to the Syllabus for the Course
Onward to Lecture 1B: Virtual Reality and its History

Here's the questionnaire I handed out in class, for my own information.

The Questionnaire:

Name_____________________
E-Mail Address__________________
Phone Nr (day) _______________(night)________________
Major, year (e. g. cs, senior.)_________________
Student ID Number___________________

On a scale from 1 (none) to 10 (I won the world championship), rate your skill in the following domains:

SOFTWARE
C programming __
C++ programming __
Unix programming __
Windows programming __
Java programming __
Visual Basic programming __
Graphical programming __ (using what tools? OpenGL? VRML?)
TCP/IP and Sockets programming __

GRAPHICS
Skill at drawing with pencil and paper __
Experience with object oriented graphical software tools ___ (which ones? rate each one.)
Experience with pixel-painting oriented tools __
Experience with  Photoshop type image manipulation __
Experience with HTML and Web page construction __

DRAMA
I write stories or screenplays __
I write or perform dramatic works __
I am a Dungeons and Dragons dungeon-master or player __

MUSIC AND SOUND
I play a musical instrument (which one? Rating?) __
I have a MIDI system and know how to use it __
I know about Sound Blasters and Wav files and all that stuff __
I howl at the moon with my dog on weekends __

LEADERSHIP
I like to lead groups __
I am good at leading groups __
I have a small black moustache and like to hear people say "Heil!" __

OTHER STUFF
what should I have thought to ask you which I forgot to ask?