Developed under a three-year internal MITRE Sponsored Research (MSR) Project, the Virtual Room (VRoom) is now ready for customization and technology transfer.

The VRoom MITRE Sponsored Research explored new user interface concepts taking advantage of recent advances in 3D technology. The research addressed the question of how to most naturally interact with a computer generated 3D information space.

Initial user studies have shown that the VRoom operating environment feels natural to users. The Virtual Room provides an intuitive way to both visualize large amounts of information and interact with multiple applications in parallel.

• Easily Organized
• 3D Environment
• Natural Interaction
• Intuitive Controls

Problem | Background | Objective | Activities | Highlight | Demo

Problem

• We have explored a new visual user interface (VUI) concept with many military and civilian personnel who are enthusiastic about the advantages of a 3D environment. They challenge us to determine how to effectively empower the user to interact with a visual environment in a natural manner.
• Our research will attempt to answer the question of how to most appropriately interact with such an information space.
• We believe a VUI with social characteristics that is powered by intelligent information access technologies will provide an effective user-interaction environment for meeting the computing demands of the next-generation warfighter.

Background

With a computer, as in the real world, a 'desktop' may not be a good place to interact with large amounts of information. As with papers, computer windows can begin to pile up and obscure information.

Objective

Determine whether a "Room-Based" Social User Interface powered by intelligent information access technologies will:

• Facilitate assimilation of higher volumes of information
• Serve as a "force multiplier" for the reduced forward footprint of an expeditionary force
• Support complex real-time decision-making
• FY01 objectives are to enhance collaborative infrastructure and conduct detailed user-assessment studies

Activities

• 3-D User Interface Framework Evolution
• External Data Source Integration
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Functionality Integration
• Social User Interface Development
• Evaluation and Experimentation

Highlight

Virtual Room framework now allows real-time interaction with local and remote multi-platform applications.

Demonstration

Interactive demonstration features configurable virtual room environment with live applications and data.

Impacts

• Developing customer interest
• NIMA-funded collaborative Virtual Room effort
• Displayed live data at JEFX00 military exercise
• Integrating/leveraging synergistic MITRE technology
• JCS collaboration toolkit, IMP artificial intelligence toolkit, gesturing research
• Transferring Virtual Room technology
• CRADA options with industry
• Mission Planning Users Conference 2001: Over 20 different use-cases identified

Future Plans

A comprehensive user assessment program is currently underway to evaluate the effectiveness of the virtual room environment.