www.igroup.org – project consortium
a multi-disciplinary project consortium.
addresses new interfaces between humans and the real and virtual environment.
defines itself through project work.
Jolanda is a modified VRML-browser for the use in immersive environments.
Making use of an existing VRML97-browser (GLView by Holger Grahn, basis
of the blaxxun-browser) with its full set of features, Jolanda adds
the support of a tracking-device and direct input via 3d input devices
(e.g. stylus). As many interactions can be programmed via JavaScript
by inexperienced users, it is aimed at the use in educational environments.
With this Jolanda is standing in the tradition of VRAM (see this site).
By adding new sets of features each semester in a consistent context,
step by step the application could become a usable tool for architects,
designers and others. As "proof-of-concept" a small architectural
modelling-module was quickly scripted that enables the creation of walls
and windows with a simple "point-and-shoot"-metaphor (image
below).
Other ways to make it a good tool for architects and designers (e.g.
realtime-shadows for sun-studies) still require "hardwired"-coding
in the source (which - needless to mention - is available).