HISTORY
Sony's Community Place Browser software enables you to navigate through
virtual worlds on the Internet. With this software, you can freely travel
through the virtual world in various modes; you can walk about, turn a
corner, change directions, change the speed of your movement, look up,
down, and all around. In the virtual world you can also listen to music,
watch a movie, and interact with active animated objects. Some worlds will
have cartoon characters, animated actors and even games for you to enjoy.
If you happen to share the same virtual world with other people, you can
interact with them: chatting, taking part in the same event, or discussing
what else is happening in this and other virtual worlds.
Community place is just that, a real 3D electronic place where you can
meet friends, chat with new people and interact with a whole host of exciting
characters and scenes scattered throughout the internet.
Before starting the Community Place Browser software, check whether your system meets the following requirements:
Minimum required environment |
Recommended environment |
|
|---|---|---|
Hardware |
PC/AT-compatible machine operating under Windows 95/NT* |
|
CPU |
486DX2 66MHz | Pentium90MHz or higher |
Memory |
16MB | 32MB or more |
Free disk space |
10MB or more (30MB required at the time of installation) |
|
Display resolutions |
640 x 480 dots | 800 x 600 dots or higher |
Display colors |
256 colors | 65536 colors or more |
Software |
Netscape Navigator for Windows (ver 2.0 or later)** |
|
Sound |
- |
Sound card |
Network |
- |
Network interface card + Internet access |
* This software supports all PC-compatible machines and PC9801 series machines
which meet the above requirements.
** Community Place Browser may be used without Netscape Navigator, but
only a limited set of functions will be available. (System
Overview)
To use the Multi-user Functions, it is recommended
that you use this software in the recommended environment.
You can safty uninstall Community Place Browser through the following procedure
Before starting the Community Place Browser software, some Netscape Navigator options must be set up. By default, the Community Place Browser installer automatically performs the following preparatory procedures. You shouldn't have to do this, but if you suspect that Navigator isn't correctly configured to use Community Place as a helper application, then the following steps should be performed.
Once you have installed Community Place correctly, you are ready to start
using it. To check that everything is installed OK, click this link Link
to VRML File which will start the Browser and display the following
contents .
There are two additional methods for starting Community Place :
If you start Community Place without telling it which world to load, it will open up the Entry Room which automatically looks for any worlds you have loaded on your hard disk, and provide a link to these. Community Place only checks in the directory <Community Place Browser Folder/world>, so if you've stored worlds in other places you will have to load them directly. We'll tell you how later.
You can terminate the Community Place Browser software using either one of the following methods:
This section explains the Community Place Browser system in general.
The Community Place Browser software enables you to download and display
VRML1.0, and VRML2.0 files.
You can download those files from your computer disk or directly from the
Internet. When downloading files from the Internet, make sure that your
computer is connected to the Internet.
As you can see from the illustration above, you need Netscape Navigator
to download VRML files directly from Internet. You can load files from
your local disk if you do not have Netscape Navigator. If you attempt to
load the files without running Netscape Navigator, Community Place Browser
may issue a warning. The warning can be cancelled by clicking the [OK]
button.
You are now ready to use Community Place Browser.
This section explains, in a step-by-step fashion, the basic operation of
the Community Place Browser software.
There are basic tutorials for the following operations:
This section guides you through a sample world supplied with the manual. To load the sample world into Community Place Browser, click here.
You will see a house within the Browser's window. Let's travel around a
little by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. You can move right,
left, forward, and backward as follows:
If you bump into an object such as the wall, the frame of the window starts blinking and you will hear a beep tone. When this happens, move backward and stay away from the object. Some objects allow you to pass through them, and others do not depending on how the creator of the virtual space designed them.
If you are more comfortable using the mouse, you may move in the same way
by using the mouse.
You can control your movement by dragging the mouse with its left button
pressed.
- When using the keys, you can increase the speed of your movement by keeping the keys pressed. If you're using the mouse, then the distance you drag the mouse controls the speed you move at - try it!
- If you get lost while you are traveling around,
press the Home icon, and you will return to your original position.
Community Place Browser allows you to easily look around you with a simplified operation. This function is especially helpful when locating the spot where you want to go or just to have a quick ckeck around your area.
on the toolbar. Clicking the person icon at the center will turn you 360
degrees at the current position.
While you are traveling around the virtual space, you may get lost. What
happens if you get lost in the real world ? You might think of looking
down from the top of a tall building to find out where you are. Community
Place Browser gives you the bird's-eye view of the virtual space you are
in. This feature helps you locate where you are and where you want to go.
on the toolbar. You will automatically be moved higher and higher. The
Float icon will change its form to 
again.
You can also take a bird's-eye view by using the menu. Select Float
item from the Go menu.
If the virtual space you are in is a room with an object such as a ceiling above you, you are not allowed to move higher than the object.
If you want to see an object that is located far away from you, you may
use the normal method of navigation, sometimes thought, it's such drag.
You can go swiftly to the object, however, by using the following method:
If the cursor happens to be placed on certain objects while you are
traveling through the world, it may change to look like 
.
This cursor shows that the object has a pre-programmed "action"
in it.
Click the object with the left mouse button. The object starts it
action. Let's see what happens if you click the red cube to the right of
the house.
The actions of objects vary depending on how the creators of the virtual world designed them. Clicking an object such as an automobile, may start it moving. An object such as a radio may start playing music and a taxi may take you for a ride.
The house displayed on the screen has a label which is not yet visible.
You can visualize the label at any time by placing the cursor on an object.
This function helps you understand what items exist in the virtual world.
Select Scouter from the Options menu.
The scouter mode is available only with files that use Sony's extended functions for VRML 2.0.
If the cursor happens to point to certain objects while you are traveling
around the world, the cursor may change to 
.
This indicates that objects have links to other virtual worlds. The following
function allows you to travel between the worlds.
.
The link address will be displayed around the bottom of the Community Place
Browser window. Objects on which the cursor changes to
In the virtual world, you get a choice of navigation modes. You can select your desired navigation mode with the Navigation Mode button (each icon represents one of 3 modes) or with the Navigation Mode items in the Options menu . You can choose one of the following modes:
Walk modeYou will feel as if you are walking in the real world in this mode. Collisions with the wall will be detected, and your movements will be affected by the force of gravity. It affects only the people who are walking around in the virtual world, and not to the objects within it.
Examine modeObjects can be seen from various angles in this mode. You can turn an object by dragging it with the left mouse button pressed.
Fly modeThis mode is the same as the Walk mode, except that you are free from the force of gravity.
The modes available in the virtual world you are in depend on how its creator designed it. Sometimes you will not get the choice of all the modes.
Movement Command Moving forward Press the up-arrow key. Moving backward Press the down-arrow key . Turning right. Press the right-arrow key. Turning left Press the left-arrow key. Being teleported Place the cursor on the object and click on it with the ctrl key pressed. Taking a bird's-eye view Click Being warped to another world Click the object with the
Drag the mouse with its left button pressed to a desired direction.
Community Place Browser supports the following additional functions.
You can look up or down by using the 
button located on the left end of the navigation bar. To look up, click
the upper button. To look down, click the lower button. To return to the
original head position, click the whirl to the left.
You can move up/down/right/left by using the 
buttons
located on the right end of the navigation bar. Clicking the buttons, you
can move in the direction indicated by the arrows.
Community Place Browser provides additional multi-user functions, which
enable you to interact with other people who watch the same virtual world
as you do. These functions, however, can be used only in the virtual spaces
which have been designed for use by multiple users. To use the multi-user
functions, your computer must be connected to the Internet.
In the virtual world designed for multiple users, you can still use the
movement functions (e.g. traveling around in the space or moving swiftly
towards an object) as explained in the earlier sections. The only difference
is that the Avatars (representations) of other users will also be traveling
around the same shared world.
Certain objects have pre-programmed "actions" in the shared virtual
world, too, however in many cases, they are shared by multiple users. For
example, the "Circus Park", the shared virtual space presented
by Sony, may change the colors and shapes of its objects even if you never
touch them. This shows that other users in the same world clicked the objects
from their browser, and you share the same view with others!
The next section explains how to use the following functions:
You can enter a shared virtual world in the same way as described in
the earlier sections. You don't need to do anything special. If the browser
sees that this is a shared world it will automatically connect to a multi-user
Bureau.
If you download a shared virtual world , the icon 
appears on the lower right of the Browser window, and the MultiUser window
appears on the screen. You will also see the "Connection to Community
Place Bureau Complete" message scroll across the screen.
What the shared virtual space looks like
All multi-user functions for shared virtual spaces can be obtained
in the MultiUser window and from the MultiUser menu. You can also display
the MultiUser window by selecting the MultiUser Window item from
the MultiUser menu of Community Place Browser.
The MultiUser window will not appear if you fail to enter the virtual world. This will happen, for example, if your machine is not connected to the Internet. When you have failed to enter, the multi-user functions are not available for use.
However, you are still allowed to travel around the shared virtual space, activate the pre-programmed "actions" and so forth. Only the difference is that there you will never come across other Avartas. That is, the space you are in is no longer a shared virtual world but is a simple virtual world.
The chat function in the MultiUser window enables you to easily send
text messages to other users.
Type a message in the text input field at the bottom of the MultiUser window.
Pressing the Return key, the message will be sent to all the users in your
proximity. If there are other users chatting besides you, their messages
will be displayed in your MultiUser window.
Chat function
The message you have typed will be displayed in the Browser's main window
as "Text Balloon", above your avatar. It will also be displayed
in the MultiUser window. You cannot see your "Text Ballon" message
because its above your head, but can see the messages from others in their
Text balloons.
You can store and edit the chat log by using the chat log menu. The menu
can be displayed by pressing the triangle button on the right corner of
the MultiUser window.
Chat log menu
Your message can only be seen by other users who are in your proximity.
This has two advantages.
If other users come close to you, however, they can hear you. To avoid
this, use the personal chat function.
While keeping the Shift key pressed, place the cursor
on the avatar with whom you wish to chat privately. If the cursor changes
to look like 
,
you can use the personal chat function with him/her. He or she might, however,
turn down your offer.
Personal chat function
The personal chat request will pop up a small chat window which is used
to display your one on one chat messages. You can also store and edit the
personal chat log by using the chat log menu.
You can express your feelings by animating your Avatar with the buttons on the Action panel. For example, press the Smile button. Your Avatar will start an "action" that looks like it is smiling, which can be seen by other people who can see you in the shared virtual world.
The actions caused by pressing the buttons will vary depending on how the creator designed the world.
To locate other users in the shared virtual space, it is recommended
that you use the radar. Select the Radar Map item from the MultiUser
menu. A cross-shape radar appears on the upper right of the screen. You
are just at the center of the cross. The others users around you are indicated
with red dots.
Displayed radar
You can list the names of other people around you within the shared virtual space. Click the button with the triangle mark located at the bottom of the MultiUser window, and all the names of people near you will be displayed. By selecting a name, you will automatically be teleported to the person with that name.
Listing the names of other users in the shared virtual world
The number displayed on the right side of the button indicates the total
number of users within the shared virtual world. Only the names of people
near you will be displayed in the list. This means that the number of people
sharing the world, and the number of names listed are not necessarily the
same.
Select the Select Avatar ... item from the MultiUser menu of Community Place Browser. All the available Avatars will be listed. Select your desired Avatar and click the [OK] button. The selected Avatar now represents you and will be seen in other users' browsers. You can also change its color by using Change Avatar Color ... within the same menu.
You may not be able to change the Avatar's color in some virtual worlds. Again, it depends on how the creators designed the world.
If you don't move, or chat, for a certain period of time, the connection from your computer to the multi-user server will be automatically disconnected (10 minutes with the Circus Park). If you are away from the computer for a while, and want to stay connected, choose Sleep from the [Activate/Sleep] button located on the upper right of the MultiUser window. Press [Activate] when you return. In the Circus Park, for example, if you click the [Sleep] button, your Avatar appears to be sittingdown to the other uses. If other Avatars are sitting, you will know that their [Sleep] buttons were pressed. Even with the [Sleep] button pressed, the connection will automatically be disconnected for the Circus Park if you do not interact with the space for 60 minutes.
Connection to some virtual worlds may not be disconnected automatically.
If disconnected, the MultiUser window disappears from the screen,
and the icon under the toolbar changes to look like 
.
You can reconnect to the virtual space by clicking which
will then change to.
The Preference menu enables you to specify various user-related items. Select the [Preference ....] from the Options menu . The window shown below will appear on the screen.
Now you can specify the following items.
If you are using the multi-user functions and your computer is within the fire wall, specify the SOCKS host for overcoming the fire wall. The machine corresponding to the SOCKS host varies depending on your network environment. For details, ask your network administrator.
Specify the port number of the above SOCKS host, normally 1080.
Specify if Community Place Browser shall strictly check the syntax errors of VRML or not. This is useful when you want to check the integrity of the virtual world you have created.
Drag the mouse with its left button pressed.
Move Press
the keyDrag
the mouseClick Forward Up-arrow Upward Backward Down-arrow Downward Turn right Right-arrow Right Turn left Left-arrow Left
Specify the destination object. Click the object with the left mouse button while pressing the ctrl key.
Drag the mouse while pressing the shiftkey (or one of the following arrow keys).
Move Press
the keyDrag
the mouseClick Look up up-arrow Upward Look down Down-arrow Downward Move parallel to the right Right-arrow Right Move parallel to the left Left-arrow Left
You might be able to move or turn an object in a mode other than the Examine mode.
Drag the object with the mouse while keeping the alt key and the left mouse button pressed. The object will move.
Drag the object with the mouse while keepig the alt+shift key and the left mouse button pressed. The object will turn around.
Memo: Some objects can be moved/turned others cannot, depending on how the creators designed them.
If the cursor,while on an object, changes to
If the cursor, while on an object, changes to
, this means that the object has a pre-programmed motion or action. Clicking the left mouse button will start the action. The contents of the actionvary depending on how the creators of the virtual world designed it. It may move, play some music, ask questions or even speak!
6 navigation buttons (arrows) are located on the screen.
Button Function Looks up/down. Returns to the original position. Turns left. Moves forward. Moves backward. Turns right. Moves up/down/right/left.
7 buttons are located on the toolbar.
Button Function Navigation mode ( Turns in the current position (Turn). Gives a bird's-eye view (Float). Returns to the home position in the virtual world. Returns to the previous display. Goes to the next display. Stop the current file load.
You can choose from the following options in the menu bar.
Menu Items Functions File Open... Selects a VRML file and opens it. Open URL ... Opens a VRML file by specifying its URL address. Save As Image... Stores the virtual world displayed in the image format. Save As VRML... Stores the virtual world displayed in the VRML format. Exit Quits Community Place Browser. Go Backward Goes back to the VRML file last displayed. Forward Displays the next VRML file. Home Returns to the home position in the virtual space. Reload Reloads the current VRML file. Stop loading Stops loading. Float Rises higher at the current position. The name of a viewpoint Moves to the position by the name of the viewpoint.* MultiUser MultiUser Window Displays the MultiUser window. Radar Map Displays the radar. Select Avatar... Selects the avatar. Change Avatar Color... Changes the color of the Avatar. Connect/Disconnect Connects/disconnects to/from the multi-user server. Bookmark Add bookmark Stores the current viewpoint as a bookmark. Edit Bookmarks... Displays the list of bookmarks. Bookmark Bookmarks registered so far.** Options Navigation Mode Selects the navigation mode *** from the following 3 choices:
Walk, Examine,FlyDetail Level Selects the detail level of the display from the following 3 choices:
Solid (default), Solid (no texture),
WireFrame (Wire Frame display)Collision Specifies a collision detect mode from the following 3 choices:
Wall (Detects collisions with the wall.),
Floor (Detects collisions with the floor which controls the force of gravity applied in the Walk mode.)Scouter Turns the Scouter mode on or off. Sound Turns the sound function on or off. Head Light Turns the headlight on or off. Auto Load Texture Sets the automatic texture load function to on or off. Auto Load Sound Sets the automatic sound load function to on or off. Java Console Displays the JAVA console window.**** Preferences... Displays the Preference window. Help About Displays the Community Place Browser version information.
* The names of viewpoints displayed
vary depending on the virtual worlds. Some virtual spaces may not display
viewpoint names at all.
** The bookmarks displayed here
are those registered by using [Add Bookmark].
*** The modes available in a virtual
space varies depending on how the creator of the space designed it. One
virtual world might allow you to choose only the Walk mode, while others
might allow you to choose either the Fly mode or the Examine mode.
**** The Java console window
givess the creators of virtual worlds information about Java. Normally,
users do not have to read that information.
If Community Place Browser is started from the menu or by double-clicking the executable, the Entry Room showing the virtual world installed in the local disk will automatically be loaded. The Community Place Browser software automatically creates the world under the following conditions:
Under the above conditions, entry.wrl of each directory will be displayed
in the Entry Room. Community Place Browser allocates 2.0 x 2.0 x 2.0 VRML
size for entry.wrl. Usually, you will specify the address of the actual
virtual world where entry.wrl is to be linked.
.
You will return to your original position.
