Community Place Browser Manual

Software Laboratory, Architecture Laboratories,SONY Corporation
Sony Computer Science Laboratory

HISTORY

05/31/96 (V2.0 beta1) collision menu is added.
04/08/96 (beta4) Circus Park version. Add "DirectX" and "MOD" installation information, descriptions of new multiuser features('automaitc disconnecting') and preference menu. .
02/27/96 (beta3) Multi user version. add new descriptions about multi user features and new menu items.
01/19/96 (beta2) Add new toyworlds, uninstall instruction, "New Features and Fixed Bugs" section and "view bookmark" menu item.
12/25/95 First version

About Community Place Browser

Sony's Community Place Browser provides several ways to let you explore the 3D shared multi-user world easily. Moving around is simple. You can turn around at the corner, change direction, change your pace, and look up, down and around. You can even hear your own footsteps and car horns, too!

CONTENTS


Installation Guide

To run the Community Place Browser, check that you have a system that meets the following description:

Minimum and Recommended Environment for Community Place Browser

Minimum
Environment
Recommended
Environment
HardwareAT compatible PC running Windows 95 *
CPU 486DX2 66MHz Pentium75MHz or faster
Memory 12 MB 32 MB or more
Disk free space 5MB or more(9MB for installation)
Resolution 640 x 480 pixel 800 x 600 pixel or more
Display color 256 colors 65536 colors or more
Software Netscape Navigator for Windows (ver 2.0 or later) **
Sound - Sound board(SoundBlaster or other)

* The following models should be used for reference.
All IBM PC compatible computers and PC 9801 computers.

** You can use Community Place Browser without Netscape.

Recommended environment is better for multiuser environment.


Installing Community Place browser

  1. Double-click "vscp1b4a.exe".
    The winzipse program starts. Change the entry of "Unzip To Directory" if necessary.
  2. Click "Unzip."
    It takes about a minute to unzip the files.
  3. When the message "21 files unzipped successfully" appears, click "OK."
    The installer starts up.
    If the unzip command failed Check that the directory has at least 5 MB free space.
  4. Click "Next" when the "Welcome" dialogue box appears.
  5. If you agree the licensing condition, click "Yes."
    If not, click "No" and stop installing.
  6. Check the installation directory. Default is the drive where Windows is installed (\Program files\Sony\CyberPassage).
  7. If you change the installation directory, click "Browse" and make a change. Click "Next" if it's ok.
  8. Information about an installation of DirectX and MOD is displayed. After clicking "Ok", DirectX installation dialogue box appears to select the installation.
    Installation starts.
  9. Click "yes" if you read the "readme" file.
  10. Click "OK" when the installation is completed.

Starting Community Place Browser

Before starting Community Place Browser, you have to set up Netscape Options.
  • Select Helper Applications from Netscape Navigator's Options..Preferences menu.
  • Select (push) NewType button
  • Type "x-world" as Mime Type, "x-vrml" as Mime SubType then click OK.
  • Type "wrl" in the Extensions field.
  • Click Launch the Application.
  • Set Community Place Browser ("C:\Program files\Sony\CyberPassage" in default) in the bottom text field.
  • Click OK.
  • Click VRML file. then the browser starts. The following window is displayed.

    Another way to start the browser is to double-click vsCP.exe in the browser directory.

    Uninstalling Community Place Browser

    1. Push start button.
    2. Select Programs..CyberPassage Folder menu
    3. Select uninstall menu item.

    System Overview

    Here's an overview of the entire system of Community Place Browser.
    Community Place Browser can load and display E-VRML files (or VRML files). You can load the files from the local disk of your computer or directly from the Internet(To load the files from the Internet, make sure that your computer is hooked up to the Internet).


    As the diagram shows, you need the Netscape Navigator to load the E-VRML files ( or VRML files) from the Internet. You do not need the Netscape Navigator to load the files from your local disk. If you load a file without using Netscape, Community Place might give you a warning. If that happens, just click the "OK" button.


    How to Use The Browser

    This section is a step-by-step tutorial to using the basic functions of Community Place Browser.

    The topics covered are:


    Before You Start

    To use the Sample World, click here. You can see the following world.


    Step 1.
    Moving around in the 3D World

    Now you should see a house in the window. First, let's move around a bit using the arrow keys on your keyboard. The following steps show you how to move forward, backward, left and right.

    Tip
    Note
    If you hit an object, you hear a beep sound and the frame of windows flashes. Simply move backward to get away from the object. Note that you can't go beyond the object.

    Now you know how to move around using the arrow keys.
    If you are familiar with mouse operation, you can use mouse.

    First, hold down the left mouse button and drag it while keep holding.


    Step 2.
    Selecting an Object

    While moving around the world, you might find that the cursor becomes a when it points to certain objects. This cursor means that the object has a "behavior".

    You simply click the object with the left mouse button. The object will start its behavior.
    Let's select the red cube and see what'll happen.

    1. Point the cursor on the red cube and click the left mouse button.
      You'll find the blue cube starts moving.
    2. Click again to stop the movement.

    Step 3.
    Teleporting to a Specific Object

    Let's say a certain object looks interesting and you want to check it out, but it's too far from the place you are now. You can move closer to the object like we did in the previous step(for example, with up arrow key). But there is another easier and quicker way to get to the object.
    Let's approach the house.

    1. Point the cursor on the house.
    2. While holding down the ctrl key, click the left mouse button.
      You are now standing very close to the house.
    3. If you find yourself too close to the house, press the down arrow key several times to move backward.

    Step 4.
    Showing information (Scouter)

    The house in this sample is labeled, although you can't see the label right now. You can let those labels show whenever the cursor points to a labeled object. This is very convenient to know what's there in the world, because whenever the cursor points to an object that has a label, the label appears and tells you what it is.

    1. Click the "Scouter" icon, which is in the Toolbar. The icon should look like this: . This icon shows that the Community Place Browser is in "Scouter mode".
    2. Move the cursor onto the door.
      Now you can see the label "DOOR" in a small window (Information Label Window).
    3. To cancel the Scouter, click again.
    Note
    The Scouter mode works only on E-VRML files, since the mode uses E-VRML extension.

    Step 5.
    Looking down at Objects from Above (Jump)

    While you are moving around, you might find yourself lost. It's easy to find where you are if you climb up a tall building and look down from above. Community Place Browser lets you have a bird's eye view so you can look down from high above.

    1. Click the "Jump" icon in the Toolbar. The icon should look like this: and you are moving up and up.
    2. Now you are looking down the world from high above. If you want to come down and move forward or backward, press the up or down arrow key.
    3. You can do the following operations:

    Step 6.
    Switching to Other Worlds (Link Activation)

    While moving around the world, you might find that the cursor becomes a "hand" when it points to certain objects. The "hand" means that the object has a "link" to other worlds. You can move back and forth among the different worlds.

    1. Point the cursor to the top of the house.
      You'll find the cursor became a "hand."
    2. Click the left mouse button.
      You are in a different world.
    3. To return to the Sample World that you were using, click the Back button of the Community Place Browser.


    Let's review what you've learned so far.


    Movement Command

    Forward Press the up arrow key

    Backward Press the down arrow key

    Turning right Press the right arrow key

    Turning left Press the left arrow key

    Teleporting to Point the cursor to an object and click, while holding down ctrl key.

    Look down from above Click.

    Go to a different world Click the object while the "hand" cursor

    We've explained how to move around using the keyboard, but you can also use the mouse to do the same. Here's how to do it:
    First, hold down the left mouse button and drag it while keep holding.


    Multi user features

    The multi-user version of the browser adds a few extra features which we describe below.

    However, navigating a shared world is no different from navigating any other world. The only differences you will see are other users's avatars as they move around the world as well.

    Some object in a shared world not only have a behavior, but the behavior is shared between browsers. So for example, in the shared chat room you will see some objects that appear to change colour or shape without you touching them. This is because they are being clicked on by other users in their browser and you are seeing the same effect that they see !

    How to use the chat feature

    The chat feature allows you to type text messages to other users. It's simple to use. Pull down the view menu in the Community Place browser. Select chat; a tick mark will show you when its selected. A Chat window will appear. Resize it and place it in a convinient location on your screen.

    At the bottom of the chat window is a text input box, you can type your messages here. When you hit the return button, the text will be sent to all users in your vicinity. If there are other users in your vicinity and they are chatting, then you will see their messages displayed in the chat window.

    In addition, the text messages you type are displayed in the main browser window as a 'text balloon' over your head. You wont be able to see this, but any messages typed by other users that you can see will be visible.

    Community Place is clever, it will only display your message to people who are near you. This has two benefits. Firstly, when you have a text window open, you wont see all the messages from all the people in the world. Just those close to you. Secondly, if you want to have a private conversation between a small number of people then you can just head off to a quiet spot away from those whom you don't wish to include in your conversation. Community Place will take care of the rest and give you privacy.

    How to choose an avatar

    Pull down the avatar menu from the main Community Place menu bar and select 'View Avatar' menu item. Choose a avatar and hit the select button. Other users will see you as this avatar in their browsers. You can also changing the color of avatar by selecting 'Change Color' menu item.

    Please note, in the beta 4 version, you must make this selection when you first start the browser or before you enter a shared world. You can't dynamically change it when connected to a world.

    How to use the Action Panel

    The Action Panel is a set of buttons that allow you to animate your avatar to help you express your feelings. You can think of them as a quick way to augment the normal chat window. Pressing one of the buttons, such as the smile button, will cause your avatar to perform a 'smile like action' which will be seen by others near you in the shared world. The following is one example of avatar panels which could be changed according to the contents of multiuser world.

    Automatic disconnecting feature

    If you don't manipulate Community Place more than 10 minutes with the connection to the multiuser world, Community Place will disconnect you from the world.

    If you want to keep connected, click the button.


    To enjoy the shared world, see
    release note and click the anchor to the world.


    Preference Menu

    A preference menu is to set user's preferences. The following window will appear by selecting 'View...Preference' menu item.

    You can set


    Now, you're ready... (Toy World)

    More toy worlds are in "Toy World"on your own. You'll find simple but interesting sample worlds.

    Button and Menu Reference

    Thestarting topics covered are:
    Note
    This manual is written for the beta release version of Community Place Browser. Some buttons described in this document may not be available.

    Navigation

    Hold down the left mouse button when you drag mouse.

    Moving around


    Movement Press
    key
    Drag
    mouse
    Press

    Forward up arrow upward

    Backward down arrow downward

    Turning right right arrow to the right

    Turning left left arrow to the left

    Transporting to a specific object

    Determine a specific object. While holding down the ctrl key, click the left mouse button.

    Changing your viewpoint

    While holding down the shift key, drag mouse (or press one of the arrow keys.)


    To Press Drag the mouse

    Look up up arrow upward

    Look down down arrow downward

    Move to the right right arrow to the right

    Move to the left left arrow to the left

    Moving and Rotating an object

    While holding down the alt key, drag the mouse with the left mouse button. Then the object is moved.

    While holding down the alt + shift key, drag the mouse with the left mouse button. Then the object is rotated.

    NOTICE: Some objects can be moved/rotaed and others could not.

    Link Activation

    If the cursor becomes a "hand" on an object, that means the object has a link. Click the left mouse button to go to a different world.

    Starting a Behavior (Action)

    If you click the left mouse button on the object that has behavior or action, the behavior will start.


    Navigation Buttons (in the display)

    There are six navigation buttons (arrows) in the display.


    Button Function

    Turns to the left.

    Moves sideways to the left.

    Moves forward.


    Moves backward.


    Moves sideways to the right.

    Turns to the right.


    Toolbar Buttons (in the display)

    There are eight Toolbar Buttons in the Toolbar.


    Button Function

    Goes to the next display.

    Returns to the previous display.

    Returns to the original position.

    Undoes the current operation.

    Puts a bookmark.

    Shows an Information Label Window (a label in a box) when you point the cursor to an object that has an Information Label.

    Changes the viewpoint to high above and takes a birds' eye view of the space.

    Stops loading a file.(* This is not available in beta version.)


    Menu

    The pull-down menu offers the following options.

    Menu Item Function
    File Open File Chooses VRML/E-VRML file and loads it.
    Open URL Determines URL and loads VRML/E-VRML files.
    Exit Closes the Community Place application.
    Go Stop loading Stops loading files.(* This is not available in beta version)
    Backward Returns to the VRML file viewed last.
    Forward Displays the next VRML file.
    View Reload Reloads VRML/E-VRML files.
    Jump Changes the viewpoint to a bird's eye view.
    Head Light Turns the headlight on/off.
    Chat displays chatting window.
    Preference Sets user's preference.
    Bookmark Add bookmark Puts a bookmark to the Bookmark List.
    View bookmark Shows the Bookmark List.
    Avatar View Avatar Displays the Avatar selection window.
    Change Color Change the Avatar's color.
    Options Auto Load Images Turns automaic image loading on/off
    Auto Load Sounds Turns automaic sound loading on/off(* this is not available)
    Collision floor Turns collision detection of floor on/off
    wall Turns collision detection of wall on/off
    Help About Displays the version information of this release of Community Place.


    If You Get into Trouble


    Reference

    1. VRML 1.0 specification.
      http://www.eit.com/vrml/vrmlspec.html
    2. VRML 2.0 specification
      http://vag.vrml.org/VRML2.0/DRAFT1/spec.main.html
    3. Technical document
      http://vs.sony.co.jp/VS-E/2b1teche.htm
    4. Sony's extensions to current VRML1.0 standard (E-VRML)
      Our extensions to VRML with examples
      http://www.csl.sony.co.jp/projects/VR/evrml1.html
    5. Sample behavior api (TCL version)
      http://www.csl.sony.co.jp/project/VS/tcl.html
    6. An O-O perspective on VRML
      This paper presents a way of viewing VRML that makes life easier.
      http://www.csl.sony.co.jp/projects/VR/proposal/behascri.html
    7. VRML 1.0 to 2.0 converter
      http://vs.sony.co.jp/VS-J/works/util/vrml1to2J.html

    Authors

    Kouichi Matsuda (Kou1 Ma2da) matsuda@arch.sony.co.jp
    Masako Miura masakomi@dd.sony.co.jp 
    Youichi Hyono
    

    Trademarks