Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1. Mock up showing function buttons
side of the screen. There were for example five
possible 'views' or navigation statuses of the
system: classroom-view, webcam-view, black-
board-view, desk-view and cupboard-view. The
virtual desk served as a storage space for agenda
and class schedule, whereas in the cupboard, a
number of virtual books containing different kinds
of documents (e.g., photographs taken in the
classroom) had a place. During the tests, it became
clear that different users had different strategies
navigating from one view to another. This can
become problematic, as it makes navigation non-
straightforward: different statuses could be
reached pressing different buttons. As a conse-
quence, enough attention for navigation and the
corresponding actions was necessary during sub-
sequent development phases.
As far as the mock up teacher module concerns,
the results are twofold. As said, teachers in general
experienced more problems when walking around
in the virtual world than had children. Results of
the usability tests mainly concerned navigation
and document management. Teachers experienced
several problems when interpreting the naviga-
tion buttons. Even when asked literally what they
thought was the purpose of each button, they could
not always give a correct answer. Button design
should thus be ameliorated. However, it should
be stated that it is not evident to design buttons
that are suitable for children (8 - 12 years old) as
well as for adults. In addition, the different view
modes of the application should be reachable from
one central 'home view', which partly is the case
in the child module but not in the teacher module.
In the latter module, for example, the teacher can
navigate straight from home view to desk view
and blackboard view, but not to cupboard view.
The cupboard from its turn can be reached from
desk view as well as from blackboard view.
Finally, all teachers more or less experienced
problems with the built-in document management
system. The purpose of this management system is
to provide a shared workplace in which (scanned)
photographs, assignments, exam forms… can
be stored. However, test results showed that the
document management navigation was not accu-
rate. For example, there is no document overview
('Which documents are currently stored in the
place?'). Furthermore, navigation from one docu-
ment to another is too limited. It is not possible
to go to the last photograph, for example, and the
user does not know how many items are stored.
As a consequence, the user had to click multiple
times before reaching that specific photograph
(for example) he was looking for.
As said, all test results were reformulated and
taken into account as recommendations for the
final prototype to be developed.
Implementation of the Prototype
Firstly, a description of the virtual interactive com-
munity that was developed based on the findings
of design phase I and II is given. Secondly, the
network architecture is briefly discussed.
The Virtual Interactive Community
Virtual Communities (VC) are defined as com-
munities of people which share the same interests
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