CONNEXT CONNecting metadata to web3D interactive applications of large archaeological contEXTs

CONNEXTCONNecting metadata to web3D interactive applications

of large archaeological contEXTs.

Emanuel Demetrescu, Guido Lucci Baldassari, Alfonsina Pagano, Sofia Pescarin | CNR ITABC, Rome, Italy & University of Lugano, Switzerland

CONNEXT | 2

INDEXA. Metadata and 3D application.

B. Behind Livia’s Villa project.

C. UX Evaluation. Archeovirtual 2012.

D. Discussion.

E. Solution proposals.

F. New metadata implementation

G. Conclusion.

A. Metadata and 3D application.

CONNEXT | 3

★ This paper focuses the attention on the integration of metadata into an interactive and portable online 3d application, based on webGL.

★ The case study is the project Behind Livia’s Villa. Its primary goal is to develop an interactive product addressed to expert users (archaeologists and architects).

Recently in the field of computer graphics we are witnessing a quick shift from large VR, to fast and interactive micro worlds.

The interest on those smaller interactive environments is constantly increased due to their accessibility through mobile platforms.

The possibilities granted by these solutions are innumerable, first of all, they allow to build up real catalogue of data (texts and images) accessible through hyperlinked queries; furthermore, they can provide online consultation; finally, they can be set up on mobile cross-cultural platforms.


CONNEXT | 4

The Virtual Museum of Ancient Via Flaminia has been a multi-user (4 users) device-based Virtual Reality application installed at the Roman National Museum in Rome.

The Virtual Museum enabled visitors to explore interactively 2 sites (Villa of Livia and Malborghetto) and not interactively other 2 sites (Grottarossa, Ponte Milvio), in 2 different historical periods (Roman Imperial and Now-a days) along the ancient Roman road Flaminia.

www.vhlab.itabc.cnr.it/flaminia

The Virtual Museum has been closed in June 2011, due to problems in keeping and maintaining the installation (hardware and set-up were needing ) due to the museum daily management and the kind of staff employed (not experienced at all). (note: the room is left to the visitors, no one at the museum can organize or guide visitors in the installation)


CONNEXT | 5

● Original processed data: 3ds max files, .avi files ● Conversion .max -> .obj (inside 3dsmax)● Import .obj -> .blend (inside blender)

● Optimizing meshes and textures:

● Conversion .blend -> .x3d (inside blender)● Visualisation to verify in Instant Reality● Test on models loading in x3dom

OUTPUT

INPUT

PROCESSING

lowres models,cleaning up texture cleaning up meshesfill holes order polygontextures combiningeliminating redundancy

Tools and workflowblender; blender x3d exporter; x3dom; Instant RealityGimp; Kate; Bluefish

TOOLS


CONNEXT | 6

First version of Behind Livia’s Villa:

★ no click in the 3d canvas★ everything managed on html side★ 3d canvas reduced★ no 2d map enlargement


CONNEXT | 7

Second version of Behind Livia’s Villa

★ no click in the 3d canvas★ metadata in the 3d canvas★ more space in 3d canvas ★ 2d map enlargement★ icons system integrated with the 3d

canvas


CONNEXT | 8

User experience activities give support to the study of specific aspects of a digital product as in the production phases and after its mise en scene.

● Experiments in Labs● Testbeds● Public openings

UX ACTIVITIES

GOALSInvestigate specific aspects of the holistic term of UX: 1. Utility2. Efficiency

4. Learnability5. Stimulation

TOOLS● Direct interviews● Questionnaires

Capture ground truth data on expectations in terms of-Realization-Interaction-Graphic computer interface (GUI)

METHODA. UsersB. Developers

Collect data and match the results in order to find out similarities and differences.


CONNEXT | 9

● Behind Livia’s Villa is mentioned in the Desktop VR category (together with other five installations)

● It is provided of a single open room in the central part of the exposition area

● TARGET: Experts from ICT & CH domains

● DATA COLLECTION:23 written surveys + 10 interviews

ARCHEOVIRTUAL 2012

IN PRACTICE:

★ Understand if and how tester could efficiently access metadata

★ Understand if tester could easily manage the desktop navigation

★ Understand if tester could read and interpret interface elements

Archeovirtual is presented within the

Mediterranean Expo for Archaeological Tourism

(BTMA).

Infos available at: www.archeovirtual.it

Annual event which gathers the best showcases of virtual archaeology and virtual museums projects and that takes place in Europe since 2006 under the direction of CNR ITABC.

http://www.archeovirtual.it




LEARNABILITYUTILITY

● written survey: a majority of 51% + interview: 60% found it either challenging to use the application in the beginning or hard to use for the whole duration.

1. Too small visual navigation elements.2. Not obvious function for changing the perspective inside a room

were identified.3. It was not clear how to enlarge the map of Villa.

● written survey: 70% found all available functions useful and interesting.

1. The map of Villa was useful to all as it is suitable for navigation. Even though one participant stated that the map is too small.

2. The opportunity to swap between present and past was rated as useful by all participants as it supports the understanding of the evolution over time of Villa.

CONNEXT | 10


EFFICIENCY STIMULATION

● written survey: majority of 74% rated that it took adequate time to reach their goals. 13% reported that it took sometimes too much time. In fact, 9% found that it always took too long.

● interview: no lack of efficiency was noticed.

● written survey: a majority of 78% reported that the experience was not totally new for them, but they still enjoyed it.

● interview: for 30% it was a totally new experience.

CONNEXT | 11

D. Discussion.

CONNEXT | 12

ISSUES BELONGING TO CONTENT AND STRUCTURAL MATTERS.

...pertain the AFFORDANCE of certain information: ★ the language (database mode)★ the way of presenting data (formatting) ★ level of complexity of the content structure

Users seemed to be confused by metadata interface: ★ they were not properly focused on the

information, but distracted;★ some were disturbed by too much texts;★ others by a unified style which did not

highlight the most important information; ★ some suggested to integrate some audio

explanations.

...pertain NAVIGATION since users felt frustrated in the interaction and bored.

★ It was not obvious how to change the location and perspective in the Villa’s view;

★ some discussed that the arrow on the Villa’s map needed to be enlarged.

★ the change of perspective activated by mouse represented an “invisible” function;

★ the info boxes were not simple to open and read since again visual indications on how to use them were too small.

WHAT NEED TO BE ENHANCED/CHANGED ARE:

D. Discussion.

CONNEXT | 13

NAVIGATION

★ opportunity to move around the virtual environment along a guided path

★ easiness in the content accessibility

★ help mode in order to suggest different types of interaction available.

CONTENT

★ descriptions more suitable for the type of device

★ granularity of information

★ more languages’ accessibility

★ more media (e.g. audio, text fluctuations)

AESTHETICS

★ more visible buttons/icons/categories of information.


CONNEXT | 14

The metadata schema modified from the room-based description to the single object level...

A visual minitutorial implemented as first UI event for user aid purposes...


CONNEXT | 15

Buttons and icons more visible and the map more intuitive...

F. Metadata implementation - Schema creation

CONNEXT | 14

The metadata schema modified from the room-based description to the single object level...

The metadata schema is based on three level structure: monument, room, detail.

The metadata schema is an XSD file with no validation procedures (at the moment), just for long lasting and reuse.

F. Metadata implementation - Ingestion

CONNEXT | 14

The metadata ingestion has been performed with no interface, directly in XML and with a programming-enabled text editor

linux - katemacOSX - bluefishwindows - ultraedit

In future we prefer to find or to implement a web-based ingestion tool (for big files).

<room_description> <name label="Name">Room 22</name> <period label="Chronology">1st BC - 3rd AD</period>> <interpretation label="Interpretation">Perystilium</interpretation> <measures label="Measures">22 x 18 m</measures> </room_description>

“ “

F. Metadata implementation - Parsing

CONNEXT | 14

-technologies: xml, HTML5 (html, CSS, javascript)-informative contents dynamically extracted -interactions with the objects in the scene defined through XML and dynamically visualized

-every node-object has its own coordinate positions explicitated in the XML

<Room id="VL_amb22" centerOfRotation="0 0 0" position="-17.05 1.12 19.84" orientation="-0.00 1.00 0.00 2.21" fieldOfView="1.302"> <room_description> <name label="Name">Room 22</name> <period label="Chronology">1st BC - 3rd AD</period>> <interpretation label="Interpretation">Perystilium</interpretation> <measures label="Measures">22 x 18 m</measures> </room_description>………

F. Metadata implementation - Visualization

CONNEXT | 14

G. Conclusion.

CONNEXT | 16

2008 2012 2013

Intended as the first multi--user virtual museum of Europe, with the name of Virtual Museum of Ancient Via Flaminia.

Renovated and on-going project of the virtual museum, Flaminia Reloaded, aimed at developing a narrative version at the application (natural interaction).

Also a descriptive online version, based on 3D interaction with models and metadata - has been developed, Behind Livia's Villa.

The generative approach used to test the project provided the benefit to gradually build up some alternative future solutions, based on a larger number of investigations and more tailor--made on the final users (experts ones).

Digital Heritage 2013 Expo

CONNEXT | 17

THANK YOUfor

YOUR ATTENTION.

Contact:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]








CONNEXT CONNecting metadata to web3D interactive applications of large archaeological contEXTs

Documents

Transcript of CONNEXT CONNecting metadata to web3D interactive applications of large archaeological contEXTs