Developing Dynamic Virtual Environments Using Hierarchical, Tree-Structured Approach

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) has been utilized in various applications such as in architecture, medicine, advertisement, business, entertainment, and education. In the world of simulation, VR software allows users to visualize, manipulate and interact with the computers and complex data. However, developing VR environments is costly and expensive. Highly-technical persons are needed to create the virtual objects from scratch. Once a virtual system is created, managing and modifying it creates further problems. There is a need for non-technical users to be able to create and modify their own virtual environments. This paper discusses a systematic technique to develop dynamic virtual environments and to manage virtual objects in their virtual environment. The technique is called hierarchical, tree-structured approach. To implement the technique, object-oriented programming language was used such as Java, Java 3D and Java Swing. For the usability and performance of the technique, a virtual environment has been created to become as case study. The tool has been perceived as an easy tool to use, especially for an environment in education.