Visual Interactive Simulation — History, recent developments, and major issues

Abstract

Visual Interactive Simulation (VIS) has dominated discrete-event simulation in the United Kingdom throughout the eighties. Con ceived and initially implemented by Hurrion (1976), who also coined the phrase, VIS first gained widespread exposure through the package SEE-WHY The ideas behind VIS are fundamentally different from what is referred to in the United States as anima tion, since the prime motivator is user interaction with the run ning simulation, rather than just portrayal of the simulation. After presenting a short history of VIS, we will discuss some of the research and development that has been undertaken in the United Kingdom and North America. Following presentation of an example, the state of VIS and a number of generally accepted guidelines for doing VIS are discussed. A number of recent developments, many of them also relevant to animation, and four major issues in the research and prac tice of VIS are presen ted.