From: JC Verlinden Subject: Re: EPUB: Information City recent research paper (long) Organization: Delft University of Technology Keywords: Three-dimensional information metaphors, VR and Hypertext. Speaking about virtual cities and 3D structures to shape information, have a look at my master's thesis called "Virtual Books: Integrating Virtual Reality and Hypertext" (obtainable through ftp: ftp.twi.tudelft.nl/pub/publications/masters-thesis/J.C.Verlinden.ps.gz). I worked with hypertext-scientist dr. Jay David Bolter on Virtual Reality and communication. At the Graphics, Visualization, Usability Center (Georgia Tech, Atl.anta, GA, USA) I made some prototypes that visualize information, and even a hypertext-to-3Dmo del converter (for SGIs). Part of my work was focused on other forms of information, namely speech: Imagine an architect that evaluates a model of a building by navigating through a virtual model. He or she could leave spoken comments by pushing a certain button, while existing annotations can be activated through shooting... Apart from the nifty additi onal information (paralinguistics and sound EFX) storage this interface is a lot more usable for helmeted users than using textual communication (text is hard to read, and even harder to input though a keyboard). A group of nine freshmen made a tourist' guide to the Gatech Campus with this system. Well, anyway, try to catch my papers: Jouke C. Verlinden, Jay David Bolter, Charles van der Mast, "The World Processor: Effective Manipulation of Textual Information in Virtual Environments", Technical Report DUT-TWI-93-55 (ftp-able: ftp.twi.tudelft.nl/pub/publications/Reports/DUT-TWI-93.55.p s.gz) Jouke C. Verlinden, Jay David Bolter, Charles van der Mast, "Virtual Annotation: Verbal Communication and Virtual Reality", Technical Report DUT-TWI-93-67 (ftp-able as above). Jouke C. Verlinden, "Virtual Books: Integrating Virtual Reality and Hypertext", Master's Thesis Delft University of Technology, august 1993 (ftp-able, see above) I also did some work together with David Burgess on spatial audio, synchonization and all that jazz. During my stay I visited UNC, PARC and to some extend MIT-Media Lab. (a report is included in my thesis). Although my work is finished, I am still advocat ing my results :-) Well, I hope you guys are still reading this. Somebody told me about research at Browne Univ. on 3D stories (van Dam). Who can tell us more? Cheers, -jouke verlinden, interactivist and infonaut at the Delft University of Technology, Department of Technical Mathematics and Informatics, information systems, HCI Research Group. -- -jouke