Course Syllabus
CS658 Networked Virtual Environments
Fall 2012
Dr. J. Mark Pullen
(last revised
7-28-12)
Address:
Dept
of
Telephone: 703-993-1538
FAX: 703-993-1706
email: mpullen@netlab.gmu.edu
Office hours: Mondays 16:00 to 18:00 in person or online in MIST/C (send email beforehand)
Class meets: Wednesdays 19:20 to 22:00 online and ENGR 4705 (attend in person, online, or by recording)
TA: TBD
Course Description
This course provides a breadth-first overview of how distributed/networked simulations work to create virtual worlds by integrating a range of advanced technologies. Topics covered in lecture are: networked virtual environment overview, networking technology, network multimedia concepts, virtual simulation concepts, efficiency/performance issues, and online conferencing/virtual classrooms. The project consists of five segments, each covering one aspect of networked virtual environments, plus a final session where one- or two-person teams create a minimally functional networked virtual environment over the Internet using overlay multicast software. The course consists of 31 fifty-minute sessions plus a multi-part Java programming project, which will be presented/discussed in class, and two ninety-minute examinations. Lectures are recorded in MIST/C format (see below) and are available for playback on a flexible schedule, which is necessary since the course is shared among institutions having different academic calendars.
Pre-requisites
CS555 or other introductory computer networks course, plus the ability to write simple programs in Java.
Textbook
Anthony Steed & Manuel Fradinho Oliveira, Networked Graphics, Morgan-Kaufmann, 2010
Computer and Network Requirements
We will communicate mostly by MIST/C and email. All software required for the course will run on a Windows XP/Vista/7, Macintosh OSX, or Linux computer with at least 1 GHz processor, 512MB memory, 100MB free disk space, and Internet access supporting at least 56 kb/s. All software is available for free download. To try MIST/C, go to http://netlab.gmu.edu/MISTC, load the client software, and play recording WelcomeToMISTC. Then go to http://c4ilab.gmu.edu/moodle and login to CS658 page (to be available not later than 24 Aug) using your GMU email username and password. Links to project software will be provided in lectures. MIST/C will be used with the Xj3D virtual world viewer or other similar free download viewer.
Grading
Individual
project assignments (6; 10% each) 60%
(Projects due by 19:30; late projects
lose 20% per week)
Exams (2; 20% each) 40%
(Missed exams must be coordinated with
the instructor before the exam date)
Schedule (subject to revision)
NOTE: Some lectures will be pre-recorded; students are expected to attend these
before class.
This will be discussed during the first class period.
Start (End) Week
Of |
Lectures;
Discussion Date |
Topics |
|
Project
Assignment |
29 Aug |
1 to 3 |
networked virtual environment overview: forms of
distributed interaction; example systems; NVE technologies and challenges;
origins of NVE |
text ch |
load and test MIST/C & software |
5 Sep |
4 to 9; |
network technology overview: host-to-network
technologies; internetting; multicasting; transport
layer; application protocols; communication architectures |
text ch |
part 1: sending DIS PDUs |
19 Sep |
10 to 15; |
networked multimedia overview: sound; graphics; video;
priority, rate control, flow control; middleware; exam review |
text ch 5, 6 |
part 2: |
3 Oct |
16; none |
first exam |
text ch |
none |
10 Oct |
17 to 22; |
Visualization; virtual simulation: managing shared
state; stream networking; psychological issues: event resolution; DoD architectures: DIS and HLA |
text ch |
part 3: visualization using VRML |
17 Oct |
|
Guest lecture: Dr. Don Brutzman, NPS MOVES |
|
|
24 Oct |
23 to 28; |
efficiency/performance issues: approximating
reality: dead reckoning; threads; real-time rendering; collision detection;
compression and aggregation; area-of-interest management; server architectures |
text ch 10, 11, 12 |
part 4: linking visualization to received DIS PDUs |
14 Nov |
30 to 31; |
online conferencing/teaching: system requirements
& subtle issues; floor control; recording; integrated graphics; network
performance issues |
13 + readings to be provided |
part 5: collision detection |
28 Nov |
32; |
Second exam |
ch 7 to 13 |
none |
5 Dec |
33; NVE validation |
Integrate individual projects into an NVE; exam
discussion (group activity) |
N/A |
part 6: multi-avatars and multicast; integration event |