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Intelligent Computer Graphics 2010 pp 123–143Cite as

A Level of Interaction Framework for Exploratory Learning with Characters in Virtual Environments

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Part of the Studies in Computational Intelligence book series (SCI,volume 321)

Abstract

This paper investigates a range of challenges faced in the design of a serious game aimed at teaching history in situ, through the use of an immersive, open virtual environment. In the context of this paper, such an environment is described as an exploratory, expansive virtual world within which a user may interact in a non-linear and situated fashion with the virtual characters that populate it. The main contribution of this paper consists of the introduction of the Levels of Interaction (LoI) framework, designed to assist in the creation of multiple forms of interaction between a user-driven avatar and synthetic characters. The LoI approach addresses the necessity for balancing computational efficiency with the need to provide believable and interactive virtual characters, allowing varying degrees of visual, interactive and behavioural fidelity. The Roma Nova project demonstrates a first implementation of the concept, showing in practice how the LoI are likely to foster more natural interactions between the player and the non-playing characters.

Keywords

  • Virtual Environment
  • Interaction Level
  • Virtual Character
  • Conversational Agent
  • Crowd Behaviour

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-15690-8_7
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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Serious Games Institute, Coventry University Technology Park, Cheetah Road, Coventry, CV1 2TL, United Kingdom

    David Panzoli, Christopher Peters, Ian Dunwell, Panagiotis Petridis, Aristidis Protopsaltis & Sara de Freitas

  2. IRIT-CNRS, UMR5505, Université de Toulouse, 2 rue du Doyen Gabriel Marty, 31042, Toulouse, France

    Stéphane Sanchez

  3. Instinct[Maker], Toulouse, France

    Vincent Scesa

Authors
  1. David Panzoli
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  2. Christopher Peters
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  3. Ian Dunwell
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  4. Stéphane Sanchez
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  5. Panagiotis Petridis
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  6. Aristidis Protopsaltis
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  7. Vincent Scesa
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  8. Sara de Freitas
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Limoges , Limoges, France

    Dimitri Plemenos

  2. Technological Education Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Georgios Miaoulis

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Panzoli, D. et al. (2010). A Level of Interaction Framework for Exploratory Learning with Characters in Virtual Environments. In: Plemenos, D., Miaoulis, G. (eds) Intelligent Computer Graphics 2010. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 321. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15690-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15690-8_7

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