The dynamic construction of multi-user VRML 3D environment for immersive learning on the web

This paper proposes the design of virtual teaching environments using the combination of VRML, Java and JavaScript languages for the construction of highly interactive and immersive 3D worlds, whose behaviour is real-time modified by users actions. A number of users involved in the animations are present in the classroom (their presence is captured by a camera or other kind of sensors) and for the rest they are remote internet students. In both cases they are represented within a VRML world as avatars into a virtual classroom designed to be available in an immersive way by everybody. They interact with each other through a Java program that is able to process and generate events determining the behaviour of scene elements. In particular, Java application establishes the communication among users and VRML environment and updates parameters stored in a MySQL database. The database, resident into the server, is necessary to share information among the clients and to guarantee real time changes in the virtual representation.