Designing Service Environments for Virtual Scene Applications

Continuing internet ubiquity enables new kinds of applications previously restricted to powerful platforms unavailable to home consumers. These applications are characterized by extensive interactivity, by high quality multimedia presentation, and by real-time qualities. Typical emerging application areas include entertainment, and cybertourism. Achieving this requires integration between technologies and the end user's information needs and expectations. Virtual reality, cluster and grid-computing technologies provide a suitable basis for applications that operate in the timeframes consumers expect. The design of services and applications will require an understanding of the dynamic forms of intelligent user behaviour and interactivity involved. This paper draws from a case study to suggest theory relevant to design of an integrated environment, and is illustrated with cybertourism oriented applications.