Hal Thwaites, Canada | ISBN: | Submitted: Jul 1, 1998

Communication Analysis: A Protocol for Virtual World Heritage Creation

Communication analysis is a protocol for research into the structure, form and behaviour of information complexes. They are called (IR(Jinformation complexes(IS(J because the individual information in them could be very different in form or matter, or be perceived by different senses and in different time frames. The analysis process is based on merging certain aspects of systems theory and cybernetics. It examines the individual pieces of information within the complex, the connections, influences of one upon the other, and their possible impact for the human sensory systems. Within each complex we carefully measure and assess the physical, formal, and behavioural properties which each information complex yields and communicates to its visitors, audience or users.

Virtual environments, and virtual world heritage (VWH) environments in particular, are prime examples of information complexes. Since they must be communicable to diverse audiences, spanning continents, cultural groups, time periods and different semantic and aesthetic experiences, a common ground is needed for data assembly, evaluation, creation, and data transmission and storage. This common ground is based on three assumptions: 1) teamwork with potential co-operative and non-competitive attitudes, 2) a common language that is understood thoroughly by all members of the team or teams, and 3) the ultimate dependence on each team member's semi-product in the overall production/creation process of any VWH environment.

Over the past 25 years specialised protocols for 3D information complexes, 2D complexes, paintings, photographic pictures, film or video segments have been created. They have been widely used in the media industry from the time of Expo'67. The main emphasis of communication analysis is on the user. From the large pool of collected data, an information matrix (datacube) of the complex can be assembled, which is the biocybernetic counterpart of the physical (real world), or virtual world information complex.

In our view, it is extremely important that the assembly of the data for VWH environments be done using a consistent protocol, as proposed here. The establishment of a virtual world heritage database will largely depend on how and in what form the 'data cubes' will be made available. The degree to which VWH sites will succeed depends on: (a) the matrix that is used to create/describe the spaces, (b) the manner in which the matrix is represented in the human-computer interface, and (c) the extent to which the matrix is dynamically meaningful to users.

The Communication Analysis Protocol (CAP) is a counterpart, on the human engineering side, to the proposed Chaotic Environment Engine (CEE), on the technical engineering side. Unifying the research and design process under one protocol will greatly accelerate and simplify the operation of a VWH network. An additional benefit of the communication analysis of various world heritage information complexes, whether lost or still in existence, will be the ability of researchers to compare, exchange and evaluate different national, cultural, and historical perspectives using a common descriptive language. It is envisioned that diverse audiences will ultimately access, interact with and review the assembled VWH datacubes, constituting both data feedback and audience feedforward processes within the network.

GRAPHIC: NONE

[more information]

[other authors]
Dr. M. Malik

[keywords]
Communication analysis, virtual world heritage, VR, 3D media design