Development Update

1 – Researching the required software

At the beginning of the project we researched into flash driven engines. Papervision and Away 3D provide developers with a library of predefined functions to build a 3D environments. Although both of the software libraries provide extensive functions they did not include much helpful recourses and when the graphics were rendered they were not smooth.

It then came to our attention that what we were going to build was more in line with games structure. With this in mind we researched into using a gaming engine. Unity 3D is a tool used to create 3D video games and other interactive content such as a virtual experience. Using Unity 3D meant that we could provide the user with an interactive virtual experience.

2 – Building the room

Unity 3D provides many gaming objects you can add into a specific scene. We added objects such as planes, cubes and spheres to create the mentor mansion structure. To create a realistic environment we also added spot lighting and textures.

3 – Graphic User Interface

Nearly every scene in the project requires the user to click a button. Although users can interactively click within the virtual environment they are also given the options to use a graphic user interface. The global menu consistently sits at the bottom of the screen throughout the user experience. The menu uses associated icons in each scene allowing the user to easily navigate through each room.

4 – Remembering Progress

The system requires the user to move from first to the third room. The user may want to leave mentor mansion after they enter the second room. We needed to create a script that would atomically move the user back to room they left from when they next logged in.

5 – Login/ Password Authentication

Due to the fact that Unity is never executed on the server, always the clients machine. We created a webform that checks the users login and returns the stage of the game they are in. We didn’t connect unity to the database as this would require a wildcard account to the DB, which is a serious security threat. Users are required to enter a users name and password to access the house. Using a database we made a script that stores certain information about the user.

6 – Image of the Mentor Mansion

Updates

With the development and analysing of the workbased mentors data, the SMART project began the development of what is now known as ‘Mentor Mansion’. Project Work has been intensive meetings and discussions have been useful for both learning and developing understanding of systems and technological procedures.

This was a very exciting time for the project and with the appointment of web developers, the project began to come to life. Use Cases were developed using information from data collected and then the team met regularly and changed the use case to reflect our understanding of those using the system. The researcher has kept in contact with some of those who provided information, so that any changes could continue to reflect the projects objectives of supporting workbased mentors.

As the system continued to be developed, it was important to add the essential elements of video from subject experts and the SMART team members. However production time and holidays have seen many difficulties in taking this essential area of the project forward. In fact a series of cancellations has meant that the project is sailing very close to the wind.

In order for the project to both realise and utilise the identified user group, it is now essential the video content is concluded ASAP.

The web designers are now only waiting for the inserts (videos) for conclusion of their area. Semester starts this week and new students and potential mentors and obviously SMART project users will be available. The system (Mentor Mansion) seeks to enrol mentors at the beginning of semester, so that evaluation can be used in time for completion of report etc by the final JISC phase III date.

It is most disconcerting to think that, although video elements of the project were identified very early on and in house approaches were made to secure both time and expertise that the project is in a position now that leaves only limited time.

Michael Farquharson

Use Cases

The 'use case models' formed the main part of the development of the project. Attached are some of the core structures used and adapted over the past 12 weeks and which include some of outcomes from workbased support agents and web designers.

Current results

some resulty to date