Mary Lou Maher,
Visiting Professor
Email: marym@mit.edu
Department of Architecture, MIT
Spring 2002
Workshop: Monday 12-1
Seminar: Tuesday 4:10-6
Place: 3-413 EC
Virtual Architecture is the use of digital media to represent
buildings and other forms of architecture. This course focuses on the design
and implementation of Virtual Architecture that produces functional places
in their digital representation. The technical basis for this kind of Architecture
is a combination of computer games and object-oriented virtual worlds such
as MOOs and MUDs. The design and development of virtual architecture is not
well understood and requires knowledge of how such places are used as well
as an understanding of new media.
The software used in this course is Active Worlds, a multi-user
3D modelling environment that supports community and professional activities.
Instructions on how to download the software are available on the web. Instructions
on how to use the software are available in the virtual world itself. Students
can use existing 3D models in the world library, or create their own 3D model
objects and upload them to the library on the world server.
This course is taught concurrently with a course being taught
at Columbia University called: Communication
and collaboration in virtual places and its effect on organizations. This
course is in the School of International and Public Affairs. The students
at Columbia will be considering the implications of designing virtual architecture
on organizations and the MIT students will be developing new designs in light
of the discussions with the Columbia students. The course will be taught within
a virtual. Each week one of the Columbia students will lead the seminar discussion.
Some of the weeks, the Professor will only be available in the virtual world.
Objectives:
· to develop design principles in creating new virtual architecture
· to develop skills in using and designing virtual worlds
Requirements:
The first hour each week is a workshop on designing virtual
architecture in a 3D virtual world. Informed participation in a weekly seminar
in a virtual world with the Columbia students from 4:10-6pm is required. The
major assignment for the course is a design of a building or meeting room
for professional use within a 3D virtual world. A report on the design, its
intended use, and the implications on geographically distributed organizations
is required.
April 23: Preliminary Design - an explanation
and walkthrough for evaluation by Columbia students
May 14: Final Design - a 5-10 page report
describing and illustrating your design, demonstrating how it satisfies the
brief and explaining how the design reflects the special characteristics of
a virtual world design.
Seminar schedule:
02-05-02 Changes
in individuals and societies (Photos
Recording
Paul McInnerney
02-12-02 Metaphors
for the internet
Ryan Sperry
02-19-02
Virtual
worlds, virtual architecture, virtual places
(no class)
02-26-02 Analysis
of computer-mediated collaboration (virtual)
Monique Girard
03-05-02 Virtual
Organizations
David Berman
03-12-02
Establishing
protocols for collaborative work (virtual)
Rashmi
03-19-02
Designing
for collaboration
Mary Lou Maher
Spring Break:
03-26-02
04-02-02
Workshop on building
a virtual place
04-09-02
Case
study of meetings in a virtual place (virtual)
Adam Beckerman
04-16-02
no class
04-23-02 Evaluation
of MIT initial designs
04-30-02
Columbia
student presentations (virtual)
05-07-02 Workshop
05-14-02 Final
designs due