Implementing Virtual Environments for Education and Research at NDSU Aaron Bergstrom, John Bauer, Brad Vender, Jeffrey Clark, Paul Juell, Phil McClean, Bernhardt Saini-Eidukat, Donald P. Schwert, Brian M. Slator, Alan R. White, Francis Larson, Otto Borchert, Robert Cosmano, Richard Frovarp, Guy Hokanson, Christina Johnson, James Landrum, Mei Li, John Opgrande, Rebecca Potter, Lai Ong Teo, Anurag Tokhi, Shannon Tomac, Joy Turnbull, Qiang Xiao, Melissa Zuroff World Wide Web Instructional Committee North Dakota State University Contact: Aaron_Bergstrom@ndsu.nodak.edu Abstract The World Wide Web Instructional Committee (WWWIC) at North Dakota State University (NDSU) develops and distributes immersive educational and research oriented virtual environments that are accessible through the world-wide-web and implemented by means of Interactive 3D user interfaces. This type of delivery of 3D content is known as Web3D. WWWIC’s major Web3D projects include the Virtual Cell for cell biology education, the Geology Explorer for geology education, and the Digital Archive Network for Anthropology intended for use in archaeology and anthropology research. This paper will highlight the development history for each of these projects, and the development of WWWICs next generation interactive Java3D user interfaces. Introduction Over the past several years, the World Wide Web Instructional Committee (WWWIC) at North Dakota State University (NDSU) has built upon its previous successful developments in the area of web-based, interactive, immersive environments for education and research. Though past text- based computer technologies were found to be effective, WWWIC felt that further compelling visual enhancements could supplement project goals. Today, technologies such as real-time, desktop graphics accelerators and broadband technologies such as Internet2, DSL, and cable modems are available that allow these compelling enhancements to be delivered dynamically over the Internet (Borchert et al., 2001; Walsh and Bourges-SØvenier, 2001:7-13). In their book, Core Web3D, Walsh and Bourges-SØvenier define three categories of 3D (3- dimensional) technologies: Traditional 3D, Interactive 3D, and Immersive 3D. Traditional 3D graphics are basically 2D (2-dimensional) images rendered from 3D models that are viewed from a fixed perspective chosen by the artist. Interactive 3D graphics differ from Traditional 3D by allowing users to navigate and explore three-dimensional scenes. Immersive 3D graphics are Interactive 3D graphics that are enhanced by special viewing and manipulation equipment such as video goggles and data gloves that allow the user to interact with the 3D content in a way that closely resembles the real world. When either Interactive 3D or Immersive 3D is delivered via the Internet, it then becomes known as Web3D (Walsh and Bourges-SØvenier, 2001:73). WWWIC has used visual enhancements to substantially increase the knowledge depth of its virtual environments by incorporating realistic Traditional 3D and Interactive 3D technologies