Museum of Interface. Designing the Virtual Environment

Abstract

A virtual environment (VE) has been designed for functioning as a three-dimensional interface to a repository of images and sounds. This paper attempts to study design interface in VEs. This study first examines the characteristics of VEs. The difference between physical and virtual environments is also studied. The relationship between both is classified as three types, i.e. complement, replacement, or independence. Then it establishes the design interface in VEs, and presents an experimental project, the virtual architecture museum (VAM). Four elements of VEs are highlighted, i.e. wayfinding, linkage, context, and atmosphere. In VAM, the interface is implemented on the web and is integrated with an architectural database. It is found that the appropriateness of design interface can enhance the users' spatial awareness, and consequently facilitate the task of navigation and wayfinding within VEs. The context and atmosphere of VEs can be defined by means of simile or metaphor through the visual or acoustic experience for gaining senses of a place.