|
|
|
VR Software It wasn't that long ago that the notion of creating and using vr's was something I hadn't really considered. Even if I made them, I wondered what I was going to do with them. What got me more excited about delving into vr's again was encountering eZedia a couple of years ago. As I got to look at the new direction multimedia authoring was taking to make it possible for the rest of us to get involved without spending the rest of their lives learning code, I saw how they were able to take a vr and do all sorts of amazing things with it. They used hot spots in the vr's to activate all sorts of other happenings to extend the information communicated by that one artifact. As someone with a lifetime of interest in getting individuals involved in their learning, the possibilities this represented to engage students was too good to pass up, especially when combined with the options available in eZediaMX. At this site, I'm going to share what we're learning as we experiment with vr software, the products that result, and the potential for use in learning situations. This section is pretty much aimed at beginners. I warn you, though, once you discover how easy it is to create vr's you'll find yourself making them all over the place. To be able to move from a single static image or a linear video clip into the free-wheeling world of vr's is rather enticing. If you're a teacher reading this, I'm glad you're considering the topic of vr's and what they might do in your classroom. Keep in mind that what I'm most interested in is having your students create these. I want them to plan their shots; to determine which visual elements are most important that they deserve hot spots; and, then, how to extend those in multimedia environments to communicate their thinking. I wouldn't have said that a couple of years ago, but products like eZediaMX have made it possible to click and drag these vr's into the learning environment in a way that can make them an effective tool for your students without spending the time learning technology. You and your students can stay focused on the content. Try vr's - or at least, think about them. Menu of pages available at this site: Common types of vr software Finding hot spots on vr's that have already been produced Making your own vr's using VR Worx v2.0 Making your own vr's using Ulead Cool 360 Instructions from other sites on how to make vr's VR Websites of Interest Using the hotspots in a vr Labeling hotspots in a vr Setting the initial starting point for a vr (in other words, getting the vr to open up at the spot you want your viewers to see first) VR camera setup Tips to improve your vr's and why staying level is important A set of photos you can practice with for Cool 360 (Zipped) |