virtual worlds and virtual exploration ... … generation exploration conference 2006 virtual world...

Next Generation Exploration Conference 2006 �

VIRTUAL WORLDS AND VIRTUAL EXPLORATION WORKING GROUP REPORT

Virtual Worlds and Virtual ExplorationWorking Group Report

Raymond BakerDarrell Cain

Lakisha CrosbyJames Dalton

Li DengChristine Du Quesne

Damon FlansburgLancert Foster

Chris KempZahra Khan

Chris LewickiJaret Matthews

Gavin MendeckGabriela PerezKristen ReavesAudrey SchafferMegha SharmaJason SmithDavid SmithbauerRich SturmfelsLaTasha TaylorAdolfo VazquezNicholas Wilkinson

Lead Editor:JoHanna Przybylowski

Co-Moderators:Jessy Cowan-Sharp

Garth Henning

Rapporteur:JoHanna Przybylowski

Working Group:

Next Generation Exploration Conference 2006�

Virtual World and Virtual Exploration Working GroupPart of the Next Generation Exploration Conference

DeclarationVirtual worlds will forever alter the landscape of exploration, revolutionizing every aspect of research, design, implementation and resolution, shattering the barriers to collaboration and participation. By providing worldwide access to comprehensive modeling tools, contextual databasing, and interactive collaboration forums, virtual worlds will tap currently underutilized resources and ideas, resulting in an inclusive community of explorers, ranging from kindergarten students to career researchers, contributing to a common goal.

1.0 Introduction: 1.1Definitionofavirtualworld 1.2DefinitionofVirtualExploration 1.3CurrentApplicationsofVirtualWorldsandVirtualExplorationtoSupportSpace ExplorationInitiatives2.0 Themes: Why should we use virtual worlds and virtual exploration? 2.1SupportPublicOutreach 2.2GenerateEnvironmentalSimulationsandEffectiveDataPresentation 2.3FacilitateCommunication 2.4IncreaseProductivity3.0 Objectives: What to accomplish using virtual worlds and virtual environments? 3.13-DComputerSketchProgram 3.2TotalVirtualAnalysisandDesignTool 3.3VirtualMeetingSpace:CollaborativePlanningandDecision-Making 3.4VirtualSimulationofUnmannedandMannedMissions 3.5EnhanceTele-operationCapabilities 3.6EnhanceDataProcessingandAnalysisviaVirtualWorldVisualization 3.7AugmentDataInterpretationviaVirtualEnvironmentSimulations 3.8FacilitateCommunicationbetweenthePublicandExperts 3.9VirtualEnvironmentEntertainment 3.10FullyInteractivePromotionalandTutorialSoftware 3.11OnlineDepositoryforConceptualDesignsSubmittedbythePublic4.0 Issues and Enablers: Are there devices of society that either impede or facilitate the use of virtual worlds and virtual exploration? 5.0 Action Items: What can be realized now and what are the first steps to implementing virtual world and virtual exploration on a larger scale? 5.1ToolsforDisseminationandRepresentationofInformation 5.2ToolsforCollaborationandMissionPlanning



1.0 IntroductionScientistsandengineersarecontinuallydevelopinginnovativemethodstocapitalizeonrecentdevelopmentsincomputationalpower.Virtualworldsandvirtualexplorationpresentanewtoolsetforprojectdesign,implementation,andresolution.Replicationofthephysicalworldinthevirtualdomainprovidesstimulatingdisplaystoaugmentcurrentdataanalysistechniquesandtoencouragepublicparticipation.Inaddition,thevirtualdomainprovidesstakeholderswithalowcost,lowriskdesignandtestenvironment.

Thefollowingdocumentdefinesavirtualworldandvirtualexploration,categorizesthechiefmotivationsforvirtualexploration,elaboratesuponspecificobjectives,identifiesroadblocksandenablersforrealizingthebenefits,andhighlightsthemoreimmediateareasofimplementation(i.e.theactionitems).Whilethedocumentattemptsacomprehensiveevaluationofvirtualworldsandvirtualexploration,theinnovativenatureoftheopportunitiespresentedprecludescompleteness.Theauthorsstronglyencouragereaderstoderiveadditionalmeansofutilizingthevirtualexplorationtoolset.1.1 Definition of a Virtual WorldAvirtualworldisacomputer-simulatedenvironmentinwhichoneexploresorinteractsviacomputers.Theseworldsmaybeintendedforcollaboration,entertainment,oreducation.Whileonlinegamesareamainstreamexampleofavirtualworld,otherexamplesincludedetailedvirtualrepresentationsofpartofthelunarsurfaceorvirtualconferencecallswhereparticipantscaninteractwithmodelstohelpcommunicateideas.1.2 Definition of Virtual ExplorationVirtualexplorationistheinteractionofhumanswithdataandmodelsrepresentingreality;itisexplorationwithoutbeingphysicallypresent.Itwaspracticedbythefirstroboticspaceexplorationmissionandhasbeenrefinedeversince.Today,computerscanserveasintuitiveandefficientinterfacestovisualizetheresultsfromexplorationandscientificexperiments.

1.3 Current Applications of Virtual Worlds and Virtual Exploration to Support Space Exploration InitiativesEngineersfrequentlyuseComputerAidedDesign(CAD)programstomodelcomponents,forsystemintegration,andfortesting,therebyreducingdevelopmenttimeandcost.However,thesesoftwaretoolsetscanbespecializedforspaceexplorationmissionsandexpandedupon,thusfurtherreducingtimeandcost.Similarly,scientistsmodelvariousphysicalphenomena—evendetailedenvironments—toexplainobservations.Onceagain,improvementsinthetoolsetformodelingwillenrichdataanalysisandinterpretation.

Inaddition,thepotentialofcertain,commonly-usedvirtualworldtoolstosupportspaceexplorationhasyettobefullyrealized.Inparticular,theInternetiswidelyusedforbusinessandpersonalinteractionsandservesasaresourceforentertainment,education,andcommunication.WhileinformationaboutspaceexplorationactivitiesisalreadysharedovertheInternet,itcanbedonemoreeffectively.The2-DmapsofGoogleMarsareprimeexamplesofhowvirtualexplorationviatheInternetcurrentlyaidsthedisseminationofinformationaboutspacetothepublic.Thesetoolscan(andshould)beimprovedupon.Forexample,a3-Dvirtualenvironmentofwell-mappedregions,whichallowsuserstoexplorebydrivingavirtualrover,ismoreengaging.



2.0 ThemesFourprimarythemesexisttomotivateutilizationofvirtualexplorationandvirtualworlds.

2.1 Support Public OutreachVirtualexplorationengages,inspires,andeducatesthepublicthroughinteractive,graphicallystimulating,virtualreplicasofexploredregions.Theemergingtechnologicaltoolsofvirtualpresentation,specificallythecreationofavirtualenvironment,enablethepublictobecontributingmemberstoexplorationanddiscovery.Derivativebenefitsinclude,butarenotlimitedto,encouragingstudentstopursuecareersinhightechnologyandscientificfieldsandensuringthatindividualsentertheworkforcewiththerequisiteskillsandenthusiasmnecessarytosustainexploration.

2.2 Generate Environmental Simulations and Effective Data PresentationVirtualexplorationaugmentsunderstandingthroughinteractionwithenvironmentalsimulationsanddatapresentation.Simulationsinthevirtualdomainrevealthenatureofcomplexinteractionsthatarenoteasilyobservableinthephysicalworld.Examplesimulationsandtheirpurposesinclude(1)modelingastellarenvironmenttoexplainthespectralobservations,or(2)testingtechnologies,systems,andoperationsinavirtualenvironmenttostreamlinemissionplanningandoperations.Effectivedatapresentationtechniquesimprovetheunderstandingofphenomenonandofthecorrelationsbetweendatasets.

2.3 Facilitate CommunicationTheinterfacesinvirtualenvironmentsstreamlinecommunicationbetweengroupsessentialtotheprocessesofdesign,implementation,andresolutionofaproject.Suchtechnologiesandprocessesareusefulforprojectsinexploration,science,andeducation.

2.4 Increase ProductivityVirtualexplorationincreasesproductivityandhasthepotentialtoreducecoststhroughoutallstagesofamissionincludingplanning,execution,andpost-analysis.Theuniquecharacteristicsinherenttovirtualenvironments,suchasoperationsatlowcostandlowriskenvironmentsandashighlyvisual,multidimensionaldisplays,presentnewtoolsformissionstakeholders.Bycapitalizingonthesetools,thestakeholdersincreasevalueextractionandrealizenewvalues.

3.0 Objectives: Whilespecificapplicationsofvirtualworldsandvirtualenvironmentsaretoonumeroustoidentify,belowareelevencategoriesencompassingmostobjectivesforutilizingvirtualworldsandvirtualexploration.Sincevirtualworldsandvirtualexplorationsupportallstagesofamission,theobjectivesarelistedinchronologicalorder,startingwithmissionplanning.However,theutilityofavirtualworlddoesnotceasewhenamissionterminates;withalittlecreativity,researcherscandevelophighly-stimulatingandengagingsoftwaretopresentmissionresultstothepublic.Facilitatingpublicinterestandeducationsupportsnewspaceexplorationmissions,eventuallyleadingintoplanningforthenextmission.



3.1 Collaborative 3-D Computer Design ProgramObjective:Developsoftwarethatallowsindividualsfromacrosstheworldtodevelop3-Dconceptualdesigns.Thistoolwouldhaveauser-friendlyinterfaceandwouldallowmultipleuserstocontributesimultaneouslytoadesign.

Value:Incurrentpractice,individualsbrainstormconceptsanddesignswithingroupsusingsimpletoolssuchaswhiteboards.Usingobjectssuchasvirtualwhiteboardsinthiscollaborativedesignprogram,groupscandeveloptheirideasmoreeffectivelyandefficientlybecausetheindividualcontributorsareabletomodify3-Dconceptualdesignsinrealtime,eveniftheyaredispersedacrosstheglobe.

3.2 Total Virtual Analysis and Design ToolObjective:Developanall-inclusive,fully-integratedtoolfordesign,simulation,andanalysisofspace-structures.SimilartoModelCenterortoCATIAsystem,thistoolenablesvirtualassembly,allowingengineerstoexamineinterfacesbeforecostlyphysicalprototypesaremanufactured.Moreover,thevirtualenvironmentmodelstheconditionsastructurewillexperienceinallstagesofdeployment,including(butnotlimitedto)launch,microgravityflight,andlanding,therebyenablingengineerstoperformperformanceestimates.

Value:Thistoolisasingleplatformtoperformcomponentdesign,systemintegration,performanceprediction,riskanalysis,andmissionplanningforspace-boundvehicles.Thecomprehensivenessofthesoftwarenotonlyidentifiestheneedforredesign,butalsoeasescomponentmodificationandsubsequenttesting.Itdirectlyreducesdesigndevelopmenttimesandcosts;anditenablesabroaderdesignspace,increasingthepotentialforhigherreliabilityandlowerrisks.

3.3 Virtual Meeting Space: Collaborative Planning and Decision-Making Objective:Provideavirtualanalogofaconferenceroomwithaudio/visualpresentationcapabilitiessimilartoaphysicalroomandwithadditionaltoolssuchas3-Dholographicprojections,thusremovinglocationbarriersandpromotingcollaborationamonggeographicallydispersedprojectmembers.Thisallowsallpartiesinvolvedtoviewandtocritiquematerialpresentedbyinteractingwiththevirtualenvironment.

Value:Avirtualmeetingspacecaneliminatesubstantialcost,time,andlogisticsassociatedwithtravelandlodging,whichenablesmoregeographicallydiverseparticipation.Itcanalsoimprovecommunicationandallowparticipantstobettervisualizeideaspresentedasaresultof3-Dtechnology.

3.4 Virtual Simulation of Unmanned and Manned MissionsObjective:Usedatacollectedfrompreviousmissionstocreatevirtualsimulationsofequipmentandphysicalenvironmentsinwhichdesignersmodelmissionsbeforetheyoccurandaccumulateexperienceinanenvironmentthatcloselysimulatesreality.Suchsimulationsallowbothtestingofautonomousrobotsandassistinplanningforhumanmissions.

Value:Virtualtoolscansupplementphysicalanalogsusedfortrainingofhumansand



autonomousvehicles.Theyarepreferabletophysicalanalogsbecausetheyallowgroupstodebugandtestconceptsinavirtualenvironmentwithouttheriskofdamagetotheequipmentandbecausetheyreducetrainingcosts.

3.5 Enhance Tele-operation CapabilitiesObjective:Usedatacollectedfrompreviousmissionsandthecurrentmissiontocreatevirtualsimulationsofequipmentandphysicalenvironmentsinwhichoperatorsmanipulateandcontrolremotesystems.Asnewmissiondataanddevicefeedbackareincorporatedintothevirtualenvironment,researchersincreasetheirawarenessofthepositionandthecapabilitiesoftheequipment.Inaddition,thesevirtualworldscanassistindebuggingandrepairingmissionglitches,ifnecessary.

Value:Forcertainexplorationapplications,humanpresenceisnotrequiredandtele-operationsaresufficient,thusreducingthemissioncostandrisks.Virtualexplorationenhancestheexecutionoftele-operations,therebyincreasingthelevelofcomplexitysuitablefortele-operations.

3.6 Enhance Data Processing and Analysis via Virtual World VisualizationObjective:Employthediversearrangementsfordatapresentationinvirtualworlds,andusevirtualenvironmentsandinterfacestoformat,process,andanalyzedatamoreeffectivelyformissionoperations,science,andoutreach.

Value:Thewaythatdataispresentedinfluenceswhichresultsareevident.Oftenchartsandgraphsareusedtodemonstratetrendswhenatableisunclear;invirtualworlds,datapresentationcanbefully3-Dandisnotconfinedto2-Danaloguesorperspectives.Moreover,virtualworldscanalsoplaywithvariablessuchastimeordecisionpointsandprovidevariousscenariosandpotentialfutures.Variousstakeholdercommunitiescanadaptthepresentationofthedatainavirtualworldtosuittheirneeds.

3.7 Augment Data Interpretation via Virtual Environment SimulationsObjective:Modelenvironmentsandsimulatetheirevolutiontorecreateconditionsthatagreewithobservations.

Value:Oftenresearchersmustinferconclusionsfromthegathereddata;however,aclearcorrelationbetweenthedataanditsmeaningdoesnotalwaysexist.Inferringplanetorsolarsystemevolutionaretwoimmediateexamplesofwhenthiscorrelationisabsent.Byallowingvirtualmodelstoevolveundervariouscircumstancesandbyexaminingtheequivalentobservationaldataintheevolvedworld,researcherscaninferadditionalmeaningfromthedata.

3.8 Facilitate Communication between the Public and ExpertsObjective:Provideinterestedindividualswithadditionalmeanstointeractwithexpertsthroughlivesessionsandcorrespondenceinvirtualenvironments.Forexample,augmenttraditionalchatsandforumswithgraphicalsketchtoolsorwithmodelsina3-Dvirtualenvironment.

Value:Virtualenvironmentscanenhancedirectinformationexchangefromtheprofessionalstoenthusiastsandmembersofthegeneralpublicwithacasualinterest.



3.9 Virtual Environment EntertainmentObjective:ProduceOmnimax,simulator,andvirtualrealityridestodemonstratemissionaccomplishmentsandtoeducatethepublic.Amoreextremeexampleofvirtualenvironmententertainment,onewhichfollowsthecurrenttrendsintelevisionprogrammingandemploysthephilosophyofthetraditionalSIMcomputergames,wouldbetodevelopaVirtualMartianAwarenessRealityShow(V-MARS)inwhichcontestantswouldlearntosurviveintheharshenvironment.

Value:Virtualrealityridesandrealityshowscanincreasepublicinterestinandawarenessofspaceexploration.

3.10 Fully Interactive Promotional and Tutorial SoftwareObjective:Utilizingthegraphically-stimulatingandmulti-dimensionalbenefitsofvirtualworlds,produceaninteractivevirtualmission.Themissiondestinationinthevirtualworldwilluserealmissiondatatoreplicatethephysicaldestination(suchastheMoonorMars)andwilluseengineeringprinciplestoreplicatetheexplorationprocess.Userscontrolvariousmissionelements,suchaslaunchingspacecraft,drivingarover,ordocking.Moreover,usersmakesimulateddiscoverieswiththevirtualinstrumentation.

Value:Thesoftwarewouldengagethepublicandincreaseinterestinspecificmissionsandspaceexplorationingeneral.Itwouldalsoeducateandplacethemissionpurposeandfindingsincontextforthepublictobetterunderstandthemotivationsforsupportingexplorationmissions.

3.11 Online Depository for Conceptual Designs Submitted by the PublicObjective:Createanonlinewarehouseorlibrarywherethepubliccansubmitandreviewideas,inparticularconceptualdesigns.Bothsolicitedandunsolicitedprojectscanbepostedtothislocationfororganizationstoreviewandtoadoptforfurtherconsideration.

Value:Byallowinganavenueforthepublictodesignspacemissions,spaceagenciesfosteranenvironmentthatstimulatescreativeideasandthatenticespublicparticipationandsupport.Moreover,agenciesopenthedoortoarangeofinnovativeconcepts.

4.0 Issues and EnablersAsvirtualworldsopenthedoortonewlevelsofcollaborationandinteractionforadiverserangeofinterestgroups,itinherentlypresentsanassortmentofroadblocksbeforereapingthebenefitsofitsimplementation.Inaddition,virtualexplorationalsofacessomemoretraditionalobstacles.Thefollowinglist,thoughnotcomprehensive,identifiesmajorbarrierstoavarietyofvirtualworldandvirtualexplorationapplications: •Softwarecanbeunfamiliartonewusers,leadingtodisuse. •Softwareneedstobewidelydistributedtobeeffective. •Falsedatacanbeintegratedeasilyintoavirtualworldwithoutbeingnoticed. •Freeflowofinformationbetweenindividualsandgroupsislimitedbybarriersof languageandknowledgeexportcontrols. •Abuseofintellectualpropertycanhappeninapublicdomain. •Itcanbedifficulttoextractcredibleideasorusefulinformationfromlarge databases.



•Collaborativevirtualenvironmentscanalsobeusedbyorganizationsthat threatennationalsecurity. •Largeprogrammingprojectscanbecomeredundant,wasteful,andineffective. •Thereiscurrentlynotastrongenoughfinancialincentivetodevelopsomeofthese technologies. •Itisdifficulttocodethecomplexitiesofthephysicalworld,includingphysical lawsandhumanpsychology,intoasimulated,virtualdomain. •Projectswillrequiremassiveamountsofprocessingandstoragefacilities.Who operatesthesefacilities?Whoownsthedatacontainedatthesefacilities?

Oneshouldrecallthat,whiletheaboveroadblocksareassociatedwithvirtualworlddevelopmentorvirtualexploration,theydonotapplytoallformsofandallusesforvirtualworldsandvirtualenvironments.

Similarly,certaintrendsinsocietyareconducivetodevelopingthepotentialofvirtualworldsandvirtualexplorationinsupportofspaceexploration.Theseinclude:

•Thepopularityofwebsitestoconveynear-real-timeinformationtothepublic ondemand,suchaswiththeNASAMarsPathfindermissionandthefirstSpace ShuttlemissionaftertheColumbiaaccident. •Existingsoftwareforcommunicationandcollaborationbetweengeographically dispersedusers. •ExtensiveuseoftheInternetforentertainment,education,andcommunication, bothbusinessandpersonal. •Astrongpublicinterestingamingtechnologies,especiallythosewhichmore accuratelymimicreality. •Thecommonengineeringpracticeofusingsoftwareforcomponentdesign, integration,andtesting.5.0 Action Items: Thepotentialofvirtualworldandvirtualexplorationtechnologieshasyettoberealized.Withcomparativelylittleeffort,engineers,scientists,managers,andthepubliccanbegintoreapthebenefitsofspaceexplorationinthevirtualdomainusingexistingtechnologies.Astimeprogresses,interestincreases,andasmoreadvancedsoftwaretoolsaredeveloped,morecomplexinteractionsinvirtualworldswillallowforgreaterbenefitextraction.

5.1 Tools for Dissemination and Representation of InformationAwealthofdata,obtainedfrommissionsasfarbackasthe1960’sandfromEarth-basedobservations,providesdescriptionsofvariousregionsofthesolarsystem.Whilethesedescriptionsfallshortofcompleteness,theyareenoughtodevelopabasicmodeloftheenvironments.Withthenecessaryresourceinvestment,datacanbeusedtocreatevirtualworldsinwhichusersmayimmersethemselves.Suchenvironmentscouldthenbeemployedtoinspireandinstructthepublicortodesignandtestfuturemissionsfortheregions.



Guidelinesforachievingbasicinformationdisseminationandrepresentationinthevirtualdomainwithexistingtechnologiesarelistedbelow.Whilethenear-termgoalistoprovidemoreuniformandoptimalaccesstoexistingdatasets,asthesoftwareforvirtualworldsandvirtualexplorationadvances,thetechniquesfordatapresentationpermitmorecomplexity. •Gatherandorganizeexistingdata. •Identifylegalissuesregardingsharingthedata(e.g..protectingintellectual propertyornationalsecurity). •Surveyexistingtechnologiestoidentifypracticesbestsupportingefficientdata distribution. •Deviseapresentationformatforthedatawhichismostsuitablefortheintended audienceandobjectives.Forexample: oMaintainadatawarehouseforprofessionalsandpublic; oDevelopinteractivegamesforeducationalpurposes;or oProduceavirtualenvironmentthatcontinuallyincorporatesnewdatato assisttele-operators. •Modifyexistingtoolsandcontinuallydevelopnewtoolsthatmosteffectively conveythedesiredinformation

5.2 Tools for Collaboration and Mission PlanningOnceagain,technologiesexisttofacilitatecommunicationviathevirtualdomain.Thesetechnologiesarenotbeingusedtotheirfullpotential.First,agenciesengaginginspaceexplorationshouldusevirtualworldcommunicationdevices,suchastheInternet,tocollaboratewithstakeholdersinordertoclarifyamission’svalueandtocollaboratewithengineersinordertofacilitatecomponentdesignandintegration.Guidelinesforrealizingnear-termbenefitare: •Identifytheneedsforeffectivecollaborationandtherequirementsforavirtual meetingplace. •Surveyexistingtechnologiestoidentifypracticesbestsupportingcollaboration. •Executetrialrunsofexistingvirtualmeetingareas,suchasSecondLife. •Modifyexistingtoolsandcontinuallydevelopnewtoolsthatmosteffectivelyallow collaborationamongstakeholders,engineers,managers,etc.

Effectivecollaborationstronglycorrelateswithmissionsuccessandproductivity,andlikewiseforeffectivemissiondesignandplanning.Agenciesengaginginspaceexplorationshouldmorereadilyemploythenewer,currently-marketedsoftwaretoolsfordesign,systemintegrationandtesting;whilethesesoftwareprogramsarenottheall-inclusive,fully-integrateddesigntooldiscussedinObjective3.2,theyareanimportantcomponent.Tobegindevelopmentonmorecomplextools,agenciesshould: •Surveyexistingtechnologiestoidentifypracticesbestsupportingdesignand testingofbothcomponentsandsystems. •Gatherexpertsfromvariousfieldstoidentifytheneedsofacomprehensive simulationmachine. •Adoptasingle,standardizeddesignsoftwaretoolsetforagivenmissionorproject, thusfacilitatingcommunicationamongengineerscontributingtodifferentdesign aspects.


Next Generation Exploration Conference 2006�0

Virtual WorldsWorking Group

2• Virtual Worlds•

What would you do…

• To make space more relevant to you?• If you couldn’t get there yourself?• If you had the universe at your fingertips• If your friends could join you anywhere and anytime!


Next Generation Exploration Conference 2006 ��


Virtual Worlds are Here Today

• > 10 million people pay $15/month or more to play onlinegames

• Property right exist in virtual worlds, providing incentive forinnovation

• Companies including Wal-Mart, American Express and Intelare experimenting with training and collaboration insidevirtual worlds

• Players spent an estimated $1 billion in real money in 2005on virtual goods and services within virtual worlds/onlinegames in Project Entropia one player paid $100,000 in real money for a virtual

space station; hopes to earn money charging other players rent and taxes

• Examples today

MARS


Themes

• Public Outreach Virtual exploration engages, inspires and educates the public through

interactive, graphically stimulating, virtual replicas of explored regions.

• Environmental Simulations & Presentation Effective data presentation techniques improve the understanding of

phenomenon and of the correlations between data sets.

• Communication The interfaces in virtual environments streamline communication between

groups essential to the processes of design, implementation, andresolution of a project.

• Increasing Productivity Virtual exploration increases productivity during all stages of mission

planning, execution, and resolution.


Next Generation Exploration Conference 2006��


Objectives

• Before a missionTotal Virtual Analysis and Design ToolFully Interactive Promotional Materials

• During a mission Live event coverageTele-operationCollaborative planning and scheduling

• After a missionPost mission analysisNASA Google / Virtual visitor centersCondensed mission highlights (podcasts,

YouTube, etc…)


Action Items

Virtual worlds are already here but we must connect the spacecommunity

• Survey existing technologies (commercial & NASA) toidentify useful ones for efficient data management.

• Use trial runs of already existing virtual meeting areas(example: Second Life)

• Evaluate national security concerns and IP rights• Collect, organize, and analyze existing data for meaningful

interpretation as well as future references so data is not lost.• Use virtual world technology to make public outreach more

effective through interactive experiences.


Next Generation Exploration Conference 2006 ��


Declaration

• Virtual worlds will forever alter the landscape of exploration,revolutionizing every aspect of research, design,implementation and resolution, shattering the barriers tocollaboration and participation.

• By providing worldwide access to comprehensive modelingtools, contextual databasing, and interactive collaborationforums, virtual worlds will tap currently underutilizedresources and ideas, resulting in an inclusive community ofexplorers, consisting of everyone from kindergartenclassrooms to career researchers contributing to a commongoal.


Team Members

• Raymond Baker NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory• Darrell Cain MIT SEDS• Jessy Cowan-Sharp NASA Ames Research Center• Lakisha Crosby NASA Langley Research Center• James Dalton NASA Ames Research Center/ SETI Institute• Li Deng Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Chinese Academy of Science• Christine Du Quesne NASA Kennedy Space Center• Damon Flansburg NASA Ames• Lancert Foster NASA Glenn Research Center• Garth Henning NASA Headquarters, Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation• Chris Kemp NASA Ames Research Center• Zahra Khan Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sep 2006)• Chris Lewicki NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory• Jaret Matthews Jet Propulsion Laboratory• Gavin Mendeck NASA Johnson Space Center• Gabriela Perez• JoHanna Przybylowski California Institute of Technology, SEDS• Kristen Reaves• Audrey Schaffer NASA HQ• Megha Sharma SEDS-Students for Exploration and Development of Space• Jason Smith NASA Ames Research Center / Exobiology Branch• David Smithbauer NASA Contractor - Institute for Scientific Research, Inc.• Rich Sturmfels Miltec Systems• LaTasha Taylor University of Washington• Adolfo Vazquez Space Generation Advisory Council• Nicholas Wilkinson Mars Institute


virtual worlds and virtual exploration ... … generation exploration conference 2006 virtual world...

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