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Research @ Indiana Demos 
 Problem-solving environments
High performance computing system research
High performance computing, communication, and massive data storage applications
Virtual reality and advanced visualization
E-commerce and interface design
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 Catlin et al. WebPDELab: An Internet-based PSE for PDE Applications
Ann Christine Catlin acc@cs.purdue.edu
Elias Houstis enh@cs.purdue.edu
Nitesh Dhanjani dhanjani@cs.purdue.edu
John Rice jrr@cs.purdue.edu
Department of Computer Science, Computer Science Building, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
WebPDELab is a World Wide Web server that allows users to define, solve and analyze
partial differential equation (PDE) problems using a comprehensive graphical user
interface from any Java-enabled browser on a wide variety of platforms. The WebPDELab
server is currently supported by a 16 CPU Intel cluster that allows users to solve PDE
problems sequentially or in parallel on the supporting host cluster. WebPDELab is the
PELLPACK problem-solving environment implemented as an Internet-based client-server
application. It provides access to a library of PDE solvers and an interactive graphical
interface that support the pre-processing and post-processing phases of sequential
and parallel PDE computing. The PELLPACK software is implemented as a system of X
windows programs and libraries, compiled on an i86pc SunOS 5.6 machine. WebPDELab
displays the interface of the PELLPACK software within a Java-capable browser using
the Virtual Network Computing remote display system. A new WebPDELab session is
initiated for each user that connects to the WebPDELab server, and a unique id and
private file space are created for each session. Users can download files generated
by WebPDELab to their own machines before terminating the session and they can upload
files to WebPDELab at the start of subsequent server sessions. When the server invokes the PDE
Lab system software, the entire PELLPACK PDE problem-solving environment is presented
to the user.
For a detailed description of the functionality and operation of this system, see the PDELab User Guide. PELLPACK is a sophisticated, comprehensive system for modeling physical objects based on PDEs, and has been used by hundreds of students and faculty both inside and outside of Purdue University for solving problems in physics (liquid crystal droplets, proton flux propagation), thermal field analysis, fluid dynamics, semiconductors, geophysical research, electromagnetic field analysis, thermo-elasticity, structural analysis, and other scientific and engineering applications. WebPDELab has a user-friendly interface, and even first time users can solve interesting problems by following the fully documented, step-by-step descriptions of the problem-solving process presented at the WebPDELab site.
For further information: http://www.webpdelab.org/
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 Gannon et al. The Indiana Science Portal Notebook for Managing
Grid Computation
Dennis Gannon gannon@indiana.edu
Randall Bramley bramley@indiana.edu
Venkatesh Choppella choppell@cs.indiana.edu
Benjamin Temko btemko@indiana.edu
Nirmal Mukhi nmukhi@indiana.edu
Madhusudhan Govindaraju mgovinda@indiana.edu
Sriram Krishnan srikrish@indiana.edu
Aleksander Slominski aslom@indiana.edu
Yu Ma aslom@indiana.edu
Department of Computer Science, Indiana University, Lindley Hall, Bloomington, IN 47405
The Science Portal Notebook is a set of tools that are designed to facilitate the
construction of problem solving environments for scientists and engineers attempting
to use the Grid for research and experimentation. The notebook has three primary
components:
- A servlet based web server that has been enhanced with the capability to upload and execute user scripts.
These scripts allow scientists to program grid complex multi-application distributed grid computations and
execute them from any web browser.
- A database that stores collections of web pages, scripts, event logs and output from the users computational experiments.
- A Web and Script interface to the Department of Energy Common Component Architecture framework for distributed applications.
In addition, the toolkit also provides a way to incorporate unmodified conventional
applications such as large Fortran programs into multi-disciplinary distributed
computations.
This work is part of collaboration with NCSA and Grid Forum Science Portals project and makes
use of the Globus grid security infrastructure and the Globus COG kit from Argonne. The experiment highlighted in this
demonstration is based on work with the NCSA chemical engineering team.
For further information: http://extreme.indiana.edu/~gannon/
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 Ecer et al. Agent-based dynamic load-balancing environment for distributed heterogeneous computing of multiple parallel applications
A. Ecer ecer@engr.iupui.edu
Y. P. Chien chien@engr.iupui.edu
J. D. Chen jchen@engr.iupui.edu
H.U. Akay akay@engr.iupui.edu
Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), 723 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Load balancing techniques commonly assume a single user environment for parallel jobs,
which is valid only when a user has access to a dedicated set of computers. When the
computers by different owners need to be accessed and many parallel jobs need to be
executed concurrently, the reservation of dedicated time becomes difficult. A dynamic
load-balancing scheme is developed for such an environment.
Assumptions
There are large numbers of multi-user computers available in different locations.
Each parallel application can access any of these computers.
Tools
Software assigned to each computer to measure computer and network speed.
An agent is assigned to each computer for load balancing and communicating with others.
Load balancing algorithm
Each parallel process is load balanced individually,
It shares its load distribution on any computer with other parallel processes,
Parallel applications are load balanced sequentially to reach Nash equilibrium.
Further information: http://www.engr.iupui.edu/cfdlab/
Also see the demo at the NASA booth (R695).
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Eigenmann. Web-Based Parallel Programming
Rudi Eigenmann eigenmann@ecn.purdue.edu
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, 1285 Electrical
Engineering Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1285
This demonstration shows a newly developed set of tools for OpenMP-based parallel
program development and tuning. Accessible through standard Web browsers, the tools include an
automatically parallelizing compiler (Polaris), an interactive parallelizer,
and a performance evaluation system that will identify
performance problems and suggest solutions (UrsaMinor). The On-line lab is
based on a network computing infrastructure, also developed at
Purdue University (PUNCH).
Further information:
http://punch.ecn.purdue.edu/Netcare/parHub.html
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Grama et al.
Pattern Extraction and Applications in Large-Scale Data Servers
Ananth Grama ayg@cs.purdue.edu
Akshay Johar johar@purdue.edu
Ravi Ithal ganeshit@purdue.edu
Department of Computer Science, Computer Science Building, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
We demonstrate the use of inlined techniques for detecting patterns in data
accesses and their use in supporting a distributed infrastructure for data
storage and retrieval. The two critical components of this infrastructure are:
- A fast technique based on a variant of a semi-discrete matrix transform
for detecting access patterns.
- A partitioning technique that distributes data across a clustered
environment with a view to balancing accesses across various servers.
We demonstrate excellent performance and availability of our clustered
server environment.
For further information: http://www.cs.purdue.edu/people/ayg
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PUNCH: Integrating Grid Services and Web Technologies for High-Performance
Computing Anytime, Anywhere
Contact:
Nirav Kapadia, kapadia@purdue.edu
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue
University, W. Lafayette, IN 47907-1285
Collaborators:
PUNCH:
Jos? Fortes fortes@purdue.edu
Mark Lundstrom lundstro@purdue.edu
Renato Figueiredo figueire@ecn.purdue.edu
Sumalatha Adabala adabala@ecnpurdue.edu
PUNCH research is focused on issues in building end-to-end solutions for high-
performance, ubiquitous supercomputing on Intranets and the Internet. Our work has resulted in an operational
network computer that allows seamless management of high performance applications,
machines, data and users distributed across wide-area networks and administrative
domains. More than 800 users from a dozen countries currently utilize PUNCH to
access and use computing services anytime, anywhere using standard Web browsers.
For further information:
http://www.ece.purdue.edu/punch/
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Lumsdaine et al. XMPI: A Run/Debug MPI Viewer
Brian Barrett bbarrett@lsc.nd.edu
Andrew Lumsdaine lums@lsc.nd.edu
Arun Rodrigues arodrig6@lsc.nd.edu
Jeff Squyres squyres@cse.nd.edu
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Notre Dame,
353 Fitzpatrick Eng., University of Notre Dame, IN 46556
The XMPI run/debug GUI has been available for some time, proving to be a
valuable tool for debugging parallel applications as well as teaching parallel
computing concepts. This demonstration highlights the latest version of XMPI, including:
- New features for visualizing message passing patterns
- More flexible access for running MPMD programs
- Support for certain MPI-2 functionality (communicator names)
- Support for new "buoy" timeline markers
For further information:
http://www.mpi.nd.edu/lam/software/xmpi/
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Lumsdaine et al. Myrinet RPI for LAM/MPI
Andrew Lumsdaine lums@lsc.nd.edu
Arun Rodrigues arodrig6@lsc.nd.edu
Jeff Squyres squyres@cse.nd.edu
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, 353 Fitzpatrick Eng.,
University of Notre Dame, IN 46556
LAM/MPI is a popular open source implementation of the MPI standard. It includes support for all of MPI-1 and many features of MPI-2, including dynamic process
control, one-sided communication, C++ bindings, and parallel file support.
Until now, LAM has only supported communication via shared memory and/or TCP.
We have just released a "driver" to allow LAM to communicate across Myrinet hardware using the native GM library from Myrinet. This new ?driver? (or RPI) provides
significant speedup as compared to the standard TCP RPI over Myrinet.
For further information: http://www.mpi.nd.edu/lam/
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Lumsdaine et al. The Interoperable MPI (IMPI) Extensions to LAM/MPI
Andrew Lumsdaine lums@lsc.nd.edu
Jeff Squyres squyres@cse.nd.edu
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, 353 Fitzpatrick Eng.,
University of Notre Dame, IN 46556
The Interoperable MPI (IMPI) standard provides a way for multiple
MPI implementations to connect in a single parallel job.
Using IMPI-enabled MPI implementations, users can simultaneously exploit
vendor-tuned MPIs across multiple parallel resources.
LAM/MPI announced support for the point-to-point functionality of MPI almost a year ago.
Hewlett-Packard and MPI Software Technology have recently announced support
for IMPI in their implementations as well. This demo will show an MPI
program (the classic MPI mandlebrot GUI) that shares a single
MPI_COMM_WORLD across all three MPI implementations.
The IMPI forum is sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
For further information: http://impi.nist.gov/IMPI/
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Cohn, et al. Computational astrophysics
Haldan Cohn cohn@indiana.edu
Richard Durisen durisen@indiana.edu
Phyllis Lugger lugger@indiana.edu
Department of Astronomy, Indiana University Indiana University,
Swain West 319, Bloomington, IN 47405
Shawn Slavin slavin@indiana.edu
Don Berry dkberry@indiana.edu
University Information Technology Services, Indiana University, 2711 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408
Brian Pickett pickett@calumet.purdue.edu
Department of Chemistry and Physics, Purdue University Calumet, 2200 169th Street, Hammond, IN 46323
Indiana University (IU) has played a major role in computational astrophysics
since the late 1950s, when Professor Marshal Wrubel was pioneering
the application of electronic computing to astrophysical problems
at IU. In 1960, he published a review paper entitled, "The Electronic
Computer as an Astronomical Instrument." Wrubel helped to establish
and direct the Research Computing Center at IU, since renamed Wrubel
Computing Center. In this way, computational astrophysics was born
and continues today at IU.
Drs. Haldan Cohn and Phyllis Lugger at IU are working
with Shawn Slavin (UITS) to simulate globular star clusters with
the IU GRAPE-4a supercomputer, through direct N-body integrations.
The GRAPE-4a is a special-purpose computer designed to calculate
accurate, pairwise gravitational forces at a peak rate of ~30 GFLOPs.
The speed of the GRAPE hardware allows for integration of models with
tightly bound binary stars in a reasonable time. On a conventional
supercomputer, such a calculation would be bound down by the many
infinitesimal timesteps needed to accurately integrate the binary
orbit in the presence of the other stars in the model. This group
is interested in the detailed internal dynamics of such star clusters.
Drs. Richard H. Durisen (IU) and Brian Pickett (Purdue), with
collaborators at NASA-Ames Research Center, uses 3D hydrodynamics simulations
to study star and planet formation processes. They are currently modeling the
massive gas and dust disks that are known to orbit young stars. Such disks are
widely believed to be the precursors of planetary systems. Gravitational
instabilities might permit gas giant planets or even brown dwarfs to form from the
disks by direct condensation; but, more likely, the instabilities develop into
nonlinear spiral waves which produce a rapid burst of mass transport inward toward
the central star, with observable consequences. The Durisen-Pickett group is one of
the few in the world that has tackled these problems in full three dimensions. Their
3D hydro code has been parallelized by Don Berry (UITS) and runs using OpenMP on the
UITS Sun Enterprise 10000.
Further information: http://www.astro.indiana.edu
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Izaguirre & Viamontes. Interactive Molecular Dynamics Using VMD and ProtoMol
Jes?s A. Izaguirre izaguirr@cse.nd.edu
George Viamontes gviamont@nd.edu
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of
Notre Dame, 353 Fitzpatrick Eng., Notre Dame, IN 46556
In collaboration with the Theoretical Biophysics group at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, we at the Laboratory
for Computational Life Sciences in Notre Dame (http://www.nd.edu/~lcls/)
are implementing an Interactive Molecular Dynamics (IMD) API to connect
Illinois? visualization program VMD (http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vmd/).
Scientists use interactive or steered molecular dynamics to explain the
mechanics of biopolymers and finding the underlying unbinding potentials
of proteins. This is important as a technique for understanding mechanisms
used by muscles for motion, to help discover new treatments for muscular
diseases, and to understand the important problem of protein folding.
In our group, we will use IMD to guide the design of anti breast cancer
drugs in collaboration with the department of biological sciences at Notre Dame.
This demonstration will link VMD to our framework ProtoMol to
demonstrate the steering of a molecular dynamics simulation
using a haptic device, which allows the user to get feedback.
Through the use of fast molecular dynamics algorithms and a fast
interface, we will show speedups over more conventional simulation
algorithms. The IMD API allows a molecular visualization program to
connect remotely to a molecular simulator. The underlying method
of remote communication involves socket programming. IMD implementations
tend not to be large as there are only a handful of functions that need to
be defined. Since IMD utilizes Internet sockets it does not fall victim
to communication disruption.
For further information:
http://www.nd.edu/~lcls/ras/tslabach.html (ProtoMol)
http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vmd (VMD)
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Knepley et al. Large Scale Parallel Simulation of Particulate Flows
Matthew Knepley knepley@cs.purdue.edu
Ahmed Sameh sameh@cs.purdue.edu
Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, Computer Science Building,
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Daniel Joseph joseph@aem.umn.edu
Peter Huang huang@aem.umn.edu
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, 107 Akerman Hall,
110 Union Street. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455
The study of fluid microstructure and the development of continuum models
of complex fluids is heavily dependent on simulation to provide the large
and varied data sets needed for model building. Direct numerical simulation
provides a solid foundation for the modeling of complex rheological phenomena.
We have developed the GVec package, using the Petsc framework from ANL,
to simulate particles in complex fluids using a fully coupled finite element model,
utilizing up to 128 processors of the NCSA Origin array. This code was able to carry
out a full 10,000 particle simulation, the largest of its kind, while maintaining
excellent scalability.
Further information:
http://www.aem.umn.edu/Solid-Liquid_Flows/index.html
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Xport: Collaboratory Software for High Brilliance X-ray Crystallography
Donald McMullen mcmullen@indiana.edu
Randall Bramley bramley@indiana.edu
John C. Huffman huffman@indiana.edu
Edward Dambik dambik@indiana.edu
Kianosh Huffman 
Indiana University
Gregor von Laszewski laszewski@mcs.anl.gov
Argonne National Laboratory
The Xport project targets revolutionary improvements in telepresence
for major scientific instrumentation systems. Our goal is to exploit
a combination of advanced networking technology, sophisticated
middleware services, and remote instrumentation technologies to
achieve interactive "better-than-being-there" capabilities for
remote experiment planning, instrument operation, data reconstruction,
and data analysis. These capabilities will be deployed and demonstrated at
major DOE facilities, including the Advanced Photon Source and the Advanced
Light Source. Building on work currently underway in the Globus group and
the DOE 2000 Common Component Architecture Forum, this project addresses
several issues related to NGI network-based instrumentation including high-speed
data collection, reduction, storage and visualization, and real-time instrument
control for the acquisition of macromolecular x-ray crystallographic data from
the MB-CAT beamline sector at the LBL Advanced Light Source.
Indiana University and the Globus group at Argonne National Lab
are developing this Next Generation Internet (NGI)-based shared
instrumentation collaboratory for macromolecular crystallography.
This partnership also includes researchers in the DOE2000 Common
Component Architecture group (CCA) and in the Molecular Biology
Collaborative Access Team (MB-CAT) at the Berkeley Advanced Light
Source (ALS). A key component of the collaboratory infrastructure
is diffserv quality of service for both real-time interaction and
bulk data transfer and we expect to show some QoS enabled components
running across the EMERGE QoS testbed between ESNet and Internet2 sites.
For further information: http://www.cs.indiana.edu/ngi/
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Distributed Massive Data Storage Services at Indiana University
Gerry Bernbom bernbom@indiana.edu
Leigh Grundhoefer leighg@indiana.edu
Chris Hemmerich chemmeri@indiana.edu
Jeff Russ russ@indiana.edu
Anurag Shankar ashankar@indiana.edu
University Information Technology Services, Indiana University,
2711 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408
Gustav Meglicki gustav@indiana.edu
Office of the Vice President for Information Technology, Indiana University,
Franklin Hall 116G, Bloomington, IN 47405
Indiana University is among the first institutions to distribute its
massive data storage service over a long haul link connecting two of its
major campuses. The High Performance Storage System disk and tape movers
have been deployed at IUPUI in Indianapolis and at IUB in Bloomington, with
core servers deployed at IUB. The resulting configuration provides a single
name space that covers both campuses, whereas movement of data between tapes,
disk caches, and user applications is confined to the relevant campus. Only the
metadata pertaining to HPSS transactions traverses the long haul link between campuses.
The functionality and ease of use of the system are further enhanced by addition of DFS
servers, which migrate data from selected filesets to HPSS transparently. Indiana University
users are thus presented with a universal, secure, and high performance common file system,
available both on their Windows and UNIX machines, with HPSS accessible simply through
designated subdirectory trees.
WWW and other file system dependent services have been configured on this infrastructure
providing portal access to users data.
For more information: http://storage.iu.edu
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Bollinger et al. The Reciprocal Net Molecular Rendering System
John C. Bollinger jobollin@indiana.edu
Kianosh Huffman
John C. Huffman huffman@indiana.edu
Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405
John N. Huffman jnhuffma@indiana.edu
University Information Technology Services, Indiana University, Lindley Hall, Bloomington, IN 47405
High quality molecular graphics are visually pleasing, and moreover they
can be a valuable tool for understanding and communicating information
about molecular structure and solid-state packing. Unfortunately, most molecular
graphics systems are expensive, complex, and platform-limited. In response to
those problems, the Indiana University Molecular Structure Center (IUMSC) is working
with the Advanced Visualization Laboratory (AVL) at Indiana University on inexpensive,
easy to use, portable software for molecular graphics, and we have augmented that
effort by constructing an eighteen-processor Beowulf cluster for high-speed ray
tracing. Models to render and rendering parameters are generated either in a web
context via a Java applet or in a desktop context via the more capable standalone
XMView program, both backed by the IUMSC?s large electronic library of
crystallographic results. In the web context the model is automatically submitted
to the (remote) Beowulf for rendering, and the results displayed
to the user on a web page from which they can be downloaded if desired.
For the desktop environment there is a simple user client for submitting
the XMView-produced model to the (again, remote) Beowulf for rendering.
Both user interfaces support ball-and-stick, rod, and space-filled images,
but XMView adds crystal packing, Miller planes, solvent surfaces, and other effects.
XMView?s additional features are slated for eventual incorporation into the web
interface as well.
For further information: http://www.iumsc.indiana.edu
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3DIVE: 3D Interactive Volume Explorer
Michael Boyles mjboyles@iupui.edu
Advanced Visualization Laboratory, Indiana University
Shiaofen Fang, Ph.D. sfang@cs.iupui.edu
Department of Computer Science, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Ken Dunn, Ph.D. kwdunn@iupui.edu
Department of Nephrology, Indiana University School of Medicine
A joint effort involving researchers in the AVL, the IUPUI Department of
Computer Science, and the IU School of Medicine, has resulted in 3DIVE, a
software application allowing physicians and medical students to view and
interact with 3D data sets as high
quality, three-dimensional volumes, volumetric subsections, or 2D cross sections.
As a general volume rendering and image processing tool, 3DIVE is also being used
by researchers to explore data sets of scales ranging from cellular microscopy to
interstellar gas clouds.
For further information: http://www.avl.iu.edu/projects/3DIVE/
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Dolinsky. Blue Window Pane II
Margaret Dolinsky dolinsky@indiana.edu
School of Fine Arts, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
Blue Window Pane II is a networked CAVE environment that
explores communication through whimsical characters, conceptual
landscapes and sound activated graphics. Using art as a communication
tool for shared connectivity, participants share in a world of dreams,
dilemmas and reflections.
For further information: http://dolinsky.fa.indiana.edu/bwp/
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Hanson et al. Interactive Visualization of Large-scale Dynamic
Astrophysical Environments
Andrew Hanson hanson@cs.indiana.edu
Chi-Wing Fu cwfu@cs.indiana.edu
Eric Wernert ewernert@indiana.edu
Department of Computer Science, Indiana University,
Lindley Hall, Bloomington, IN 47405
Dynamic astrophysical data require visualization methods
that handle dozens of orders of magnitude in space and time.
Continuous navigation across large scale ranges presents problems
that challenge conventional spatial methods of direct model
representation and graphics rendering. The frequent need to
accommodate multiple scales of time evolution, both across
multiple spatial scales and within single spatial display
scales, compounds the problem because direct time evolution
methods may also prove inadequate.
We have implemented a systematic approach to building an
interactive visualization system that addresses these issues.
The concepts of homogeneous power coordinates, pixel-driven
environment-map-to-geometry transitions, and hierarchical
antialiased moving-object representations are used to handle
large scales in space and time. Families of techniques such as
these support the construction of a virtual dynamic Universe
that is scalable, navigable, dynamic, and extensible.
We demonstrate implementation of a working system based
on these principles, and illustrate their application
in a 3-1/2 minute film entitled "Cosmic Clock" created
to aid the visualization of complex astrophysical effects
such as causality and the Hubble expansion.
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B?rner et al. LVis: A Smart Virtual Reality Interface to Digital Libraries
(1999/2000)
Katy B?rner katy@indiana.edu
Andrew Dillon adillon@indiana.edu
School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
Margaret Dolinsky dolinsky@indiana.edu
School of Fine Arts, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
The project LVis (Digital Library Visualizer) aims at the support of the navigation
through complex information spaces. It provides a multi-modal, virtual reality
interface that maps search results from digital libraries onto an
"information landscape". This landscape can then be explored by human users in a
natural manner. The first 2-D and 3-D prototype visualizes search results from the
Dido Image Bank, Department of the History of Art, IU.
See also Information Visualization at SLIS: http://ella.slis.indiana.edu/~katy/InfoVisM
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B?rner. iUniverse: Creating a Collaborative Information Universe for IU
(2000/01)
Katy B?rner katy@indiana.edu
School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
The project aims to establish one of the most sophisticated interface technologies
for desktop computers at IU. The technology -- a "3D Virtual Reality Chat & Design
Tool" by Activeworlds.com, Inc. -- allows building compelling, multi-modal, multi-user,
navigable, collaborative virtual environments in 3D that are inhabited by avatars and
that provide means for interacting with the objects in the environment, with embedded
information sources and services or with other users and visitors of the environment.
Students taking the L578 User Interface Design course taught at SLIS in Fall 2000 build
effective 3D desktop virtual environments that are linked to traditional web-based
material. During their final project, students will create teaching areas in
collaboration with faculty on campus and thus contribute to an "iUniverse" that
is dedicated to providing access to instructional material, the Internet's "library"
of information, as well as spaces for (course-related) communication and collaboration.
A section of this class will be taught from the exhibit floor at SC00!
For further information:
http://ella.slis.indiana.edu/~katy/iUni/
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Rosenbaum.
E-commerce Education Using a Virtual Economy
Howard Rosebaum hrosenba@indiana.edu
Indiana University
A graduate course in Electronic Commerce (ecommerce) has been taught at
the School of Library and Information Science, IU Bloomington, since
1996. The current syllabus is available at
http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/L561/syll/syll5.html. The
course was redesigned during the fall 1999 semester and now provides
students with a challenging, novel, technology-focused, and
learner-centered educational experience; they learn by "doing" ecommerce
instead of listening to someone talk about how to do ecommerce. The
technological infrastructure used here supports a pedagogical strategy
of problem based learning, The problem is to create and operate a web
based ecommerce business.
The Virtual Economy (VE) is a distributed digital marketplace that
simulates a competitive environment for buying and selling information
products. Over the course of a semester, students experience ecommerce
from the ground up. They start up, design, and operate Internet
businesses (e-businesses). Their clientele use digital money to
purchase information products and services. These shoppers are students
at other colleges such as Napier University School of Business,
Edinburgh Scotland, Dusquene University and Indiana University of
Pennsylvania. Student store owners compete for market share with bonuses
(added to the group's grade) for the most profit and largest number of
transactions. Student shoppers use the VE to complete assignments at
their own institutions.
The VE is a password-protected web space where store owners and shoppers
conduct business transactions under conditions simulating real-world
ecommerce. A prototype of the VE has been built at
http://ella.lib.indiana.edu/g/ecstore0/login.cfm, Cold
Fusion, and Oracle. It uses no pre-existing code and is a proprietary
design that has been written to be transparent to the participants. No
programming knowledge is required for students to set up storefronts or
to shop in the VE. The prototype VE has three main components. The
first is the VE portal, the entryway to the marketplace. Shoppers
register, receive passwords and digital bank accounts, and then browse the
storefronts. The second component is the storefront and the third is
a digital bank. Shoppers select products and services from a product
catalog, complete their purchases, and money is transferred from their
account to the store's account in the bank.
I will demonstrate the workings of the VE, show the storefronts that
have been created, and discuss the business models involved. I will also
explain how the VE supports problem based learning and explain how student
experiences in the VE improve and deepen their understandings of
ecommerce.
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