Abstract

۱٫ Introduction

۲٫ Related Work

۳٫ VoRtex—Metaverse System Description

۴٫ Evaluation of Metaverse Platforms

۵٫ Conclusions

References

Abstract

     Metaverse platforms are becoming an increasingly popular form of collaboration within virtual worlds. Such platforms provide users with the ability to build virtual worlds that can simulate real-life experiences through different social activities. In the paper, we introduce a novel platform that provides assistive tools for building an educational experience in virtual worlds and overcoming the boundaries caused by pandemic situations. Therefore, the authors developed a high-level software architecture and design for a metaverse platform named VoRtex. VoRtex is primarily designed to support collaborative learning activities with the virtual environment. It is designed to support educational standards and it represents an open-source accessible solution developed using modern technology stack and metaverse concepts. For this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the implemented VoRtex prototype and some popular virtual world platforms using Mannien’s matrix. Afterwards, based on the comparison, we evaluated the potential of the chosen virtual world platform and the VoRtex platform for online education. After an interactive demonstration of the VoRtex platform, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire form. The aim was to enable participants to identify the main advantages of online teaching using the VoRtex platform. Finally, the authors analyzed benefits and disadvantages of collaborative learning between the metaverse platform and real-world classroom sessions.

Introduction

     Over the years, people have used various technologies to adapt education to modern mediums. Online learning using personal computers (PC) and mobile devices has become very popular in the last few years. Modern learning platforms include sharing, monitoring, personalized experience, and different client applications (desktop, mobile, web-based) for accessing the content. Moreover, new mediums that we can use for online learning such as metaverse or virtual worlds (VWs) platforms are emerging. We can define VWs as follows: “Simulated persistent space based on the interaction with a computer, inhabited by several users, who are represented by iconic images called avatars, who can communicate with each other in a synchronized way” [۱]. VW integrates several technologies into one platform, which includes audio, video, webcam, text chat, voice chat using voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), graphical editors, and digital avatars. For building VWs, we can use software development tools such as game engines. Game engines provide basic building blocks (rendering, object manipulation, scripting, and other computer graphics features) for VW development. In addition, for designing a high-quality computer graphics-based software, we should follow the best practices and standards regarding user experience design and software optimization [2]. Collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) are VWs that provide a richer collaborative arena for social encounters and community building. Another name for CVEs is virtual learning environments (VLEs), the universal term in the literature associated with education. Examples of CVEs include social entertainment, multiplayer games, interactive art, simulations, distance learning, architectural walk-throughs, cultural heritage, etc.

Conclusions

     In this paper, we have compared and evaluated the potential of a VW platform for educational purposes. Furthermore, we evaluated the user experience on the VoRtex platform. Firstly, we reviewed the related work regarding collaboration and learning in VWs. Secondly, we described the concept and purpose of VW platforms. Thirdly, we introduced the VoRtex software architecture for collaboration and e-learning inside VWs. Afterwards, we compared VW platforms Vircadia, Sansar, and the VoRtex prototype using Mannien’s matrix. Based on the comparison, features offered by the emerging VW platforms enabled simulation of real-life interaction and experience through the support of desktop PCs or VR devices. Afterwards, we provided a survey in which we evaluated the user experience in the VoRtex prototype for Windows PC. Based on the results of survey, we found that the users respond positively to the VoRtex platform, and the usage of VWs in online learning could overcome boundaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

     In the end of the comparison process, Vircadia provided an overall slightly better educational experience, based on the listed criteria, in comparison to the VoRtex and Sansar with a sufficiently suitable solution (74 scores) for educational purposes. VoRtex has less content than the other two platforms. However, the VoRtex platform regarding the results from Mannien’s matrix comparative analysis has a security advantage, the most important aspect in the educational sector [29]. In addition, VoRtex’s innovative design provides out-of-the-box assistive tools for teachers such as presentation and video panels that are not common features in the other two platforms. Planned improvements after the next technology milestone using Unreal Engine 5 and MetaHuman will bring the platform graphically to a hyper-photorealistic level and initially provide more assets to content creators [32]. In our future work, we will measure and evaluate the VW software architecture and improve the prototype to simplify the VW platform design process for educational purposes. Furthermore, one of the top priorities for moving forward is to have users carry out routine assessments of VoRtex to help the development of the platform and make it more feature-rich. VoRtex source code and project updates are available on GitHub [36].