Quick Start Guide

Can't make it to one of the phyical venues for the conference? Then join us virtually.

Set your Internet browser to http://activeworlds.com/edu, download the free software, close your browser and launch Eduverse.exe (the software will run on Macs with a good deal of memory and a PC emulator, but it's not optimal). Step-by-step download and installation instructions are here.

You'll land in the welcome world, called Centre, where the VLearn3D 2000 main teleport pavilion is located, with instant access to all venues of the conference. You can also go to any of the public worlds by clicking on the green world icons on your left. You may be greeted by other users; it's polite to reply by typing in the long skinny box at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down the worlds list and click on VLearn, the central location (See conference preview page here).

In these worlds, objects are often triggers; you can tell by mousing over them (typically a sign will pop up to tell you what the object does). For example, clicking on the signs will give you instructions on how to move (http://activeworlds.com/help/move.html#2), and on the other features of the software (http://www.activeart.co.uk/training.html). All you really need to know is that the up arrow moves you forward, and left-right arrows let you look those directions. If you want to walk faster, or if you seem to get stuck, use the shift key as well as the up arrow (though walking through somebody else's avatar may be considered rude). If you want a bird's eye view of the world, use the plus key to go up, then use the eye looking down icon (use minus key to fly down, then use the look level button).

Important spots in the world often have teleports like on Star Trek. Sometimes these are booths you walk into or objects that you click on. You'll notice that different people have different bodies (called avatars, from the Sanskrit meaning gods taking form on earth). As a new user ("tourist" as opposed to citizen) you have only two to choose from, generally one male and one female, but "citizens" can choose from a dozen or more: to see yours, click on the little camera icon at the top of the screen, to change click on the avatar pulldown menu and select a new one. That's about all you need to use these worlds.

STEP BY STEP DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

1. Open your Internet browser (preferably Internet Explorer): http://www.activeworlds.com/edu

2. Click on "More about the AWEDU"

3. Click on "Download"

4. Click on "Click Here" to download the free small (2MB) software necessary to enter the virtual world ; you'll need a graphics accelerator card to run the new 3.0 version, so pick 2.2.(you can read the minimum requirements to see if 2.2 program is able to operate on your computer, but if it's less than five years old, you're probably fine; essentially you need a Pentium or better PC, 16 megs of ram and 50 megs of free disk space. Activeworlds software is made to run with Internet Explorer, but you can run Netscape in a separate window, I think, with its current software. Mactonish computers will need some kind of PC emulation software like Virtual PC).

Shut down Internet Explorer if you're running it (Activeworlds will launch it, and it doesn't like it when there's two running at the same time). Open the Eduverse program.

5. A new window will open on your screen where you will be prompted to enter your name (essentially this is the name that you will go by when in the virtual world) and email address. You'll land in a world called Centre.

6. Now you will click on the world icon on the far left which will display a column containing a a list of worlds (essentially public worlds have green icons, private or worlds still in development are red).

7. Scroll down the list and click VL00hub world icon. Once in the in that world you can control your movement with the arrow keys. Simultaneously hold down the shift key and arrow keys to walk faster, or to move through buildings and other "solid" structures. Most objects in the world have a function; put you cursor on the object to find out. Carry out the function by clicking on the object. (If you like, you can choose your avatar or virtual body. Currently tourist avatars are limited to only two.)

2. Click on 3rd person icon, the movie projector, to see your avatar. The long skinny box at the bottom allows for written dialogue to occur between various people in the world. You can also use your avatar to talk with bots (short for robot); it's an intelligent agent program that can answer questions, give lectures or quizzes etc. Bots have square brackets around their name. e.g., [Kate]. Bots must be addressed by name, e.g., kate what is the purpose of this world (capitals and punctuation are often superfluous). Kate and the signs will prompt you to go the the Situation Room, where you can investigate environmental issues. You can teleport to this and other locations by clicking on signs.

Optional: If you want to see further (i.e., find it disconcerting to have the rear of a room missing), click on options menu, then settings, and then up the visibility setting to 80-100 meters. Then click OK; you can ignore the rather scary looking warning, especially if your PC has a good deal of memory, by clicking OK again. The blue left-right arrows at the top left of the browser allow you to teleport back to any point you have teleported from. The left-right bottons under the Login menu are the forward-back buttons for the web browser window on the far right.

Troubleshooting: if you can't more forward, hold down the shift key and use the up arrow. If that doesn't help, you may have clicked on a different window, and thus may not be able to move in the world: click on the center window (3D space) and try again (often you'll see the arrow keys working in another window if you've selected one). Occasionally you may teleport underneath the floor of a new room; use the shift key and + key to fly up. Feel free to contact Mandee Tatum or ask other users in the worlds for assistance.