Title: Duplex narrowcasting operations for multipresent groupware avatars on mobile devices

Authors: Michael Cohen, Owen Noel Newton Fernando, Uresh Chanaka Duminduwardena, Makoto Kawaguchi

Addresses: Spatial Media Group, University of Aizu, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, 965-8580, Japan. ' Spatial Media Group, University of Aizu, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, 965-8580, Japan. ' Spatial Media Group, University of Aizu, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, 965-8580, Japan. ' Spatial Media Group, University of Aizu, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima, 965-8580, Japan

Abstract: The apparent paradoxes of multipresence, having avatars in multiple places simultaneously, are resolvable by an |autofocus| feature, which uses reciprocity to project overlaid soundscapes and simulate the precedence effect to consolidate the display. We have developed an interface for narrowcasting functions for networked mobile devices deployed in a Collaborative Virtual Environment. Featuring multiple icons in a |2.5D| application, the interface can be used to control motion, sensitivity, and audibility of avatars in a teleconference. The interface is integrated with other clients through a |servent| (server/client hybrid) HTTP–TCP/IP bridge, interoperating with a heterogeneous groupware suite including stereographic panoramic browsers and spatial audio backends and speaker arrays.

Keywords: chatspace; groupware; MMORPG; massively multiplayer online role-playing games; mobile computing; multipresence; multiuser interface; narrowcasting functions; teleconferencing; multipresent groupware avatars; mobile devices.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWMC.2009.029348

International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing, 2009 Vol.3 No.4, pp.280 - 287

Published online: 22 Nov 2009 *

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