A Virtual Paper

To explore the potential for interactive 'virtual' learned papers I have used the Neverwinter Nights game editor to produce a very simple game mod that allows the player to learn more about my work by 'conversing' with non-player characters in the mod. I chose NWN because it is possibel to run a multi-player version, I am familiar with the system, it is well established and relatively cheap for people to purchase.

In 2005 a prototype was tested in a multi-user environment at the NCCA with about a dozen people, including Professors and other researchers, taking part. There were only six client machines in the experiment but some people doubled up. See below for a brief summary of the event.

After the trial I have made a few changes. The version that can be downloaded is still very much work in progress, but I would welcome any feedback.

To use the mod you must have Bioware's NeverWinter Nights installed on your computer and save the mod to the \NeverwinterNights\NWN\modules folder.

The mod can be downloaded by right clicking on the following link and selecting 'save link as' : VirtualPaperVersion01

Ideas for further research

My plan was that if the experiment was sucessful (which it was) I would set up another experiment where a mod would be used for live seminars on the subjects I am interested in.

Another possibility is that a mod could be modded further, with npcs added who contributed further to conversations about particular aspects of the original paper. Commentaries if you like. I rather like the idea of npc speakers being heckled by other npcs! It would need careful moderating though to ensure a sensible debate. If mods were archived, an archive trail might show how discussions developed.

Of course second life now seems to have taken on this sort of role. I much prefer the idea of appropriating software designed for other purposes however. World of Warcraft is a great example of how a game can also be a venue for socialising and serious discussion.

 

What happened when I tested the virtual paper in multi-user mode

The presentation was part of a larger presentation in which I was bidding competitively against other colleagues for 50% buyout from teaching so that I could spend more time concentrating on my research and art practice. Unfortunately the bid was unsuccessful so the work was not pursued further.

An early version of the virtual paper was installed temporarily on the new pc's purchased for the 'Masters By Project in Computer Animation' course at the NCCA. There were seven pcs - one was used as a server for the mod and the other six as clients.

Informal discussion after the event indicated that this way of communicating information has potential. After some simple instruction, users who had not played Neverwinter Nights were able to learn how to navigate and 'converse' with characters in the game.

Participants clearly gained information from the activity; I received constructive suggestions for further research related to the information communicated within the 'paper' rather than about the form of the system itself.

At least one Prof discovered how to attack npc's! An unexpected but useful event in that it showed how much the setting can effect the way the material is 'read'. (And how it may be a good idea to either disable fighting options, or build them into the 'paper' as activating elements).

The plan of chambers

The layout of the various chambers in the mod was based on the rooms at Bournemouth University that were used as studios and offices by the NCCA at the time. The NCCA has now moved to a different building. Choosing to do this was part of my plan to use a familiar location for my colleagues to navigate. In 2007 the whole of that part of the building was substantially rebuild so this NWN mod is a kind of parallel world historical record of that architectural space!

Having a player-character/avatar 'walk' or 'run' around the space in the time available during the presentation would be too slow so I included a teleportation system in each major chamber.

SB 2006