We present a new graphical three-dimensional user interface for synchronous cooperative work, called Spin, designed for multi-user real-time applications to be used in, for example, meetings and learning situations.We have designed an interface, for an office environment, which recreates the three-dimensional elements needed during a meeting and increases the user's scope of interaction in comparison to a real-life situation. In order to accomplish these objectives, animation and three-dimensional interaction in real time are used to enhance the feeling of collaboration within the three-dimensional workspace and keep visible a maximum of information. This workspace is created using artificial geometry -as opposed to true threedimensional geometry -and spatial distortion, a technique which allows all the documents and information to be displayed simultaneously while centering the user's focus of attention. Users interact with each other via their respective clone, a three-dimensional representation, displayed in each interlocutor interface, and animated with user action on shared documents. An appropriate object manipulation system is used to point out and manipulate 3D documents, through direct manipulation, using 3D device and some interaction metaphors. Keywords: Synchronous CSCW, three-dimensional interface, 3D interaction. IntroductionTechnological progress has given us access to fields which previously only existed in our imaginations. Progress made in computers and in communications networks has benefited computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), an area where many technical and human obstacles have to be overcome if it is to be considered a valid tool. We need to bear in mind the difficulties inherent in cooperative work and in the user's ability to perceive a third dimension. The shortcomings of two-dimensional interfacesCurrent WIMP ( Windows Icon Mouse Pointer) office interfaces have considerable ergonomic limitations. Two-dimensional space is not effective when it comes to displaying massive amounts of data; this results in shortcomings such as window overlapping and the need for iconic representation of information. Window display systems, be they Xll or Windows, do not make the distinction between applications, and information is displayed in identical windows regardless of the user's task.Until recently, network technology only allowed for asynchronous sessions; and because the hardware being used was not powerful enough, interfaces could only use two-dimensional representations of the workspace. This created many problems: moving within the simulated three-dimensional space was limited, metaphors were not realistic, there were difficulties representing users and their relation to the interface. Moreover, because graphical interaction was low (proprioception was not exploited) users had difficulties to get themselves involved in the outstanding task. Interfaces: New ScopeWe are putting forward a new interface concept, based on computer animation in real time. Widespread use of 3D graphics...

In this paper, we present the design and implementation of the VRML97 Distributed Authoring Interface (DAI) introduced in Spin-3D, a distributed Collaborative Virtual Environment (CVE). Our proposal is a powerful interface, very close to the classical VRML97 External Authoring Interface (EAI). The DAI allows the connection of any external application with the Spin-3D CVE platform. With the Spin-3D CVE platform and the DAI, it will be easy to develop collaborative applications. We use the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) to support distributed authoring applications. Complex collaborative applications and remote interaction introduce new considerations in the design of the DAI: we enhance the standard VRML97 EAI with new interfaces in order to easily traverse the VRML97 scene graph and limit the network overhead introduced by the remote interaction. Moreover, taking advantage of the CORBA middleware, external applications can be written with any programming language for which the OMG defined an IDL mapping.

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In this paper, we present the design and implementation of the VRML97 Distributed Authoring Interface (DAI) introduced in Spin-3D, a distributed Collaborative Virtual Environment (CVE). Our proposal is a powerful interface, very close to the classical VRML97 External Authoring Interface (EAI). The DAI allows the connection of any external application with the Spin-3D CVE platform. With the Spin-3D CVE platform and the DAI, it will be easy to develop collaborative applications. We use the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) to support distributed authoring applications. Complex collaborative applications and remote interaction introduce new considerations in the design of the DAI: we enhance the standard VRML97 EAI with new interfaces in order to easily traverse the VRML97 scene graph and limit the network overhead introduced by the remote interaction. Moreover, taking advantage of the CORBA middleware, external applications can be written with any programming language for which the OMG defined an IDL mapping.