A mobile way-finding application controlling internet-distributed signaling devices via LAN concento

Abstract

This article describes research on an interface to collaborative virtual environments via mobile phones which can remotely control signaling devices along a suggested route across the internet. A mobile interface, designed for use in a distributed virtual environment, was developed to find the path from a start to a goal, display the path, signal objects or move icons dynamically using the results. Programmed with J2ME (Java 2, micro-edition), the dynamic map application runs on an i-αppli mobile phone. The interface can be used to control avatars in a teleconference or chatspace, and is integrated with other CVE (collaborative virtual environments) clients via a servent (server/client hybrid) HTTP↔TCP/IP gateway. Through the servent, the mobile phone interoperates with a heterogeneous groupware suite to interact with other clients, including a networked device called a LAN-tap, which can selectively power lights and sounds. The way-finding application integrated with the distributed signaling functionality provides a mobile interface to animated direction-suggesting cues embedded in the natural environment. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004.