1. 1 Component Description Alice 3d Graphics Software Human Computer Interaction Institute Carnegie Mellon University Prepared by: Randy Pausch, pausch@cs.cmu.edu March 26, 1999

2. 2 1 - Overview Alice provides an authoring and runtime environment for interactive three-D graphics. Alice can run as: A windows 95/98/NT Application A plug-in for WWW browsers An networked front end to a remote visualization computation Examples: Interactive 3d graphics in a browser window Immersive virtual reality image generation Desktop delivery of interactive multi-participant visualizations.

3. 3 2 - Architecture Overview MS Direct 3D RM MS Direct Sound Alice OOP Classes Alice Animation Facility Simulation Scheduler “Ecila” Database Pentium PC Running Windows C/C++ User Modules Scripts Visual Basic and MFC Controls

4. 4 3 - Component Description Scripts: user developed, in the Python language Alice OOP Classes, Animation, and Simulation implement the real-time scheduler for animations ECILA Database mediates between the Python layer and Direct X MS (Microsoft) Direct X layer provides low level support for graphics & sound C/C++ User Modules allow arbitrary extension by end users in C/C++; called from Python Visual Basic and MFC Controls implement end-user interface for authoring tool

5. 5 4 - External Interfaces Can communicate with arbitrary external programs via either: Python socket library a C/C++ extension that implements another protocol

6. 6 5 - Existing Software “Bridges” Interoperation with Other Systems Can interoperate with any other system by having that system open a socket and send Python code to do anything, which is interpreted in the Alice run-time environment. Functionality Can work with existing applications without change All Alice functionality is available via interpreted language Protocols (current) Using standard socket interface

7. 7 6 - Information Flow Structure: The Alice run-time environment can be run as a windows application or a WWW browser, which communicates with other applications via sockets or other specially developed protocols. Inputs: The Alice run-time environment takes as input python code which can be interpreted to any effect, with commands like “object.move(forward, 2)” Outputs: The Alice run-time environment renders 3d graphical output into a screen window, and can communicate back results via sockets.

8. 8 7 - Plug-n-play Interacting with Other CPOF Components We are essentially an external device for rendering 3d graphics Similarities to Other CPOF components No other CPOF components address 3d graphics Complementing other CPOF Components Any CPOF component needing to render 3d data/visualizations should benefit from Alice

9. 9 8 - Operating Environments and COTS Component Name Required Hardware Operating System Language Required COTS Alice run-time environment Pentium 90 Win 95/98/NT Pythonnone

10. 10 9 - Hardware Platform Requirement Standard PC (Pentium 90 or faster) with Windows 95/98/NT 32 Megabyte memory (128 preferred) 20 Megabyte Disk free Microsoft DirectX libraries Sound-blaster compatible sound card