Visualization, Animation and Simulation for Mobile Computers: Experiences from Prototypes
Andreas Holzinger, Martin Ebner · 2005
During the project iVISiCE (interactive Visualizations in Civil Engineering), which was started in 2001, a great number of Web based animations, visualizations and interactive Learning Objects have been developed to visual- ize and to simulate highly complex processes. Consequently, a lot of experience in the investigation of possibilities of using Multimedia in Higher Education has been gathered. Most of the material was created by using the Macro- media Flash Technology including Video and Audio elements and enabling interaction. It is now interesting to note that Civil Engineering personnel ˝ U very similar to medical personnel ˝ U are a highly mobile end user group. Con- struction managers, civil engineers and master builders working on the building site must communicate with the planning people, including architects and stress analysts. Often, small problems occur during the construction process, which every engineer would be able to solve with a calculator and tables ˝ U if these were at hand. Con- sequently, the need to develop simple, practical and robust applications for solving Civil Engineering problems via a mobile phone is increasingly necessary. Whereas the usual software needs high-end desktops, future tools will run on various mobile devices already at hand. In this paper we report on first experiences with Macromedia Flash for the use on these mobile devices.