The main aim of this project is to deliver information within a Virtual Reality Modeling Language environment system. The content of Virtual Computer project is: Showing and teaching how to build a computer to an end user.

The subject we are dealing with could be very complicated. It covers a wide range of levels of complexity. It is possible to single out several levels of approach. 
-One could be a Macro level of information, which regards the external cable connection.
-Another one is represented by a Medium level of information, which concerns the connection of the inside components.
-Another one could be a Micro level of information, which has to do with the internal cable and screw setting.

At present the project covers the Medium level of information. Here the competence to convey to the user are provided by assembling the internal components of the computer.

Symbolic codes

"Virtual" is a highly used word today, in particular when it refers to the so-called neo-technologic representations. However, since the earliest symbolic activities, the human being has always made virtual constructs, starting from the use of indicative signs, oral, writen, iconic representation, etc.. In some (more simple) ways, this evolution could be seen also in the baby communication evolution. One of the first baby steps in language acquisition is the symbolic code of the indicative signs (pointing toward an object), then he learns a more complex symbolic code (using different channels), oral language, and then, growing, he learns to use another symbolic code, writing, as well the use of images. In this developing process we acquire more and different competence in communicating using different channels and different tools.
Human communication has always changed towards more complex models. And also the tools affect our way to communicate.
The neo-technologies are organizing the use of signs in a new symbolic code, that better suits their own possibility, with which they can communicate. Therefore a new language system is required, we have to be aware of that. This new language system, is the language of Virtual Reality. 

speaking = verbal sign
they are organized in verbal language

writing = 2D visual sign
they are organized in written language

sounds = auditory signal
they are organized in audible, musical language

VR = tactile visual auditory signal
they are organized in Virtual Reality language

A language is a system that uses some physical signals (a gesture, a sound..) to express meaning. Its main use is to communicate.
Hjelmslev in "The Basic Structure of Language" singles out five fundamental distinctive marks, present in the structure of languages. 
Two of these fundamental distinctive marks are always present in the basic structure of any language, and according to the Hjelmslevian terminology, they are called: The Plans of Language, plan of Expression and plan of Content; and The Axes, axis of Process and axis of System.

|
|
|  / the   carpenter   made   a    door /
| --------------------------------------->(process)
|  " the    carpenter   made   a   door "
|
|  (system)

Studies of modern cognitive psychology tell us that the human cognitive apparatus does not work only in one way, but it can work in two different ways. 
One is recognized from our cultural tradition as symbolic-reconstructive knowledge. This is the one you get from reading a book. The information must be decoded from abstract arbitrary symbols; and the referent, object of knowledge, must be mentally recognized/identified. This process does not imply only the reading, but also thought, reason, etc...
The other way in which the cognition works is as motive-perception: for instance, learning from a skill, as learning how  to cycle. You know the object because you perceive it. It is the feedback of the object, once perceived, that makes up knowledge, this, being which is automatically co-related to the action that it has created (generative action).
We learn to communicate and we grasp the meaning of what we learn about the world in these two different methods. 
The first method operates when, for example, we read a description (it could also be a manual user).
The second one, is operating when looking and interacting with the real world, we are learning because we are dynamically testing our sensorial ability over objects.
The new technologies, giving us the tools to set up new symbolic codes able to clone reality, so are able to move the communication from the symbolic-reconstructive method to the motive - perceptive method.
In a Virtual Reality environment you are called to reach information and communicate with all your body, you are no longer watching the screen, you are inside the screen, and there you can touch the representation (3d) with all the sensors of your body.
 
 

From Reality to Virtuality

What we mean to do with the Virtual Computer project, is to analyze the real experience of assembling a Personal Computer, as it happens in real life, then to translate this with the instruments of Virtual Reality. Here we are required to use the appropriate linguistic system for the VR. Otherwise we will be speaking in a language, without using a pertinent linguistic system experiencing a loss of information.
Basically we are doing a translation from one linguistic system to another (reality - virtuality), trying to keep up the information richness.
When speaking about the language of reality and the language of virtuality, we are always in the same perceptive method of "motive-perception".
We could say that, despite being general, all languages have some common characteristics. On this we can base the translation.
The same thing could be done in a different way. It's possible, for example, to take the information on how to assemble a Personal Computer from a user manual. In that case, the translation required would be from English linguistic writing system, to the virtual reality (representation) linguistic system. But in this case we are passing from the symbolic-representative perceptive method to the perceptive method of the motive-perceptive/on.
(I would like to warn you that following the discussion, you will find some examples where we are using the English linguistic system as the source for translation, that is due to il's simplicity).
We are going to move a packet (cluster) of data (information) from the layer of reality to the layer of virtuality.
We could say that on one side there is a Reality, which is the practical operation of making something (for example: assembling a PC); and on the other side there is a Virtuality, that is the 3D environment we created.
In the Reality of assembling a PC there are several elements: PC components; Tools; And a human operator, who has technical competence.
In Virtuality we are going to use VRML shapes (3D objects) to create the components interface interaction as tools and advanced VRML with Javascript, which brings about technical competence. See table below.

VRML seems to be the only reliable way to build a low cost VR environment.
It also seems the most powerful in terms of interactivity as well as immersivity provided.
The most important thing in the VRML is that, it allows you to speak in Virtual Reality language.
With the VRML it's possible to cover the fundamental distinctive marks of a language system.
N.B. Do not misunderstand the meaning of the word "language" and "modeling language". The first, widely treated here, refers to a linguistic system exploited by human beings to communicate; the second refers to computing programming language. To make this point more clear we should introduce the notion of meta-language, It would be very tricky to do it now.

Let us now go back to the Virtual Computer Project.

The main information in the Virtual Computer Project is: showing how to build a computer. And our first step of course is the segmentation of the message in many events.

See communication diagram below:

Message  =  Showing and teaching how to build a computer.

By analyzing our object Personal Computer   we can visualize two groups of elements: a COMPUTER CASE and EXTERNAL DEVICES. 
The Computer Case is a box and all the components are held inside. To describe these we used geometrical definitions and material descriptions.
  It is the most important  piece so we are only going to work on it at the moment.

External Devices are all the other separated pieces, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse.
They are usually purchased as ready-to-use products.

Inside of those global classes there are other subclasses that we can identify as hardware components.
As we can see, the CASE is the most important, and the one that a wide range of people are interested in.

So next we are going to describe all the sub-objects of the CASE and at the end we'll show how to install all the components which the case holds inside. We cannot treat this last here because it is not a matter of the system PC.

1) Show me the Motherboard, give me info about slots, plugs, technical features.
2) Show me the CPU, give me info about it.
3) Show me the Graphic Card, give me info about it.
4) Show me the Audio Card
5) Show me the Modem Card
6) Show me the CD-ROM
7) Show me the Monitor

The building process is a linear sequence of various operations (set of instructions), mainly describing a state of doing. So, to describe these we used a set of animations, sensors, scripts, timers, and data.

Building operations

1) Fix the Motherboard to the mbrd holder and put it in the Case-frame.
2) Fix the CPU in the proper slot of the motherboard.
3) Fix the Graphic Card in the proper slot.
4) Fix the Audio Card in the PCI slot.
5) Fix the Modem Card in the PCI slot.
6) Fix the CD-ROM drive in the Case-frame.

Building process problem will be solved as here.

Now we are going to make a distribution of all the components analysed in the PC System, considering the role played by them in the Building Process. Obviously, as a process, we can represent it as a horizontal line oriented toward the right (indicating the time-flow). The system will be represented by a vertical line.

In order to see the PC System and the Process of building the PC in a single shot, we drew the table shown below.

System: Bonnet; Frame+Power Supply; Motherboard holder; Motherboard; Cpu; Ram; Graphic card; Audio card; Modem card; Hard drive; Floppy drive; CD-ROM drive.

Every instruction of the building process is a narrative event. The whole series of the narrative events make up the story.

A narrative event is manifested by language signs expressing enunciations. An enunciate could be: an enunciate of state, or an enunciate of "doer". State is related to the being of a thing. Doer or doing is related to the action of doing something. The doing, usually causes a change in the related state of being.

In the most common instruction manuals the narrative events are generated by writing-textual communication (through the English language, for example). Words are the sub-unit of the textual communication. 

Shape, 
Material, 
descriptors Nodes

TimeSensor,
TouchSensor,
modal Nodes

On a semiotic perspective we can look at the main information to deliver as a Narrative Program (something similar, but in a communication perspective, to what we did in the "Applying the theory to our project - Comm Theory" chapter).
A Narrative Program is performed every time a "doing" changes the state of being. For instance, from single components to a computer.

The above-explained structure of languages must be respected in translating a meaning from a language system (system of signs) to another.

sentence: 

manifestation:

At first look it seems something is missing, but trying to dig behind the Expression of the Content " love" you will notice that, the word love in the English language system is different from the two others in the sentence. Love is a verb, it implies an activity, a doing something. 
In the VRML language system, love is Expressed with geometrical physical descriptions (being) on behalf of Cylinder and Sphere nodes, plus an action performance of doing something expressed on behalf of PositionInterpolator and TimeSensor nodes to animate the action.

A check test could be useful to better explain the characteristics of the language system. I will make a change at the level of the axis of the system, substituting the Expression / love / with the Expression / hate /. The axis of the process will be unchanged.

Subject of doing S1 has to become rich of the competence of the Subject of state S2. To do that, he has to perform two programs of use (NPuse1, NPuse2) to gain the competence to shift (do) the action, turning himself into a realized S of doing and being actor of the performance.
To turn the question in a more simple matter, we can assuming that the Box-John has to gain a spatial position to be close to the Sphere-Mary, and also to gain the action related to Shape-Flower to express his feeling.

We can classify* the VRML's nodes in relation to their use in the signification activity, at list in tree groups.

To create an interactive animation using VRML we need just few things. The object to be animated (Shape node), a TimeSensor to make change the values of the motion, Interpolator nodes (Position, Orientation, Color, etc)   to give the coordinates of the motion path.

As we would like to give the user a set of buttons to command the operations of the building process, we are required some object "buttons" (Shape nodes), a TimeSensor to control the activity of the buttons, a TouchSensor to trigger the actions, and to coordinate all the events and create some signal to drive the user, we need a Script.

With few VRML nodes we have setted up a 3D Virtual Environment. What is left? Just do it in the respect of the grammar of the VR language.

1) Fix the Motherboard to the mbrd holder and put it in the Case-frame.

1) button MB , MB and Holder MB, button CPU.
A) TouchSensor MB >>
                Script MB>>
                                         TimeSensor>>
                                                       ColorInt. 
                                         TimeSensor>>
                                                       ColorInt.
                                     TimerSensor>>
                                                  PositionInter.
                                                  OrientationInt.
                                                 for mb.
                                                  PositionInter.
                                                  OrientationInt.
                                                  for holder.
                         Script cpu
 

DEF BUTTONMB Transform {
                              children [

DEF ButtonScriptMB Script {
                                          eventIn SFBool isActive
                                          eventIn SFBool isOver
                                          eventIn SFFloat fractionChanged
                                          eventIn SFTime instTocc
                                          eventOut SFBool disablePulsSelf
                                          eventOut SFBool enablePulsNext
                                          eventOut SFTime startTimeAnim
                                          eventOut SFBool enableTMSAnim
                                          eventOut SFColor colorePulsInattivo
                                          field SFBool statotPulsSelf TRUE
                                          field SFBool pointerOver FALSE
                                          field SFBool statoAnim FALSE
                                          field SFBool toccato FALSE
                                          url "vrmlscript:
                                          // Handler for event isActive of type SFBool.
                                                     function isActive (value, time)
                                                     { 
                                                          if (value == true && pointerOver == true)
                                                                      { startTimeAnim = time; 
                                                                        enableTMSAnim = true; 
                                                                        enablePulsNext = true; } 
                                                       }
                                          // Handler for event isOver of type SFBool.
                                                      function isOver (value, timestamp)
                                                       { if (value == true) { pointerOver = true; }}
                                          // Handler for event fractionChanged of type SFFloat.
                                                      function fractionChanged (value, timestamp)
                                                { if (value >= 0.0 && value <= 1.0) { r = 0.0;g = 0.9;b = 0.8;} }
                                          // Handler for event instTocc of type SFTime.
                                                      function instTocc (valToc, timestamp)
                                                      { 
                                                                         toccato = true;
                                                                         colorePulsInattivo = new SFColor(r,g,b);
                                                                         disablePulsSelf = false;
                                                      }
                                                   "
                                                }

DEF MB-TXT Transform {...cut...}

DEF TS-MB-Trig TouchSensor {    enabled TRUE     }

DEF ClockBlink_67 TimeSensor {
                                          enabled TRUE
                                          stopTime -1
                                          cycleInterval 2
                                          loop TRUE
                                          }

DEF BlinkInterp_68 ColorInterpolator {
                                          key [ 0, 0.5, 0.51, 1 ]
                                          keyValue [ 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.9 0.8, 0 0.9 0.8 ]
                                          }

DEF MB-Button Transform {
                         children Shape {
                                       appearance Appearance {
                                         material DEF _69 Material {
                                                                     ambientIntensity 0.2
                                                                     diffuseColor 0.8 0.8 0
                                                                         }
                                                                  }
                                          geometry DEF BUTTN Sphere {  radius 0.015  }
                                          }
                                        }
                                     ]
                                  }
...cut...

DEF PULSCPU Transform {
                          children     [
                             DEF PulsanteScriptCPU Script {
                             eventIn SFBool    isActive
                             eventIn SFBool    isOver
                             eventIn SFFloat    fractionChanged
                             eventIn SFTime    instTocc
                             eventOut SFBool    disablePulsSelf
                             eventOut SFBool    enablePulsNext
                             eventOut SFTime    startTimeAnim
                             eventOut SFBool    enableTMSAnim
                             eventOut SFColor    colorePulsInattivo
                             field SFBool    statotPulsSelf    TRUE
                             field SFBool    pointerOver    FALSE
                             field SFBool    statoAnim    FALSE
                             field SFBool    toccato    FALSE
                                url     "vrmlscript:
// Handler for event isActive of type SFBool.
                                          function isActive (value, time) {
                                              if (value == true && pointerOver == true)
                                                  { startTimeAnim = time;
                                                    enableTMSAnim = true;
                                                    enablePulsNext = true; }
                                                  }
// Handler for event isOver of type SFBool.
                                           function isOver (value, timestamp) {
                                               if (value == true) { pointerOver = true; }
                                                  }

// Handler for event fractionChanged of type SFFloat.
                                           function fractionChanged (value, timestamp) {
                                               if (value >= 0.0 && value <= 1.0) {r = 0.0;g = 0.9;b = 0.8;}
                                                  }
// Handler for event instTocc of type SFTime.
                                           function instTocc (valToc, timestamp) {
                                                      toccato = true;
                                                      colorePulsInattivo = new SFColor(r,g,b);
                                                      disablePulsSelf = false;
                                                  }
                                                "
                                             }

    DEF CPU-TXT Transform{......}

    DEF TS-CPU-Trig TouchSensor {    enabled    FALSE    }
    DEF OrologioBlink_12 TimeSensor {
                                        enabled     FALSE
                                        stopTime     -1
                                        cycleInterval     2
                                        loop     TRUE
                                       }
    DEF BlinkInterp_13 ColorInterpolator {
                                   key     [ 0, 0.5, 0.51, 1 ]
                                   keyValue     [ 0 0.5 0.4,  0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.9 0.8, 0 0.9 0.8 ]
                                  }
    DEF CPU-Button Transform {
                                children Shape {
                                               appearance   Appearance {
                                                                    material     DEF _14 Material {
                                                                                                  ambientIntensity   0.2
                                                                                                  diffuseColor   0.8 0.8 0
                                                                                                     }
                                                                                           }
                                                                                              geometry     USE BUTTN
                                                                                              }
                                                                                            }
                                                                                          ]
                                                   }

DEF PULSG2 Transform {
children    [
    DEF PulsanteScriptG200 Script {
    eventIn SFBool    isActive
    eventIn SFBool    isOver
    eventIn SFFloat    fractionChanged
    eventIn SFTime    instTocc
    eventOut SFBool    disablePulsSelf
    eventOut SFBool    enablePulsNext
    eventOut SFTime    startTimeAnim
    eventOut SFBool    enableTMSAnim
    eventOut SFColor    colorePulsInattivo
    field SFBool    statotPulsSelf    TRUE
    field SFBool    pointerOver    FALSE
    field SFBool    statoAnim    FALSE
    field SFBool    toccato    FALSE
    url    "vrmlscript:
// Handler for event isActive of type SFBool.
function isActive (value, time)
{
    if (value == true && pointerOver == true)
{ startTimeAnim = time;
enableTMSAnim = true;
enablePulsNext = true;}
}
// Handler for event isOver of type SFBool.
function isOver (value, timestamp) {
    if (value == true) { pointerOver = true; }
}

// Handler for event fractionChanged of type SFFloat.
function fractionChanged (value, timestamp) {
    if (value >= 0.0 && value <= 1.0) {r = 0.0;g = 0.9;b = 0.8;}
}

// Handler for event instTocc of type SFTime.
function instTocc (valToc, timestamp) {
    toccato = true;
    colorePulsInattivo = new SFColor(r,g,b);
    disablePulsSelf = false;
}
"
    }
    DEF G200-TXT Transform {.......}
    DEF TS-G200-Trig TouchSensor {    enabled     FALSE    }
    DEF OrologioBlink_30 TimeSensor {
    enabled    FALSE
    stopTime    -1
    cycleInterval    2
    loop    TRUE
    }
    DEF BlinkInterp_31 ColorInterpolator {
                                    key     [ 0, 0.5, 0.51, 1 ]
                                    keyValue     [ 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.9 0.8, 0 0.9 0.8 ]
                                  }
    DEF G200-Button Transform {
    children    Shape {
    appearance    Appearance {
    material    DEF _32 Material {
        ambientIntensity    0.2
        diffuseColor    0.8 0.8 0
     }
    }
    geometry    USE BUTTN
    }
    }
]
}

DEF PULSAWE Transform {
                           children     [
                              DEF PulsanteScriptAWE Script {
                                                        eventIn SFBool    isActive
                                                        eventIn SFBool    isOver
                                                        eventIn SFFloat    fractionChanged
                                                        eventIn SFTime    instTocc
                                                        eventOut SFBool    disablePulsSelf
                                                        eventOut SFBool    enablePulsNext
                                                        eventOut SFTime    startTimeAnim
                                                        eventOut SFBool    enableTMSAnim
                                                       eventOut SFColor    colorePulsInattivo
                                                        field SFBool    statotPulsSelf    TRUE
                                                        field SFBool    pointerOver    FALSE
                                                        field SFBool    statoAnim    FALSE
                                                        field SFBool    toccato    FALSE
                                            url     "vrmlscript:
// Handler for event isActive of type SFBool.
                                                            function isActive (value, time) {
                                                        if (value == true && pointerOver == true)
                                                            { startTimeAnim = time;
                                                              enableTMSAnim = true;
                                                              enablePulsNext = true;}
                                                            }
// Handler for event isOver of type SFBool.
                                                            function isOver (value, timestamp) {
                                                        if (value == true) { pointerOver = true; }
                                                             }
// Handler for event fractionChanged of type SFFloat.
                                                            function fractionChanged (value, timestamp) {
                                                        if (value >= 0.0 && value <= 1.0) {r = 0.0;g = 0.9;b = 0.8;}
                                                             }

// Handler for event instTocc of type SFTime.
                                                            function instTocc (valToc, timestamp) {
                                                               toccato = true;
                                                               colorePulsInattivo = new SFColor(r,g,b);
                                                               disablePulsSelf = false;
                                                             }
                                                        "
                                                     }
    DEF AWE-TXT Transform {........}
    DEF TS-AWE-Trig TouchSensor {
                                 enabled     FALSE
                                                        }
    DEF OrologioBlink_18 TimeSensor {
                              enabled     FALSE
                              stopTime     -1
                              cycleInterval     2
                              loop     TRUE
                              }
    DEF BlinkInterp_19 ColorInterpolator {
                              key     [ 0, 0.5, 0.51, 1 ]
                              keyValue     [ 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.9 0.8, 0 0.9 0.8 ]
                               }
    DEF AWE-Button Transform {
                                children Shape {
                                              appearance Appearance {
                                                                  material     DEF _20 Material {
                                                                  ambientIntensity     0.2
                                                                  diffuseColor     0.8 0.8 0
                                                               }
                                                        }
                                                        geometry     USE BUTTN
                                                      }
                                                   }
                                                ]
                                 }

DEF PULSUSR Transform {
                         children     [
                          DEF PulsanteScriptUSR Script {
                                               eventIn SFBool    isActive
                                               eventIn SFBool    isOver
                                               eventIn SFFloat    fractionChanged
                                               eventIn SFTime    instTocc
                                               eventOut SFBool    disablePulsSelf
                                               eventOut SFBool    enablePulsNext
                                               eventOut SFTime    startTimeAnim
                                               eventOut SFBool    enableTMSAnim
                                               eventOut SFColor    colorePulsInattivo
                                               field SFBool    statotPulsSelf    TRUE
                                               field SFBool    pointerOver    FALSE
                                               field SFBool    statoAnim    FALSE
                                               field SFBool    toccato    FALSE
                                         url     "vrmlscript:
// Handler for event isActive of type SFBool.
                                           function isActive (value, time) {
                                               if (value == true && pointerOver == true)
                                           { startTimeAnim = time;
                                           enableTMSAnim = true;
                                           enablePulsNext = true;}
                                           }
// Handler for event isOver of type SFBool.
                                           function isOver (value, timestamp) {
                                               if (value == true) { pointerOver = true; }
                                           }
// Handler for event fractionChanged of type SFFloat.
                                           function fractionChanged (value, timestamp) {
                                               if (value >= 0.0 && value <= 1.0) {r = 0.0;g = 0.9;b = 0.8;}
                                           }
// Handler for event instTocc of type SFTime.
                                           function instTocc (valToc, timestamp) {
                                               toccato = true;
                                               colorePulsInattivo = new SFColor(r,g,b);
                                               disablePulsSelf = false;
                                           }
                                        "
                                      }
    DEF USR-TXT Transform {.....}
    DEF TS-USR-Trig TouchSensor {    enabled     FALSE    }
    DEF OrologioBlink_24 TimeSensor {
                                               enabled     FALSE
                                               stopTime     -1
                                               cycleInterval     2
                                               loop     TRUE
                                               }
    DEF BlinkInterp_25 ColorInterpolator {
                                               key     [ 0, 0.5, 0.51, 1 ]
                                               keyValue     [ 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.9 0.8, 0 0.9 0.8 ]
    }
    DEF USR-Button Transform {
                                children   Shape {
                                               appearance Appearance {
                                                                   material     DEF _26 Material {
                                                                   ambientIntensity     0.2
                                                                   diffuseColor     0.8 0.8 0
                                                                     }
                                               }
                                               geometry     USE BUTTN
                                             }
                                          }
                                       ]
                                 }

DEF PULSCDROM Transform {
children    [
    DEF PulsanteScriptCDROM Script {
    eventIn SFBool    isActive
    eventIn SFBool    isOver
    eventIn SFFloat    fractionChanged
    eventIn SFTime    instTocc
    eventOut SFBool    disablePulsSelf
    eventOut SFBool    enablePulsNext
    eventOut SFTime    startTimeAnim
    eventOut SFBool    enableTMSAnim
    eventOut SFColor    colorePulsInattivo
    field SFBool    statotPulsSelf    TRUE
    field SFBool    pointerOver    FALSE
    field SFBool    statoAnim    FALSE
    field SFBool    toccato    FALSE
    url    "vrmlscript:
// Handler for event isActive of type SFBool.
function isActive (value, time) {
    if (value == true && pointerOver == true)
{ startTimeAnim = time;
enableTMSAnim = true;
enablePulsNext = true;}
}
// Handler for event isOver of type SFBool.
function isOver (value, timestamp) {
    if (value == true) { pointerOver = true; }
}

// Handler for event fractionChanged of type SFFloat.
function fractionChanged (value, timestamp) {
    if (value >= 0.0 && value <= 1.0) {r = 0.0;g = 0.9;b = 0.8;}
}

// Handler for event instTocc of type SFTime.
function instTocc (valToc, timestamp) {
    toccato = true;
    colorePulsInattivo = new SFColor(r,g,b);
    disablePulsSelf = false;
}
"
    }
    DEF CDROM-TXT Transform {.......}
    DEF TS-CDROM-Trig TouchSensor {    enabled     FALSE    }
    DEF OrologioBlink_35 TimeSensor {
    enabled    FALSE
    stopTime    -1
    cycleInterval    2
    loop    TRUE
    }
    DEF BlinkInterp_36 ColorInterpolator {
                                    key     [ 0, 0.5, 0.51, 1 ]
                                    keyValue     [ 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.5 0.4, 0 0.9 0.8, 0 0.9 0.8 ]
                                   }
    DEF CDROM-Button Transform {
    children    Shape {
    appearance    Appearance {
    material    DEF _37 Material {
        ambientIntensity    0.2
        diffuseColor    0.8 0.8 0
     }
    }
    geometry    USE BUTTN
    }
    }
  ]
}

1) Show me the Motherboard, give me info about slots, plugs, technical features.

1) MB + sub-componets, html features document
A) (right click - load new ... - in top left frame -in top right frame)

Anchor & Script

DEF Motherboard Anchor {
                       url "html/mb.htm"
                       description "Motherboard Description"
                       parameter "target=descrobjvrml"
                       children [ ... ]
                     }

The document monitor.htm has TAG HEAD : 

<script LANGUAGE="JavaScript">

             function loadObjSel() {
                                              top.objvrml.location.href="../vpobj/vpmb.wrl";
                                            }
</script>

frame 1 is called 'objvrml'
frame 2 (see next chapter) is called 'descrobjvrml' .

DEF Cpu Anchor {
                       url "html/cpu2.htm"
                       description "Cpu Description"
                       parameter "target=descrobjvrml"
                       children [ ... ]
                     }

The document monitor.htm has TAG HEAD : 

<script LANGUAGE="JavaScript">

             function loadObjSel() {
                                              top.objvrml.location.href="../vpobj/vpcpu2.wrl";
                                            }
</script>

frame 1 is called 'objvrml'
frame 2 (see next chapter) is called 'descrobjvrml' .

DEF Graphic Anchor {
                       url "html/matrox.htm"
                       description "Graphic Card Description"
                       parameter "target=descrobjvrml"
                       children [ ... ]
                     }

The document monitor.htm has TAG HEAD : 

<script LANGUAGE="JavaScript">

             function loadObjSel() {
                                              top.objvrml.location.href="../vpobj/vpagp3n.wrl";
                                            }
</script>

frame 1 is called 'objvrml'
frame 2 (see next chapter) is called 'descrobjvrml' .

DEF Awe64 Anchor {
                       url "html/awe64.htm"
                       description "Audio Card Description"
                       parameter "target=descrobjvrml"
                       children [ ... ]
                     }

The document monitor.htm has TAG HEAD : 

<script LANGUAGE="JavaScript">

             function loadObjSel() {
                                              top.objvrml.location.href="../vpobj/vpawe64.wrl";
                                            }
</script>

frame 1 is called 'objvrml'
frame 2 (see next chapter) is called 'descrobjvrml' .

DEF Modem Anchor {
                       url "html/modem.htm"
                       description "Modem Description"
                       parameter "target=descrobjvrml"
                       children [ ... ]
                     }

The document monitor.htm has TAG HEAD : 

<script LANGUAGE="JavaScript">

             function loadObjSel() {
                                              top.objvrml.location.href="../vpobj/vpmodem.wrl";
                                            }
</script>

frame 1 is called 'objvrml'
frame 2 (see next chapter) is called 'descrobjvrml' .

DEF Monitor Anchor {
                       url "html/monitor.htm"
                       description "Monitor Description"
                       parameter "target=descrobjvrml"
                       children [ ... ]
                     }

The document monitor.htm has TAG HEAD : 

<script LANGUAGE="JavaScript">

             function loadObjSel() {
                                              top.objvrml.location.href="../vpobj/vpmonitor2b.wrl";
                                            }
</script>

frame 1 is called 'objvrml'
frame 2 (see next chapter) is called 'descrobjvrml' .

What you have just seen, is a very clever and simple use of the VRML code. 
The astonishing thing is that all the elements are integrated to convey a content, and make a VRML environment talk.

The top left end frame (frame1) shows the component that is being used if you decide to scan the system PC.
The top right end frame (frame2) shows a textual description and/or the features of the given component, when the user selects the objects from the frame below (frame 3).
The frame at the bottom end (frame3) shows the assembly-building process of the PC.

The interaction with the VRML environment takes place in  two frames: frame 1 and frame 3 of the above image.
It is organized in 2 ways: 
- One is to interact with the process of building the PC and connecting the components. Here we show how to fix the components and which component to install in the right sequence and in the right place. 
- Another one is to interact with  the single components as a system and to display the information relating to the components' features. In this way we allow the new users to familiarize  with the components and to get to know what the components look like.

A button for each component. The user will be given instructions through the various phases of the assembly by means of a flashing light that appears over the text.

“Transparency” buttons.  When the whole PC has been assembled they become visible and active.
The degree of transparency of the Case depends on these buttons.
These buttons allows you to dissolve and to make visible the case for one cycle.

After this task is done another scene is loaded. In this scene you can power on (button blinks) the computer.
You can see the Power On Sequence Test (POST)  starting.

Applications

• Information Tecnology: technical support systems
• Multi/Single user environment: virtual stores
• Shopping : On-line catalogs
• Training :User’s Manual, Installation Notes
• Advertising : on/off line demos

AAVV. Elementi di Semiotica Generativa, 1991 Esculapio, Bologna.

AAVV. Il Corpo Tecnologico, 1994 Baskerville, Bologna.

Capucci P. L. Realta' del Virtuale, 1993 Clueb, Bologna.

Carey R, Bell G, Marrin C, Virtual Reality Modeling Language,(VRML97)
URL: http://www.vrml.org/Specifications/VRML97

De Kerckhove D. Skin of Culture, 1997 Kogan Page.

De Kerckhove D. Brainframes, 1991 Bosh & Keuning, Utrecht

ECO U. Theory of Semiotics, 1977 Macmillian P. 

Floch J. Identites Visuelles, 1995 Presses Universitaires de France, Paris

Hjelmslev L. Prolegomena to a Theory of Language, Univ. Wisconsin Press,

Price S. Media Studies, 1998 Longman, London.

Stillings N A & AAVV. Cognitive Science, An Inroduction MIT Press.

Tobin Y. Semiotics and Linguistics, 1990 Longman, London.