A Multimedia Approach to Collaborative Engineering Design on the Web

A Multimedia Approach to Collaborative Engineering Design on the Web

ABSTRACT

Over the past decade, there has been an elevation in computer software's role in
the educational process. Software developers have started to take advantage of the most
significant advances in computer technology most notably, internet-based networks. As
resources for education dwindle, many now look towards information technologies to
improve productivity by reducing the time, money and teaching resources needed to help
students learn. Undeniably, the Internet will be a vital part of education in the near future.
Also, the extensive use of computers and the dramatic increase of laptops at many
universities, such as the University of Oklahoma, further encourage the need for content
development of courses on the Internet.
This thesis explores the use of the World Wide Web (also known as the Internet)
as a supplement to conventional teaching methods in engineering education. Since good
engineering programs are generally too complex to use, too costly and not widely
available to students, a Web-based approach is more favored. In addition, creating
engineering applications on the Web that are interactive and collaborative further induces
the excitement and creativity in engineering students. Collaboration is defined as the act
of working together to accomplish a task.
The applications developed here are meant to be used along with Web pages to
promote online collaboration and have students coming back to the Web pages regularly.
The ability to collaborate online enables engineering students to cultivate teamwork when
they cannot physically meet. The objective of this thesis is to research the use of Director
7 and VRML to collaborate online. There are four tools in this research that illustrate the

ability to collaborate on the Web. The multi-user programs developed here also
incorporate text chat ability for online discussion. The first tool is the Multiuser Painting
Board that allows students to draw simple sketches for another person over the Web.
Next, the Multiuser Drawing Board was developed to provide online collaborative
drawing with greater accuracy and also more options. The collaboration drawing is real
time and both sides are able to draw at the same time. The Multiuser Drawing Board is
used in the Rigid Body Mechanics Online Course at the University of Oklahoma,
Norman.
The Multiuser Layout Planner was developed to cater for the needs to
collaboratively layout a plant. This tool uses VRML to provide 3-D visualization of the
layout design. Besides the Multiuser Layout Planner, a concurrent truss design called
Multiuser Truss Solver was also made. The Truss Solver allows the students to
concurrently design trusses using the Web platform.
The final part of this thesis concerns the development of Virtual Lathe using
VRML and JavaScript. The chapter describes the use of VRML for viewing and
JavaScript for interaction. In addition, the chapter also discusses the creation of the
VRML models to illustrate manufacturing processes.

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