Consistency in Continuous Distributed Interactive Media

In this paper we investigate how consistency can be ensured for continuous distributed interactive media, i.e. distributed media which change their state in reaction to user initiated operations as well as because of the passing of time. Existing approaches to reach consistency in discrete distributed interactive media are briefly outlined and it is shown that these fail in the continuous domain. In order to allow a thorough discussion of the problem, a formal definition of the term consistency in the continuous domain is given. Based on this definition we show that an important trade off relationship exists between the responsiveness of the medium and the appearance of short term inconsistencies. Currently this trade off is not taken into consideration for consistency in the continuous domain, thereby severely limiting the consistency related fidelity for a large number of applications. We show that for those applications the fidelity can be significantly raised by voluntarily decreasing the responsiveness of the medium. This concept is called local lag and it enables the distribution of continuous interactive media which are more vulnerable to short term inconsistencies than e.g. battlefield simulations. We prove that the concept of local lag is valid by describing how local lag was successfully used to ensure consistency in a 3D telecooperation application

RTP/I Payload Type Definition for Telepointers

This document specifies an application-level protocol (i.e., payload type) for telepointers using the Real Time Protocol for Distributed Interactive Media (RTP/I). RTP/I defines a standardized framing for the transmission of application data and provides protocol mechanisms that are universally needed for the class of distributed interactive media. A telepointer creates a common point of reference in distributed (i.e., multi-user) applications by visualizing mouse movements of remote session participants. Telepointers are used in conjunction with other distributed interactive media such as shared whiteboards and distributed virtual environments. This documents specifies how to employ two-dimensional telepointers with RTP/I and defines application data units (ADUs) for telepointer operations. This protocol definition allows standardized collaboration between different telepointer implementations

RTP/I Payload Type Definition for Chat Tools

This document specifies an application-level protocol (i.e., payload type) for chat tools using the Real Time Protocol for Distributed Interactive Media (RTP/I). RTP/I defines a standardized framing for the transmission of application data and provides protocol mechanisms that are universally needed for the class of distributed interactive media. A chat tool provides an instant messaging service among an arbitrary number of users. This documents specifies how to employ a chat tool with RTP/I and defines application data units (ADUs) for chat operations. This protocol definition allows standardized collaboration between different chat implementations

RTP/I Payload Type Definition for Feedback Tools

This document specifies an application-level protocol (i.e., payload type) for feedback tools using the Real Time Protocol for Distributed Interactive Media (RTP/I). RTP/I defines a standardized framing for the transmission of application data and provides protocol mechanisms that are universally needed for the class of distributed interactive media. A feedback tool is used in synchronous collaborative environments for permanent feedback about certain criteria (e.g., audio quality). This document specifies how to employ a feedback tool with RTP/I and defines application data units (ADUs) for feedback tool operations. This protocol definition allows standardized communication between different feedback tool implementations

RTP/I Payload Type Definition for Application Launch Tools

This document specifies an application-level protocol (i.e., payload type) for application launch tools using the Real-Time Protocol for Distributed Interactive Media (RTP/I). RTP/I defines a standardized framing for the transmission of application data and provides protocol mechanisms that are universally needed for the class of distributed interactive media. An application launch tool is used to synchronously start applications in collaborative environments, i.e., a participant can trigger the simultaneous execution of a program at all involved sites. This document specifies how to employ an application launch tool with RTP/I and defines application data units (ADUs) for application launch tool operations. This protocol definition allows standardized communication between different application launch tool implementations

RTP/I Payload Type Definition for Hand-Raising Tools

This document specifies an application-level protocol (i.e., payload type) for hand-raising tools using the Real Time Protocol for Distributed Interactive Media (RTP/I). RTP/I defines a standardized framing for the transmission of application data and provides protocol mechanisms that are universally needed for the class of distributed interactive media. A hand-raising tool can support collaboration between spatially separated users. In a video conference, for example, a hand-raising tool can be used to coordinate different speakers. This documents specifies how to employ a hand-raising tool with RTP/I and defines application data units (ADUs) for hand-raising tool operations. This protocol definition allows standardized collaboration between different hand-raising tool implementations

RTP/I Payload Type Definition for Shared Whiteboards

This document specifies an application-level protocol (i.e., payload type) for interactive shared whiteboards using the Real Time Protocol for Distributed Interactive Media (RTP/I). RTP/I defines a standardized framing for the transmission of application data and provides protocol mechanisms that are universally needed for the class of distributed interactive media. A shared whiteboard is a tool to present and edit documents (slides) in a collaborative environment (e.g., a video conference). Shared whiteboards belong to the distributed interactive media class and are therefore well suited to base their network communication model on RTP/I. This document shows how to employ RTP/I with shared whiteboards and defines application data units (ADUs) for operations needed by a whiteboard. This protocol definition allows standardized collaboration between different whiteboard implementations

Harnessing brain power at NUI Maynooth

The Department of Electronic Engineering at NUI Maynooth is involved in exciting interdisciplinary work in the biomedical, digital signal processing, control and electronic systems areas. Here Tomas Ward, Seán McLoone and Shirley Coyle highlight three specific projects

Reflecting on Gender and Digital Networked Media

Author version made available in accordance with the publisher's policy.This article explores gendered practices in new media formations. We consider the ways that emergent practices in new media bring to the fore and make more explicit some previously submerged practices. In identity construction, in spatial practices, and in the productive labor of users of new media, we see examples of how the fluidity of gender can be highlighted, the cultural specificity of some often taken for granted and naturalized practices can be more readily understood as constructed, and ironically, how the overt and self-congratulatory crowing of some gamer and geek cultures draws attention to their misogyny, creating a much bigger and more easily identifiable target for counterstrategies. The intersection of emergent technologies and sociocultural practices creates new areas of gendered negotiations