Virtual Reality Games for Motor Rehabilitation

This paper presents a fuzzy logic based method to track user satisfaction without the need for devices to monitor users physiological conditions. User satisfaction is the key to any product’s acceptance; computer applications and video games provide a unique opportunity to provide a tailored environment for each user to better suit their needs. We have implemented a non-adaptive fuzzy logic model of emotion, based on the emotional component of the Fuzzy Logic Adaptive Model of Emotion (FLAME) proposed by El-Nasr, to estimate player emotion in UnrealTournament 2004. In this paper we describe the implementation of this system and present the results of one of several play tests. Our research contradicts the current literature that suggests physiological measurements are needed. We show that it is possible to use a software only method to estimate user emotion

Dead Reckoning Using Play Patterns in a Simple 2D Multiplayer Online Game

In today’s gaming world, a player expects the same play experience whether playing on a local network or online with many geographically distant players on congested networks. Because of delay and loss, there may be discrepancies in the simulated environment from player to player, likely resulting in incorrect perception of events. It is desirable to develop methods that minimize this problem. Dead reckoning is one such method. Traditional dead reckoning schemes typically predict a player’s position linearly by assuming players move with constant force or velocity. In this paper, we consider team-based 2D online action games. In such games, player movement is rarely linear. Consequently, we implemented such a game to act as a test harness we used to collect a large amount of data from playing sessions involving a large number of experienced players. From analyzing this data, we identified play patterns, which we used to create three dead reckoning algorithms. We then used an extensive set of simulations to compare our algorithms with the IEEE standard dead reckoning algorithm and with the recent “Interest Scheme” algorithm. Our results are promising especially with respect to the average export error and the number of hits

Multistep-Ahead Neural-Network Predictors for Network Traffic Reduction in Distributed Interactive Applications

Predictive contract mechanisms such as dead reckoning are widely employed to support scalable remote entity modeling in distributed interactive applications (DIAs). By employing a form of controlled inconsistency, a reduction in network traffic is achieved. However, by relying on the distribution of instantaneous derivative information, dead reckoning trades remote extrapolation accuracy for low computational complexity and ease-of-implementation. In this article, we present a novel extension of dead reckoning, termed neuro-reckoning, that seeks to replace the use of instantaneous velocity information with predictive velocity information in order to improve the accuracy of entity position extrapolation at remote hosts. Under our proposed neuro-reckoning approach, each controlling host employs a bank of neural network predictors trained to estimate future changes in entity velocity up to and including some maximum prediction horizon. The effect of each estimated change in velocity on the current entity position is simulated to produce an estimate for the likely position of the entity over some short time-span. Upon detecting an error threshold violation, the controlling host transmits a predictive velocity vector that extrapolates through the estimated position, as opposed to transmitting the instantaneous velocity vector. Such an approach succeeds in reducing the spatial error associated with remote extrapolation of entity state. Consequently, a further reduction in network traffic can be achieved. Simulation results conducted using several human users in a highly interactive DIA indicate significant potential for improved scalability when compared to the use of IEEE DIS standard dead reckoning. Our proposed neuro-reckoning framework exhibits low computational resource overhead for real-time use and can be seamlessly integrated into many existing dead reckoning mechanisms

Multistep-Ahead Neural-Network Predictors for Network Traffic Reduction in Distributed Interactive Applications

Predictive contract mechanisms such as dead reckoning are widely employed to support scalable remote entity modeling in distributed interactive applications (DIAs). By employing a form of controlled inconsistency, a reduction in network traffic is achieved. However, by relying on the distribution of instantaneous derivative information, dead reckoning trades remote extrapolation accuracy for low computational complexity and ease-of-implementation. In this article, we present a novel extension of dead reckoning, termed neuro-reckoning, that seeks to replace the use of instantaneous velocity information with predictive velocity information in order to improve the accuracy of entity position extrapolation at remote hosts. Under our proposed neuro-reckoning approach, each controlling host employs a bank of neural network predictors trained to estimate future changes in entity velocity up to and including some maximum prediction horizon. The effect of each estimated change in velocity on the current entity position is simulated to produce an estimate for the likely position of the entity over some short time-span. Upon detecting an error threshold violation, the controlling host transmits a predictive velocity vector that extrapolates through the estimated position, as opposed to transmitting the instantaneous velocity vector. Such an approach succeeds in reducing the spatial error associated with remote extrapolation of entity state. Consequently, a further reduction in network traffic can be achieved. Simulation results conducted using several human users in a highly interactive DIA indicate significant potential for improved scalability when compared to the use of IEEE DIS standard dead reckoning. Our proposed neuro-reckoning framework exhibits low computational resource overhead for real-time use and can be seamlessly integrated into many existing dead reckoning mechanisms

Network Traffic Adaptation For Cloud Games

With the arrival of cloud technology, game accessibility and ubiquity have a bright future; Games can be hosted in a centralize server and accessed through the Internet by a thin client on a wide variety of devices with modest capabilities: cloud gaming. However, current cloud gaming systems have very strong requirements in terms of network resources, thus reducing the accessibility and ubiquity of cloud games, because devices with little bandwidth and people located in area with limited and unstable network connectivity, cannot take advantage of these cloud services. In this paper we present an adaptation technique inspired by the level of detail (LoD) approach in 3D graphics. It delivers multiple platform accessibility and network adaptability, while improving user's quality of experience (QoE) by reducing the impact of poor and unstable network parameters (delay, packet loss, jitter) on game interactivity. We validate our approach using a prototype game in a controlled environment and characterize the user QoE in a pilot experiment. The results show that the proposed framework provides a significant QoE enhancement

Rationale Document: Entity Information And Entity Interaction In A Distributed Interactive Simulation

Report on efforts to define and develop a standard communication protocol at the protocol data unit level

An Information-Based Dynamic Extrapolation Model for Networked Virtual Environments

Various Information Management techniques have been developed to help maintain a consistent shared virtual world in a Networked Virtual Environment. However, such techniques have to be carefully adapted to the application state dynamics and the underlying network. This work presents a novel framework that minimizes inconsistency by optimizing bandwidth usage to deliver useful information. This framework measures the state evolution using an information model and dynamically switches extrapolation models and the packet rate to make the most information-efficient usage of the available bandwidth. The results shown demonstrate that this approach can help optimize consistency under constrained and time-varying network conditions