The gWiki technology is featured today at the School of Informatics, IUPUI, in Indianapolis as part of a preconference tour organized by Museums and the Web conference. The gWiki technology is at the heart of the Visible Past project that I have developed over the past couple of years. It is a location aware information system that connects in a seamless network of information mobile and fixed platforms. It’s main capability is to identify the user location, in real or virtual space, and to deliver information about that space on the fly on the display that is the nearest to the user. We have described our vision in several papers, of which the one published by First Monday is the most comprehensive.
In collaboration with my colleagues at Indiana University and IUPUI, Eric Wernert, Jeff Rogers and Mike Boyles, we have extended the gWiki environment to virtual reality, full immersion, cave environments. Specifically, we have created a mini-site for Omaha Beach, that is connected to a 3D model of the beach which can be displayed in natural size on three gigantic screens. The environment creates the illusion of a holodeck, a Star Trek-like environment for simulating exotic, past or fictional environments.
Another team, at Purdue University, lead by Aron Ault and Jim Krogmeier, has created an IPhone application, which will deliver the same information through a mobile connection. Next time you go to Normandy, do not forget your cell phone at home (we decline any responsibility for your data roaming rates).
We will make these applications available to the public in the coming months as open source, free software. Please check this blog regularly for updates.