Physically based modelling for multimedia virtual environments

The fundamental difference between television and a multimedia system is interactivity. Otherwise television too can present to the viewer (user) multimedia information like text, graphics,images, audio, video and animation. Multimedia systems today are largely limited to the presentation of textual and audio-visual information. Similarly in these systems interaction-is restricted to that provided by graphical user interfaces. With rapid developments in the technology of virtual reality the ultimate interactive multimedia system is a multimedia virtual environment, one in which a user can navigate or travel and interact with computer presented multimedia information elements and experience presence as if it were part of the real word. The real word is dynamic with things changing overtime according to physical laws. For realistic feedback on manipulation of objects in a multimedia environment these objects must respond correctly to the users actions; A physically based modelling approach is essential, so that simulations provide not only realistic visuals and form changes but also multimedia effects and dynamic behaviours with associated multi-sensory effects like sounds, pressure etc. In this paper the general architecture of a multimedia virtual environment is first presented. The need for physically based modelling is then analysed and physically based methods/techniques are reviewed. Finally the research activities in this area being carried out at NCST are briefly described.