Michael D. Smith
M.Ed. student in Learning, Design, & Technology
Virtual Worlds Certificate Program
MVM
Museum of Virtual Media:
Graphics Exhibit (prototype)
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The theme of our final project in the Virtual Worlds Certificate Program was presented to us during the first semester of the program. The goal was to create a virtual museum of virtual media based on a description presented in Chapter 2 of the book "Infinite Reality," by Jim Blascovich and Jeremy Bailenson. The authors actually visited our class in Second Life on multiple occasions in order to provide feedback on our ideas and to view the completed project.

In the second semester of the program, I developed a prototype for the Graphics exhibit, which was represented in the book by the Lasceaux caves in France. The caves are famous for their paleolithic cave paintings, which represent one of the earliest forms of human art. I designed a representation of the cave (using a pre-existing 3D cave model) with examples of cave paintings on the walls and informational kiosks marking a path through the exhibit.
Museum of Virtual Media:
Wayfinding and the Trickster Quest
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For the final version of the project that we developed in the last semester of the program, I led the Wayfinding team (which was charged with developing the conceptual paths through the museum and providing continuity between exhibits). I came up with a storyline intended to guide visitors through the museum by way of an optional quest to retrieve a valuable book which had been stolen from the museum by a mysterious shadowy figure.
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This figure was intended to represent an archetypal Trickster character, who would show up in various incarnations throughout the museum, providing clues as to the location of the book. In mythology, Tricksters are often the catalysts for new adventures, and occasionally act as benefactors of mankind; the idea was that the Trickster stole the book in order to start the visitor on this quest for knowledge.
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This quest was ultimately incorporated into the final project in an altered form in order to merge it with an idea for a game-based quest developed by the Gaming team.
Museum of Virtual Media:
Computers and Internet Exhibit
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I also led one of four design teams for the final project; my team was responsible for designing three of the exhibits - Graphics, Electricity, and Computers and the Internet. One of my teammates developed his own version of the Lasceaux cave for the Graphics exhibit (using the 3D cave model that I used for the initial prototype). I came up with the concept for the Electricity exhibit (a series of linked cloud-like platforms floating in the air), which another team member then developed. I also completely designed and built the Computers and Internet exhibit, basing it on a video-game-like theme.
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Visitors to the Computers and Internet exhibit are told that the exhibit has been shut down because a rogue AI (artificial intelligence) has taken over the computer systems, and are asked to help out by 'downloading' their consciousness into the computer in order to enter in the proper access codes from inside the system. Once they enter the computer, the visitors must find their way through the exhibit stored inside the computer while searching for the codes needed to reset the system. Naturally, they encounter the rogue AI along the way. As in any good video game, however, things are not always as they seem...
Just a sample of my work. To see more or discuss possible employment opportunities >>
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My avatar (a 3D virtual representation of myself, but with much better hair) looking at one of the kiosks. Visitors can click on the kiosk to receive a notecard with information about the cave painting.
A view of two of the kiosks, along with the lava pit (which adds atmosphere and lighting) and some additional cave paintings on the wall.
A closeup of the bonfire (which I added for additional atmosphere and lighting). It was a fairly cozy little cave.
My avatar (a 3D virtual representation of myself, but with much better hair) looking at one of the kiosks. Visitors can click on the kiosk to receive a notecard with information about the cave painting.
An aerial view of the virtual island housing the Museum of Virtual Media.
The central platform (the landing point for the Museum of Virtual Media).
A sample of the object of the quest - pages from the missing book.
An aerial view of the virtual island housing the Museum of Virtual Media.
The entrance to the Computers and Internet exhibit. Visitors are told that the exhibit has been temporarily shut down because a rogue AI has taken over the computer systems, and are asked to go to the Security office if they are willing to help out.
If you agree to help, you then sit in this device, which simulates 'downloading' your consciousness into the museum's computer system (it actually provides some basic instructions and 'teleports' your avatar to the next section of the exhibit).
This exhibit won a blue ribbon from a panel of expert judges as one of the best exhibits in the museum.
The entrance to the Computers and Internet exhibit. Visitors are told that the exhibit has been temporarily shut down because a rogue AI has taken over the computer systems, and are asked to go to the Security office if they are willing to help out.