Science on a Sphere

Ways of Adding Interactivity into the Unique Projection System

Jana Varnušková

and Josef Kohout

1,2

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of West Bohemia, Plzeň, Czech Republic

New Technologies for Information Society (NTIS), University of West Bohemia, Plzeň, Czech Republic

Keywords: Science on a Sphere, SOS, NOAA, Interactivity, Nintendo, Wii Remote, Client, Server, Game, Education.

Abstract: This paper describes applied research provided in cooperation of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and the

Techmania Science Centre. It presents the unique system Science on a Sphere, its features, control

mechanisms and limitations. The special visualization system brings a new approach of geographical data

presentation. On the other hand it offers just a minimal opportunity of user interaction. Interaction should

enable better participation of science centre in the learning process. The paper shows the ways how the

existing projection system Science on a Sphere has been extended for the interactive features.

1 INTRODUCTION

Science on a Sphere (SOS, 2014) is a science project

of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) agency (NOAA, 2014). It

was developed as an educational tool that should

enable better illustration and visualization of

geography, history or any atmospheric processes on

Earth and other planets. In fact, it is a large

visualization system composed of projection sphere

and four video projectors connected to the computer.

Projectors are placed sophistically around the sphere

and displaying animated data on the sphere surface

and so the system has an effect of luminary globe.

The simple scheme of the system can be seen in

Figure 1.

SOSs are mostly placed in science centres,

museums and universities. All of them can use over

400 datasets categorized in several groups. Datasets

are produced directly by the NOAA as a

visualization of data measured by several different

types of satellites, including geostationary and polar

orbiting satellites. Some datasets (e.g. temperature,

weather or wind speed) are real-time, they are

actualised online according to actually measured

data just with approximately one hour delay.

Moreover, not only official datasets can be

projected, users can produce their own visualizations

based on video or image data.

Over one hundred spheres are installed

worldwide, most of them are placed on the North

Figure 1: Scheme of SOS.

America Continent. In October 2013 the seventh

SOS in Europe was installed in the Czech Republic,

in Techmania Science Center in Pilsen (TSC, 2014).

The sphere has diameter 1,73m and is placed in a

separate dome of the planetarium building. This

equipment was used for development of the SOS

interactivity system described in this paper.

SOS is the unique equipment that is ideal for

visualization of geographically and planetary data

especially for educational, science communication

and visual analitics purposes. But because in its

original state it can be used only for replaying

prepared datasets, it has very limited usage. The

whole projection is controlled by the SOS server and

the system does not enable to change its function or

to access directly the visualization part. The user can

influence the view (the globe rotation and the

visualization stop and replay) from a remote device,

such as tablet application, touch screen or Wii

Remote. In our approach we have focused on design

of extension of the user interaction with SOS.

423

Varnušková J. and Kohout J..

Science on a Sphere - Ways of Adding Interactivity into the Unique Projection System.

DOI: 10.5220/0005271004230430

In Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Applications (GRAPP-2015), pages 423-430

ISBN: 978-989-758-087-1

 2015 SCITEPRESS (Science and Technology Publications, Lda.)

Suggested approach was demonstrated on the

implementation of the educational game.

Section 2 describes the ways how SOS can be

controlled, Section 3 deals with reasons why and

ways how to add interactivity into the existing

system and its usage in education game is shown in

Section 4. Finally, Section 5 concludes the paper and

outlines our possible plans into the future.

2 SCIENCE ON A SPHERE

The basic element of the SOS visualization is

a dataset, or we can call it a clip. Clips are combined

into playlists and among clips in the playlist users

can simple switch during the SOS viewing (as

described in Section 2.1). In dependence on the way

of SOS control that we use, we can manage more or

less limiting set of functions for the globe control.

2.1 SOS Control

There are several ways how to use the whole system.

The basic approach is to view the prepared datasets

downloaded directly from the NOAA (SOS, 2014).

Three examples can be seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2: a) Blue Marble (23 degree tilt); b) Red Mars

(25 degree tilt); c) Surface Temperature.

The view control can be provided on the touch

screen that is placed directly next to the sphere.

Everybody can select any dataset from the prepared

list and start its playing. The viewed clip can be tilt,

paused and released again. Similar opportunities of

control (but in a more movable way) are offered by

the usage of Nintendo Wii Remote. The advantage is

that SOS can be controlled from any place in the

room and the operator can better view the globe,

walk around it and see anything he/she wants.

Much more advanced option of control is the

usage of tablet. User of the tablet application

connected to SOS can switch clips, rotate the globe

in any direction, zoom or use simple drawing to

highlight some interesting places. Also layers used

on the sphere can be explored, hidden and showed

again. This approach is used by the trained operator

of the SOS (most often the edutainer – guide in the

science centre).

The only possibility to influence the SOS system

completely is to send one or more of the predefined

commands to SOS server terminal via telnet

protocol. This approach is called automation (SOS –

automation, 2014). There are tens of commands that

can influence the globe (e.g. insert pictures, set its

size, position, style, name, add or remove layer, get

current state of the system and many others).

Because commands have to be entered in a proper

format and various settings should be observed, it is

not a user friendly way of SOS control for a

common user. But it is the most complex way.

To summarize it, the SOS offers various kinds of

datasets visualization, but for the non-trained user

(the visitor) there is absolutely no way how to

interact with the device except for switching and

replaying clips.

2.2 SOS Abilities

Base of any dataset can be composed from image or

video wrapped around the globe. Aspect ratio of the

base should be 2:1. SOS offers many features that

can be used for the dataset modification. The

original data can be overlaid by some additional

proper layer image, pictures in picture can be added

on a particular place on a globe, speed and angle of

rotation can be specified etc. We can work with

audio, sphere orientation, zoom and annotation, we

can switch datasets, etc. As mentioned above, some

features can be affected directly in the dataset

description or we can use automation control. For

our work we have selected a set of several important

functions, they are described in following sections.

2.2.1 Sphere Orientation

The orientation of the sphere is given in degrees as

the vector of three values [rot

, rot

]. But in

fact, there are two coordinates systems – the globe

and the room one. It is important to notify, which

SOS feature uses which coordinate system. When

the sphere orientation is set as [0, 0, 0], the way of

specifying a position on the sphere surface is

identical in both coordinate systems. If the globe

orientation is changed, the room coordinate system

remains in the original position, and the globe

coordinate system shifts around (SOS – sphere

orientation, 2014).

We can affect the speed of the sphere rotation

and we can also set the exact tilt of the globe.

Because the sphere rotation can be in the same time

GRAPP2015-InternationalConferenceonComputerGraphicsTheoryandApplications

424

changed from several independent devices (tablet,

Wii Remote or a touch screen), it is very important

to get the actual state each time before any action.

2.2.2 Actual State

If we need to know, in which state the SOS actually

occurs (what is the rotation of the globe, if it is

rotating or not, if the pointer is visible, what is its

position etc.), we can use the actual state automation

command get_state. It returns description in a text

form that can be further parsed. An example string

can be seen here:

{timestamp 111} {pointerimage mmm} {pointersize

0.0} {clip_state LOADED} {clip_number 0}

{animating 1} {pointer 11.0,218.3} {tilt{0.0 0.0

0.0}} {frame_rate {30.0 0 0}} {playlist_name

nnn.sos} {frame_count 3600} {frame_number 656}

2.2.3 Pointer

Pointer is a tool that can be controlled just with

tablet or automation commands. It is a point of a

defined size or the single point can be replaced by an

image. It can be hidden or shown and we can affect

its position on the globe. Officially it has only one

function in the tablet presentation – to specify the

user actual position in the room, than the sphere is

rotated relatively to him/her.

Very important is the fact, that if we move the

pointer for [latitude, longitude] delta, it moves in the

coordinate system of the room and so, if the globe is

rotated, movement of the pointer does not keep the

original direction of lines of latitude and longitude

on the globe. The pointer moves vertically or

horizontally on the globe, but according to the clip

base image unwrapped to the 2D map it moves in an

elliptical path.

2.2.4 Picture in Picture (PIP)

Picture in picture is a very useful feature, if we want

to put image anywhere on the globe. We can choose

from three styles of PIP – room (it is placed once on

the globe and keeps its position relatively to the

room even if the globe rotates), projector (each

projector has its own image, so it is shown four

times on the globe; images do not move when the

globe rotates) and globe. The last one is the most

useful type for our purpose. The picture is placed

once on the globe and while the globe rotates, it

keeps its position relatively to the sphere on the

same place.

The orientation of PIP on the sphere is given by

longitude (going horizontally from -180 on the East

to 180 degrees on the West) and latitude (going

vertically from 90 degrees on the North to -90

degrees on the South Pole) – see Figure 3. Top

border of the image is situated always to the North

Pole of the globe.

Figure 3: Longitude and latitude visualization (image base

source: LatLon, 2014).

If we put the new PIP on the sphere, we can set

various properties, such as size, alpha, position or

style, we can change the source image or delete the

PIP. But once we add any next PIP, the precedent

one cannot be modified any more. To keep

opportunity to change the properties of each single

PIP also in the future, we have to set the PIP name

and later we can select the PIP according to its name

and continue in settings.

2.2.5 Layers

Layers are the second way of putting any image on

the globe. It is placed over the basic layer of

a dataset and should have the same aspect ratio as

basic data. Several layers can be placed over each

other and because they can use transparency, we can

use layers for adding some new information to the

basic content, for highlighting of some area or

adding labels. Each layer has its index and very

often its own name and can be shown or hidden via

automation comments or during tablet presentation.

The number of layers is not limited, but if we use

high number of layers, the whole system slows down

markedly.

2.2.6 Annotation

In Section 2.1 there was already mentioned, that

users of tablet application can use some kind of

drawing. System enables to choose the colour and

width of the line and to draw line segments between

two points, coordinates of the line segments end

points are set in degrees of latitude and longitude. If

we want to use annotation via automation, we need

only to build a command such as:

annotation drawline 90,0,-90,0,2,255,0,0

It will draw the Prime Meridian as the red line of

ScienceonaSphere-WaysofAddingInteractivityintotheUniqueProjectionSystem

425

width 2 from the North to the South Pole. If the line

segments are short enough, we can use them to

create curves, but because all line segments are

drawn subsequently, if many poly-lines should be

drawn, it needs more time.

3 INTERACTIVITY

All approaches described in Section 2.1 enable to

select any clip from the prepared datasets and view

it. Moreover, edutainers can use tablet to zoom to

some place on the globe or to draw simple on the

actually viewed dataset, to show some interesting

details. But there is no way how to interact with the

sphere more, or how to enable children to join any

game that will test their knowledge about the Earth,

planets or any other interesting topic. Our first aim

was to add to the SOS system a new feature which

would enable visitors of the science centre to affect

somehow what they see, to select any place and to

get more information and to learn more simply by

“clicking” on the sphere.

Because the SOS does not offer any tool, how to

impulse it and to launch any action we had to search

for another solution. SOS server is running online

and is able to react immediately on the command

sent via the telnet connection. It is the only way how

to give SOS real time instruction about what

operation should be provided. We have decided to

create an external application that would get

impulses from the user (via GUI or any special

hardware) and at the same time it would send

commands for the SOS directly to the SOS server

over the telnet connection.

As additive hardware we have selected Nintendo

Wii Remotes, because several pieces were already

bought with the SOS system. As mentioned in

Section 2.1, they have originally just very limited

control function. And because they were not used at

all, we were asked to upgrade their function. For the

communication between computer and Nintendo Wii

Remote the bluetooth wireless technology is used.

3.1 Interactive Features Concept

We need to implement two basic features so that any

game or interactive application could be built on the

SOS interactive module – clicking cursor (or

multiple cursors) and places/areas determination.

The first feature is the cursor. A tool that would

move on the globe and by clicking would run any

actions. Moreover, if we want to use the system for

any game, where more users would compete, we

need to place more cursors on the globe and to

control them separately and so we should extend the

system for multiple cursors.

To select and mark interesting places or areas,

we need to create any tool that would be able to

border any selected area on the globe. Moreover,

these areas should be clickable. It means that if the

user will use the click action, the area placed on the

position of the cursor will be able run the action. So

we need a way to describe a continuous border, an

algorithm to decide if the point (position of the

cursor) is inside the border and some mechanism to

show the area on the globe. Moreover, it would be

useful so that the area could be marked as active, if

the cursor is moving over the sphere (it means, if the

cursor moves over the area, it changes its border

colour and if the cursor leaves the area, border

colour is changed back as the non-active area). To

describe the border, it is sufficient to keep

coordinates of poly-line vertices together with the

name of the area. Coordinates can be used as for the

border visualization and so for the inside decision

algorithm. The detection algorithm works in two

levels. Each area has its bounding box, and before

exact test, if the point lies in the area, the bounding

box test is provided. When it is positive, the ray-

crossing algorithm based on the Jordan Curve

Theorem (Schneider and Eberly, 2002) is used to

determine exactly, if the point (position of the

cursor) lies inside the polygon (tested area).

3.2 SOS Control Module

We have designed a module covering all the SOS

control functions, telnet connection operations and

also supporting functions for data preparation. This

section describes approaches of using SOS abilities

for the interactive use. The following subsections

show an example of the model usage that was

further developed and implemented into the form of

complete workable system transferred into the real

use (see Section 4). Also some facts about the real

implementation of the model and reasons for

technologies selecting are given (Section 3.3). The

main idea of module integration and example of the

module usage in the interactive educational game

can be seen in Figure 4. The game server (created on

the basis of the interactive module) is connected to

the SOS server and ensures the automation

commands processing. To the game server we can

connect several Wii gamepads, each can control its

own cursor and so the game server has to process the

commands from various sources. The client

application ensures the comfortable game selection,

GRAPP2015-InternationalConferenceonComputerGraphicsTheoryandApplications

426

launching, switching of questions and the

communication with the game server.

Figure 4: Scheme of SOS with the interactivity module.

3.2.1 Interactive Features Implementation

We have really very limited opportunities while

adding any visual data on the globe. We can use

pointer and images in the form of layers and PIPs

and we can draw simple line segments. We need to

implement the basic interactive features described in

Section 3.1.

The first question to solve was the cursor. SOS

offers the pointer (it was shortly outlined in Section

2.2.3). It can be moved, resized or replaced by the

image, so it seems to be a perfect element. That is

why the pointer and its control was implemented

into the module. “Clicking” of the pointer can be

ensured in dependence on user demand, e.g. in GUI

or with the game pad. Because the pointer can be

placed on the globe only once, we have to find other

solution to implement multiple cursors. We have

decided to implement multiple cursors as PIPs. It

means that for each Wii Remote a new PIP is

created and serves as a cursor on the globe, it can be

moved or clicked. According to defined function we

can set any reaction of SOS on the “cursor click”,

we can define any button of the device to run any

action of the SOS system. When the Wii Remote is

reconnected, its PIP is removed.

SOS control module includes tool for connecting

the Wii Remote gamepad. There are two modes

which can be used. One Wii Remote can be used to

control pointer of SOS. When we need more users

(players), more Wii Remotes can be connected in

PIP mode. This is the most important feature added

into the system that enables interaction of the user.

The second interactive feature that should be

added was the management of interesting places and

areas. For the visualization on the globe we can

choose from two techniques. To decide, we have to

take into account two points of view – speed and

exactness of mapping of the area border on the

globe.

The first approach is based on the usage of the

prepared images placed on sphere as layers. For each

area we must prepare a separate image that must

have the same size or at least the same aspect ration

as the basic data image (or video). The border of the

area will be rendered in a defined colour into the

transparent background. We need to render each

area in two colours – the active and inactive state,

than, we can ensure the cursor area activation by

changing the layers. In the second approach, we can

draw directly on the globe with annotation

commands. The colour would be updated according

to the cursor position and the area repainted

repetitively. If we need to change any detail, we

have to redraw everything. Both alternatives have

some positives and negatives which are summarized

in Table 1.

Table 1: Positives and negatives of two basic SOS

visualization tools – layers and annotation.

Layers Annotation

POSITIVES

exactness (if base and layer

are the same in 2D, they are

the same on globe)

if we create any new area, we

can draw it without any data

preparation immediately on

the sphere

with one command can be

shown, hidden or made semi-

transparent in a simple way

NEGATIVES

sources must be saved on the

SOS server in advance,

everything must be prepared,

nothing can be added real

time

inexactness (although the

coordinates of the points are

computed from the same

values, resolution of the

sphere annotation is worse

than of the base image (see

Figure 5 on example of the

Australia border)

it needs 1-2 seconds to load

the area for the first time

if the loaded area is missing,

it is shown as the white non-

transparent layer that covers

everything under its position

in more detailed areas the

border is visibly being drawn

around the area

have to be repainted each

time we have to hide or show

Figure 5: Demonstration of inexactness of annotation in

comparison with the layer data. Green poly-line represents

the original border and red inexact border is the result of

annotation drawing.

As can be seen, there are many limitations of the

SOS system. The big shared problem of both

variants is the speed. Layer approach is independent

ScienceonaSphere-WaysofAddingInteractivityintotheUniqueProjectionSystem

427

on number of details of used borders, because each

area has a separate image with rendered border.

When drawing, we have to redraw each single line

segment of the poly-line and so the usable number of

areas depends closely on their level of detail. Usage

of annotation gives inexact borders of areas and it

needs to repaint all the time. We have tested the

system for 40 areas (the maximal number of

questions of the game). Finally, especially because

of its exactness and also higher speed, it was decided

to use layers for representation of areas borders.

Layer approach with 40 layers (each used area has

its own border rendered into separate image with

resolution 4096×2047 pixels) works well.

3.2.2 SOS Commands Serialization

All commands going to the SOS system are

processed serially. Some commands are single, but

some commands (e.g. PIP modification) go in a

sequence that should not be interrupted. If there are

more sources of the commands processing, we have

to keep the correct order. In principle, there is no

problem, when any two single commands change

their order, because if the sequence is interrupted by

the command from another source, it could cause a

wrong effect. For the better imagination we will

present an example – processing of two PIPs. As

mentioned in 2.2.4, each PIP (if we want to modify

it repetitively) should have its unique name. For

each modification we have to choose PIP we need to

process (pipselect name) and then all commands

concerning PIPs go to the selected one. Let us have

two sources sending commands to SOS (S1 and S2).

If the command sequences run independently (such

as in the left column), PIP1 would have width 30

degrees and PIP2 50 degrees. But if the commands

are serialized in a wrong way as in the right column,

PIP1 would have width 50 and PIP2 remains

unchanged.

S1: pipselect PIP1

S1: pipwidth 30

S2: pipselect PIP2

S2: pipwidth 50

S2: pipselect PIP2

S1: pipselect PIP1

S1: pipwidth 30

S2: pipwidth 50

From this reason all operations that should be

done in a block have to be grouped into atomic

blocks which are executed at once.

3.3 Model Implementation

The application should run on various operation

systems – Unix (SOS server), Windows (touch

screen, other connected PCs). The SOS system is

administrated by the third site, so it does not enable

many installations of any special software. That is

why the programming language and Bluetooth

library should be selected as platform independent

generally used system. Several libraries were tested

(BlueZ, 2014), (32Feet.NET, 2014), (Wireless

Communication Library, 2014). Finally, we have

selected Java 1.8 as the programming language and

BlueCove 2.1.1 library for the Nintendo Wii Remote

communication.

We have developed SOS control module that

enables programmers to connect their application to

a special projection and visualization system.

Module serves as interface for controlling the SOS

via user interface or any additive hardware added by

the programmer. Moreover, it enables directly to

connect Nintendo Wii Remote for user interaction.

The module can be integrated into any Java

application that needs to work with SOS. It offers

a set of methods corresponding to the automation

commands, providing telnet connection, commands

transfer and processing.

The module is designed in a component way.

Each feature described above has its program

equivalent – e.g., PIP, Layer, or Pointer. They are

supplied with object Telnet that ensures the telnet

connection and enables to all classes to send

automation commands directly to the SOS.

Everything is covered with SOS object that ensures

global commands and enables the other classes to

use SOS.

Automation commands serialization is solved

with synchronized java methods, where all the

commands sending sequence are processed at once.

The communication between the server and client

application is solved with the Java sockets.

4 INTERACTIVE GAME

The implemented system of game works on a very

simple principle. Let us start with a short motivation.

We can imagine group of children sitting around the

SOS globe and listening the edutainer speaking

about the Earth, its continents and oceans. But how

can we drag them into the education process or test

what they remember? We can use the interactive

game to increase their interest. We will divide

children into several groups. From each group one

child gets a gamepad controlling a cursor of a unique

colour and learns to use it, to move the cursor and to

click the action button. Now the game can start.

Edutainer has a list of questions concerning the topic

(e.g., “Select the continent with the highest

mountain of the World.”). After the question is read,

GRAPP2015-InternationalConferenceonComputerGraphicsTheoryandApplications

428

each group of children has to collaborate to agree on

a correct answer. The fastest correct answer brings a

point. Now, the edutainer can append an additional

piece of information about the place and continues

with the next question. Finally, the winner is a team

with the highest score.

4.1 Game Application

The described concept was implemented into the

Java application. The software is divided into four

applications. Client and server applications are used

for the game launch and two support tools, areas

editor and game editor, are used for new game

preparation. The whole game is built on the SOS

interactive module that ensures the connection to the

SOS system and commands sending and also

connection of Wii Remote device.

Creation of a new game goes in several steps.

Each game needs some data saved in several

description and image files. First we have to

determine the areas that will be active in the game.

Because for various games the areas can repeat, it is

recommended to create areas in logical groups (such

as e.g. continents, oceans, states, …) and to save

them in separate files. Later, areas can be combined

according to requirements of the game. For the

comfortable and precise data preparation the areas

editor serves. This application can be used

independently on the SOS and so data can be

prepared on any computer. It enables to design and

administrate particular areas in a 2D view. We can

set their descriptions, borders and also render image

layers. As the border colour any “neutral” colour

should be used (it means colour different from

colours of players), so that the number of used layer

would not increase with every additional player. As

the underlayer we can use directly the base image

from the dataset. An important output from the

application is the areas descriptions file and layer

images. All these files have to be copied manually

on the SOS server. In Figure 6, the areas editor with

loaded description of continents can be seen.

When areas are prepared, as a next step, the

game should be composed. Each game consists of at

most 40 questions and each question has one correct

answer. For the game creation, the second support

application (game editor) was prepared. It enables to

create and manage questions simply (as can be seen

in Figure 7, the user has many tools for the game

finalization). As well as the areas editor this

application can be used on any computer

independently on the SOS system. When the game is

ready, the game description file is saved and it is

transferred to the SOS server (together with the

original area descriptions files).

Figure 6: Areas editor.

Figure 7: Game editor.

When the data is prepared and the description

files and image layers are transferred on the SOS

server computer, we need a system for the game

launching. As it was mentioned before, we have

decided to divide this function between two

cooperating applications – server and client.

Server application should run on a computer

connected into the same network as the SOS system.

Moreover, the computer must be able to synchronize

with the Wii Remotes and so it has to use the

Bluetooth wireless technology standard. We can run

the application directly on the SOS server (i.e.,

computer controlling the SOS). The application is

very simple to use and, although it has a complex

functionality hidden under the GUI, the user needs

just to connect it to the SOS system and run the

server.

After the server is started, it waits for tasks sent

by the connected devices or clients. One or more

clients and independently also several Wii Remotes

can be connected to the server. Communication with

the gamepad runs through the Bluetooth interface.

Every Wii Remote can send demands on

synchronization and later information about pressed

buttons. The server reacts on them – moves the

cursor, runs clicking actions etc. Connection

between client and server is based on TCP

connection and socket communication. There is a set

ScienceonaSphere-WaysofAddingInteractivityintotheUniqueProjectionSystem

429

of text messages ensuring the data interchange and

actions providing (e.g., GAME_START, WIIS_ADD,

GAME_CLOSED, WII_ANSWER and many others).

If there is no task to solve, server application waits

and does nothing. If there comes any message,

server provides required action or sends the client

required data.

The last part of the whole game system that is

controlled directly by the user (edutainer) is the

game client. After it is connected to the server

application, it gets from the server list of available

games. When the selected game is started, edutainer

has a simple sequence of dialogs (each singular

window contains a question and a correct answer)

and can see what team of players has already

answered and if the answer was correct. The last

dialog shows results of the whole game. This

application can run on any computer connected into

the same network as the game server, the best is to

run it directly on the touch screen of the SOS

system. The edutainer can control the game directly

from the globe neighbourhood and he/she does not

have to keep any additional computer.

5 CONCLUSIONS

We have developed an interactivity module that was

used as a base for the interactive game designed

especially for groups of students and children.

During the development we had to explore SOS

features and possible ways how to affect the

visualization. The whole module and connected

application are created as an additional system that

can be connected to Science on a Sphere system and

extends the visualization system with an interactive

element without direct intervention into the original

equipment.

At this time the application has been already

tested, new games are being prepared and ideas for

further expansions and improvements are being

collected. Presently we would like to implement two

features, both of them are connected with the game

areas preparation process. We plan to add functions

for computing the game areas unions and we would

like to create module for loading geographical data,

so that the borders of states, continents or oceans

could be more precise and their preparation less time

consuming. The first function would enable to

prepare automatically e.g. area of any continent

simply as the union of all states in the continent. The

second extension would enable to use geographical

data (which are measured in various formats) to be

loaded into the application and processed into the

form of clickable areas.

We believe that there are many possible usage of

the SOS interactive module. Except for the

interactive game we have designed an application

that is not oriented on the game system and that can

be implemented in the future. It was designed as the

tool for visualization of information about

interesting places. The interactive application would

give the user better control about what to see. By the

gamepad it would be possible to choose one of

predefined areas/places, click on them and ask the

system to show prepared additional information e.g.

in the form of audio or overlaid image.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This action is realized by the project NEXLIZ –

CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0038, which is co-financed by the

European Social Fund and the state budget of the

Czech Republic. The authors would like to thank

Techmania Science Centre for enabling our work on

the unique equipment of Science on a Sphere and to

Scott Muller from BW Color Prints and Jindřich

Skupa from UWB for valuable advices.

REFERENCES

32Feet.NET library, 2014, http://32feet.codeplex.com/

[cit. 2014-09-25]

BlueCove, 2008, http://bluecove.org/ [cit. 2014-09-22]

BlueZ, 2014, www.bluez.org [cit. 2014-09-25]

Schneider, P., Berly, D. H., 2002, Geometric Tools for

Computer Graphics (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in

Computer Graphics, Morgan Kaufmann; 1

edition.

LatLon, 2014, http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/

latlong.gif. [cit. 2014-09-23]

NOAA, 2014, http://www.noaa.gov/ [cit. 2014-09-19]

SOS, 2014, http://sos.noaa.gov [cit. 2014-09-19]

SOS – automation, 2014, http://sos.noaa.gov/Docs/

automation.4.0.html. [cit. 2014-09-24]

SOS – sphere orientation, 2014, http://sos.noaa.gov/Docs/

automation.4.0.html#sphere_orientation [cit. 2014-09-

25]

Techmania Sciece Center (TSC), 2014, http://

techmania.cz/lang.php?lan=1 [cit. 2014-10-01]

Wireless Communication Library, 2014, http://

www.btframework.com/ [cit. 2014-09-25]

GRAPP2015-InternationalConferenceonComputerGraphicsTheoryandApplications

430