Virtual Spaces Using Adobe Atmosphere

Adobe Atmosphere is a new program designed to provide access to virtual spaces on the Internet. It allows for the creation of complex and naturalistic three-dimensional spaces that visitors can enter in the form of virtual bodies or avatars. Other visitors to the same space can be seen and spoken to using Atmosphere's chat function. Adobe Atmosphere offers a wealth of possibilities for the teaching of ancient and medieval art and architecture. It enables students to experience architectural spaces in a dynamic way, moving from one room to the next at will, and looking around in all directions. Images can easily be applied to wall surfaces, which means that it is possible to create three-dimensional models of painted rooms. Unlike some other 3D modelling programs, Atmosphere is easy enough to use that faculty and students can construct their own versions of ancient and medieval architecture and urban spaces. This presentation will demonstrate the basics of designing three-dimensional spaces in Adobe Atmosphere, and provide tours of a number of sample spaces designed to demonstrate the usefulness of this software for ancient and medieval studies.

[Some examples can be found at http://www.gsu.edu/~artwgg/atmos.htm. More advanced examples are currently in development.]