Component Description
Alice 3d Graphics Software
Human Computer Interaction Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Prepared by: Randy Pausch, pausch@cs.cmu.edu
March 26, 1999
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1 - Overview

Alice provides an authoring and runtime environment
for interactive three-D graphics. Alice can run as:
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Examples:
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A windows 95/98/NT Application
A plug-in for WWW browsers
An networked front end to a remote visualization computation
Interactive 3d graphics in a browser window
Immersive virtual reality image generation
Desktop delivery of interactive multi-participant visualizations.
2 - Architecture Overview
Scripts
Alice OOP Classes
Alice Animation Facility
Simulation Scheduler
C/C++
User
Modules
“Ecila” Database
MS Direct 3D RM
MS Direct Sound
Pentium PC Running Windows
3
Visual Basic
and
MFC
Controls
3 - Component Description

Scripts: user developed, in the Python language
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Alice OOP Classes, Animation, and Simulation
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ECILA Database
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allow arbitrary extension by end users in C/C++; called from Python
Visual Basic and MFC Controls
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provides low level support for graphics & sound
C/C++ User Modules
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mediates between the Python layer and Direct X
MS (Microsoft) Direct X layer
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implement the real-time scheduler for animations
implement end-user interface for authoring tool
4 - External Interfaces
Can communicate with arbitrary external programs via
either:

Python socket library
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a C/C++ extension that implements another protocol
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5 - Existing Software “Bridges”
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Interoperation with Other Systems
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Functionality
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Can work with existing applications without change
All Alice functionality is available via interpreted language
Protocols (current)

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Can interoperate with any other system by having that system
open a socket and send Python code to do anything, which is
interpreted in the Alice run-time environment.
Using standard socket interface
6 - Information Flow

Structure: The Alice run-time environment can be
run as a windows application or a WWW browser,
which communicates with other applications via
sockets or other specially developed protocols.

Inputs: The Alice run-time environment takes as
input python code which can be interpreted to any
effect, with commands like “object.move(forward, 2)”
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Outputs: The Alice run-time environment renders 3d
graphical output into a screen window, and can
communicate back results via sockets.
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7 - Plug-n-play
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Interacting with Other CPOF Components
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Similarities to Other CPOF components
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No other CPOF components address 3d graphics
Complementing other CPOF Components
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We are essentially an external device for rendering 3d
graphics
Any CPOF component needing to render 3d
data/visualizations should benefit from Alice
8 - Operating Environments and COTS
Component
Name
Alice run-time
environment
9
Required
Hardware
Operating
System
Pentium 90
Win 95/98/NT
Language
Python
Required
COTS
none
9 - Hardware Platform Requirement

Standard PC (Pentium 90 or faster) with
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Windows 95/98/NT
32 Megabyte memory (128 preferred)
20 Megabyte Disk free
Microsoft DirectX libraries
Sound-blaster compatible sound card