HELPFUL HINTS & TIPS



Installation

When you first run Virtual Visits the software will attempt to install both the Vislite 3D plug-in and the Flash plug-in so that it can run the activities. You will need to ensure that you have administrator privileges for these installations to be successful. Both plug-ins are digitally signed ActiveX controls, so the PC needs to be configured to accept third-party plug-ins with digital signatures. In both cases, you will see a digital certificate asking you to confirm the download and installation of the plug-in, and you should accept both, although you don't need to tick the boxes saying "Always accept content from Superscape/Macromedia ...". Once these plug-ins have been downloaded and installed there is no requirement for further installations and you can run Virtual Visits thereafter without administrator privileges.


3D Graphics Display

On some PC's (particularly older ones) you may notice glitches in the 3D world graphics. These can range from missing lines to an almost completely blank or jumbled screen. In these cases, the graphics card in the PC is not capable of supporting the full range of 3D graphics used. You can switch the 3D world to draw without using the graphics card by clicking both mouse buttons simultaneously, or by clicking on the microchip button on the NavBar at the bottom of the screen. This non graphics-card mode supports all the 3D effects that are used, but may not be as fast or smooth as a PC with a compatible graphics card.


Navigating the 3D World

When you explore the airport or try one of the activities you will be required to move around a 3D world. Movement is controlled using either the NavBar at the bottom of the screen or the cursor keys.

  • Left-click and drag on the NavBar to move forwards/backwards and spin left/right
  • Right-click and drag on the NavBar to move left/right
  • Both-click and drag on the NavBar to tilt up/down
  • Press and hold the up/down cursor key to move forwards/backwards
  • Press and hold the left/right cursor key to spin left/right
  • Hold down the SHIFT key while pressing the cursor keys to increase movement speed
  • Click on the button to the left of the NavBar to restore your starting position


Roll-Out Maps

You can work out your current position using the roll-out plan view at the top right of the screen. Click on the icon to roll out the plan view and on the icon to roll the view back. Your position is indicated by a red square.


Setting the Time

When you enter a 3D world, the time is displayed on a digital clock at the bottom right corner of the screen.  The initial time is either the actual time at which you entered the world or, for time-critical activities, the time at which the activity begins.  You can move the time forwards or backwards in 15 minute intervals by pressing the Insert and Delete keys respectively.


Home Page

Select Proceed to Activities to login if you have already registered your details. Otherwise, select Register Details, indicating whether you are a student, teacher or visitor.


Registration Page

Enter your details and click on the Register button to continue This page will eventually distinguish between three types of user: student, teacher and visitor, with students being required to enter a username instead of their e-mail address.


Explore the Airport

Move around the airport using the NavBar or cusrsor keys. Click on the entrances to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 to enter that Terminal. Continue to explore using the entrances and exits to move between terminals and to the exterior of the airport.


Guided Tour

This moves you in a fixed viewpoint around the exterior of the airport. At the end of the tour you can move freely as in the Explore the Airport mode. Click on the entrances to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 to enter that Terminal. The guided tour for the new terminal will begin as soon as you enter it.


Activity Information

There are 17 different activities split over three modules, Overview, Induction & Training and Problem Solving. You should note the following points when undertaking each activity

  • Each activity contains a set of instructions for you to follow and questions for you to answer.
  • You can move through the steps of an activity by completing an instruction or by clicking on the Next button when it is highlighted. If the Next button is not highlighted, you have not completed the current step according to the instructions.
  • All answers to the questions will be recorded in your notepad on the left hand side.
  • Questions may be multiple choice or may require a free form answer. For multiple choice questions with a single correct answer, the first answer you select will be copied to your notepad, even if this answer is not correct and you need to then select the correct answer to proceed. For questions with multiple answers, you can select or de-select an answer by clicking on it and then submit your final selection by clicking on the Next button.
  • Free form questions should be answered by typing directly into the notepad on the left hand side. The notepad will automatically adjust so that the current question is shown at the top of the list, but you can scroll the notepad up and down to return and edit previous free form answers. You may not be able to proceed to the next step until you have entered some text into the answer box - even if the Next button is enabled.
  • You can cut and paste from other documents into the answer boxes in your notepad. There is also a scratch area at the bottom of the notepad to store information that may be of use later in the activity. You can click on the Show Editor button to expand this scratch area.
  • You can leave an activity at any stage by clicking on the Exit button. Your current progress will be stored so that you will resume from the current instruction when you next select the activty.
  • The status of each activity is marked next to the activity in the list. This will indicate either that the activity is finished or, if not, the number of questions you have answered.


Contact Information

If you have any questions, technical or otherwise, relating to the Virtual Visits website, please contact Third Dimension on 01963 251222 or e-mail virtualvisits@thirddimension.co.uk.