A integração on-line de dados reais com ambientes de realidade virtual imersivos, criando sistemas híbridos, é um campo de pesquisa multidisciplinar, ainda pouco explorado. O alto nível de envolvimento do usuário proporcionado pela realidade virtual imersiva e a confiabilidade e precisão de informações provenientes da aquisição de dados reais, de maneira on-line, podem auxiliar o processo de tomada de decisão, em diversas áreas de aplicação. Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia de integração on-line de dados reais de manufatura com ambientes de realidade virtual imersivos, mais especificamente, com sistemas CAVE. A metodologia foi desenvolvida voltada para a área de manufatura virtual, com foco em máquinas-ferramenta. Foram criados e interligados dois métodos de aquisição de dados on-line, um deles específico para máquinas-ferramenta, através do protocolo MTConnect e outro, genérico, via imagens de câmeras. O trabalho foi desenvolvido, em geral, com base em bibliotecas e softwares livres, bem como com dispositivos de baixo custo. Por fim, avaliou-se a metodologia através de estudos de caso, baseados em dados reais on-line, provenientes de máquinas-ferramenta reais e de simuladores de dados de máquinas reais. Os resultados deste trabalho podem auxiliar o desenvolvimento de ferramentas que aumentem do nível de confiabilidade das tomadas de decisões baseadas em simulações virtuais da área de manufatura. E, devido à sua implementação modular, ao formato hierárquico e unificado de sua estrutura e à padronização de seus tipos de dados, comunicações e formas de utilização, pode ser adequada a quaisquer áreas de aplicação que utilizem integração de dados reais on-line com ambientes virtuais imersivos. / The on-line integration of real manufacturing data with immersive virtual reality environments, forming hybrid systems, is an underexplored multidisciplinary research field. The high level of users\' involvement provided by immersive virtual reality and the reliability and accuracy of information acquired on-line from real data, can assist the decision making process, in many research areas. This research presents a way to on-line integrate manufacturing real data with immersive virtual reality environments, more specifically, with CAVEs. This work was developed toward the area of virtual manufacturing, with focus on machine tools. Two data acquisition methods were created and placed to work together, one specific for machine tools, through the MTConnect protocol and the other, generic, through camera images acquisition. This work was based on free libraries and software, as well as low cost devices. Finally, this work was evaluated through case studies, based on on-line real data, from real machine tools and real machine data simulators. The results achieved with this research can contribute to the development of new tools to increase the reliability level of manufacturing virtual simulations. Moreover, due to its modular implementation, the hierarquical and unified structure format and the standardization of its communication methods and data types, it can be arranged to almost any research areas which use integration of real on-line data with immersive virtual environments.

Submitted by Marlene Santos (marlene.bc.ufg@gmail.com) on 2014-10-15T21:29:54Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao - Fabrício Leonardo Leopoldino - 2013.pdf: 15282157 bytes, checksum: d2e674ff7b57f0a88c10f3ee9a9b248d (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jaqueline Silva (jtas29@gmail.com) on 2014-10-16T17:22:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao - Fabrício Leonardo Leopoldino - 2013.pdf: 15282157 bytes, checksum: d2e674ff7b57f0a88c10f3ee9a9b248d (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-16T17:22:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao - Fabrício Leonardo Leopoldino - 2013.pdf: 15282157 bytes, checksum: d2e674ff7b57f0a88c10f3ee9a9b248d (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-18 / This study proposes a Virtual Environment to support the functional rehabilitation of the upper limbs, using the Microsoft Kinect sensor motion capture. It is organized in five chapters: 1) Use of Virtual Environments in the process of functional rehabilitation of people affected by an Encephalic Vascular Accident; 2) Technologies used, 3) AVARFMS development; 4) Discussion; 5) Conclusions. Sequelae of Encephalic Vascular Accident impair the development of the Activities of Daily Living. Rehabilitation does not consist in a process that seeks only the adaptation of the patient, but in a real effort with the goal of promoting the development of people creative and inclusive functionality. With the emergence of Virtual Environments and greater integration between the areas of rehabilitation medicine and information systems as well as the appearance of low cost motion sensors (Microsoft Kinect, for example), a new paradigm begins to be postulated between researchers in these two areas: the study and development of virtual environments to assist in the rehabilitation process. With the goal of providing a fun tool to patients who have been affected by an encephalic vascular accident and offering therapists ways to measure (qualitatively and quantitatively) the evolution of the patient treatment, it is proposed a virtual environment that uses the motion sensor Kinect, created by Microsoft. The findings presented in this study show that the proposed objectives were achieved. / O presente trabalho propõe um ambiente virtual de apoio à reabilitação funcional de membros superiores, utilizando o sensor de captura de movimento da Microsoft, Kinect. Está dividido em cinco capítulos: 1) Utilização de Ambientes Virtuais no Processo de Reabilitação Funcional de Pessoas Acometidas por um Acidente Vascular Encefálico; 2) Tecnologias Utilizadas; 3) Desenvolvimento do AVARFMS; 4) Discussão e 5) Conclusões. O Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE) deixa sequelas que comprometem o desenvolvimento das Atividades de Vida Diária. A reabilitação não consiste em um processo que busca apenas a adaptação do paciente, mas em um esforço concreto, com o objetivo de promover o desenvolvimento máximo da funcionalidade criadora e inclusiva das pessoas. Com o surgimento dos Ambientes Virtuais (AVs) e a maior integração entre as áreas da medicina de reabilitação e sistemas de informação, bem como o aparecimento de Sensores de Movimento (Microsoft Kinect, por exemplo) de baixo custo, um novo paradigma começa a ser postulado entre pesquisadores destas duas áreas: o estudo e desenvolvimento de AVs para auxiliar no processo de reabilitação. Com o objetivo de fornecer uma ferramenta divertida aos pacientes que foram acometidos por um AVE e oferecer aos terapeutas maneiras de medir (qualitativamente e quantitativamente) a evolução do tratamento de um paciente, é proposto um Ambiente Virtual que utiliza o sensor de movimentos Kinect, criado pela Microsoft. As conclusões apresentadas neste trabalho mostram que os objetivos propostos pelo ambiente foram atingidos

Com a frequente utilização de Tecnologias da Informação e da Comunicação (TICs) em contextos educacionais, uma nova configuração de atividades virtuais trouxe à tona novos desafios para profissionais da área de educação ou de treinamento. A partir das contribuições originadas no campo da Realidade Virtual, merecem atenção às soluções que se utilizam de Ambientes Virtuais Interativos 3D como uma alternativa às estratégias de treinamento conduzidas em ambientes reais de aprendizagem. Essas soluções ganham destaque à medida que se observa a utilização de diferentes métodos ou formas de se ensinar e aprender com esses ambientes. Nesse contexto o campo das Habilidades Sensório-Motoras (HSM) constitui-se um desafio no que tange à necessidade de desenvolvimento de métodos para quantificar ou qualificar a habilidade de um aprendiz ou profissional que esteja sob avaliação durante a realização de uma tarefa. Diante desse cenário, apresenta-se a pesquisa em pauta, com o objetivo de definir, implementar e validar um método para avaliação da aquisição de HSM em Ambientes Virtuais Interativos 3D no contexto de treinamento médico. O escopo da presente investigação foi definido mediante a realização de um processo de revisão de literatura sobre os principais fundamentos encontrados na área. Por meio da condução de dois processos de Revisão Sistemática, foi possível recuperar o estado da arte sobre métodos e parâmetros utilizados na avaliação da aquisição de HSM. Para atingir os objetivos da investigação, foram conduzidos experimentos com base em um modelo teórico de avaliação e em um método semiautomatizado. Os resultados dos experimentos indicaram que o método construído foi capaz de avaliar diferentes tarefas virtuais durante a aquisição de Habilidades Sensório-Motoras, assim como verificar o grau de convergência e divergência de processos de discriminação e classificação de HSM observados na avaliação de tarefas virtuais pelo método semiautomatizado e por especialistas. / Along with the frequent use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in educational contexts, a new configuration of virtual activities has brought up new challenges for professionals in the field of education or training. Based on contributions coming from the field of Virtual Reality, solutions used in 3-D Interactive Virtual Environments need to be highlighted as an alternative to training strategies conducted in real learning environments. These solutions gain ground as the use of different methods or ways of teaching and learning are observed in these environments. In this context, the field of Sensory Motor Skills (SMS) becomes a challenge as far as the need for development of methods is concerned in order to quantify or qualify the skills of a learner or a professional who is being evaluated during the performance of a task. This research is set in this scenario aiming to define, implement and validate a method to evaluate the acquisition of SMS in 3-D Interactive Virtual Environments in the context of medical training. The scope of this investigation was defined by means of a literature review on the current major founding principles in the area. Two processes of Systematic Review were conducted which produced the state of the art on methods and parameters used in the evaluation of SMS acquisition. In order to achieve the objectives of the investigation, two experimental studies were conducted based on a theoretical evaluation model and a semi-automated method. The results of the experimental studies showed that the method constructed was able to evaluate different virtual tasks during the acquisition of Sensory Motor Skills, and to verify the convergence or divergence degree of processes of discrimination and classification of SMS observed in the evaluation of virtual tasks by the semi-automated method and by human experts.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-01-23T11:30:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Carla Marye Bicas Ferrari.pdf: 1256058 bytes, checksum: e934053679a57fcb66d337b275093865 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-23T11:30:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carla Marye Bicas Ferrari.pdf: 1256058 bytes, checksum: e934053679a57fcb66d337b275093865 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The aim of this research is to design a grammar that recognizes an educational text written in the narrative structure OCC-RDD and from its own generated a Petri Net model, in order to be possible analyzed and interpreted as network property on the educational history. The research will start with a bibliographic research from which a grammar and other components of this research are prepared, whose main objective is to advice the teacher on the class preparation which uses the narrative structure. A text following the narrative model in order to use it on the tool will be prepared and the same will go through each step of the research, which are: recognition of the fable, creation of the Petri Net model, network analysis and production of the results of fable’s analysis. The result of this project is the fable recognition grammar that can be used in a special tool with anexample and the analysis of the properties of this example / O objetivo da pesquisa é projetar uma gramática que reconheça um texto educativo escrito na estrutura da narrativa OCC-RDD e que a partir dela seja gerada um modelo de Rede de Petri, a fim de que seja possível analisar e interpretar as propriedades da rede na história educacional. A pesquisa terá início com um trabalho de consultas bibliográficas a partir do qual será preparada uma gramática e os outros componentes da pesquisa que possuem como principal objetivo auxiliar o professor na preparação de uma aula que utilize a estrutura narrativa. Um texto seguindo o modelo da narrativa com o intuito de utilizá-lo na ferramenta será preparado e o mesmo passará por cada etapa da pesquisa, que são: reconhecimento da fábula, criação do modelo de rede de Petri, análise da rede e produção dos resultados de análise da fábula. O resultado do trabalho ´e a gramática de reconhecimento de fábula que poderá ser utilizada numa ferramenta junto com um exemplo e a análise das propriedades deste exemplo

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-03-16T12:14:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Célio Pereira Oliveira Neto.pdf: 1972237 bytes, checksum: 6b1b44dbd5812a6b4a068c6627f3426a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-16T12:14:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Célio Pereira Oliveira Neto.pdf: 1972237 bytes, checksum: 6b1b44dbd5812a6b4a068c6627f3426a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-26 / The first industrial revolutions shifted the pace of life. Men were taken out of their homes and brought inside factory. Likewise, society revolved around opening hours, as everything was schedule by it. From class hours in working schools to the exact duration of every repetitive task, just as the Fordist model dictates. However, the third industrial revolution introduced technology, automation and robotics, giving rise to the information society. This new configuration requires a different industrial model – the Toyota production system, which is founded on a more collaborative labor structure. In addition to communication technology and informatics, workers are now allowed to a decentralized less hierarchical model. Consequently, whilst traditional contractual molds required the physical presence of workers inside the factory, it is now possible to admit remote working. The incipient fourth industrial revolution combines digital, physical and biological technology, increasing the stride of our livelihood. As a result, our society has become a full time connected network, from which is difficult to unplug. As well, the exposition on social network and other forms of virtual communication has generated conflicts on work relations, mostly when there is abuse of rights of one the parts. It is right that should serve humankind. Observing this premise, this work has scope to take advantage of the best of innovations for the benefit of man, aiming the setting of fundamental rights and extension of very personal rights, as the approach with the family nucleus, conforming rights when these are in collision / As primeiras revoluções industriais tiraram o homem de suas casas, e o levaram para dentro da fábrica, que passou a ditar o ritmo de vida. A sociedade girava em conformidade com o relógio da fábrica, e tudo funcionava de forma demarcada, desde os horários da escola que preparava mão de obra para a fábrica, até o tempo certo para realização de cada enfadonho e repetitivo movimento na produção sob a ótica Fordista. Ocorre que a Terceira Revolução Industrial introduziu a informática, a automação e a robótica dando origem à construção da sociedade da informação. Junto com ela, o fordismo perde espaço para o Toyotismo, tornando o trabalhador mais participativo. Ao final da Terceira Revolução Industrial, com as novas tecnologias, aperfeiçoa-se um novo modelo de trabalhador onde a hierarquia é mitigada, gerando maior autonomia na execução da atividade. Tal fato combinado com as tecnologias da comunicação e informática permitem a realização do trabalho descentralizado. Com efeito, enquanto os moldes contratuais tradicionais exigiam a presença física do empregado à sede da empresa, a tecnologia permite que o trabalho seja realizado à distância, trazendo benefícios aos empregados, empregadores e à sociedade. A incipente Quarta Revolução Industrial combina tecnologias digital, física e biológica, acelerando ainda mais a sociedade da informação, mudando o modo de viver, trabalhar e se relacionar. A sociedade funciona em rede, conectada full time, o que já impede o pleno desligamento do trabalho, prejudicando o direito ao lazer e descanso. Também as exposições nas redes sociais e outras formas de comunicação virtual têm gerado conflitos nas relações de trabalho, mormente quando há abuso de direito de uma das partes. É certo que a tecnologia deve servir ao homem. Observada tal premissa, este trabalho tem por escopo aproveitar o melhor das inovações em prol do homem, visando a concretização de direitos fundamentais e ampliação de direitos personalíssimos, como a aproximação com o núcleo familiar, conformando direitos quando em colisão

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T14:23:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz Antonio Brigatti Junior.pdf: 7632702 bytes, checksum: bd6dce7cbff42707a6a96428a8b3966b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-19 / Methods that allow the observation of users of virtual learning environments acting in the work place tend to become increasingly more necessary when the number of computer users and the inherent complexity of systems grow. Processes of continuous assessment carried out during the life cycle of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) seem to be required condition for users to reach good results. This research used information provided by professors to verify their usage process, and compare the use of the open source tools and the difficulties found in the virtual environments Moodle and TelEduc , both in use at PUC-SP. Thus, this dissertation argues that approaches in which VLEs are used by the faculty members of the School of Economics, Administration, Accounting and Actuary (FEA at PUC-SP) represent tools of effective gain in quality / À medida que cresce o número de usuários de computadores e a inerente complexidade dos sistemas, métodos para observar usuários de ambientes de aprendizagem virtuais em seu local de trabalho tendem a ser cada vez mais necessários. Processos de avaliação contínua, a serem executados durante o ciclo de vida dos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem (AVAs), se apresentam como condição necessária a um bom resultado para seus usuários. Esta pesquisa buscou averiguar com usuários docentes o processo da utilização, além de comparar o uso das ferramentas open source e as dificuldades encontradas nos ambientes virtuais Moodle e Teleduc na PUC-SP. Assim, nessa dissertação argumenta-se que abordagens com a utilização de AVAs pelo corpo docente da Faculdade de Economia, Administração, Contabilidade e Atuária (FEA-PUC-SP), representam uma ferramenta de efetivo ganho de qualidade

This research considers how the culture of game developer Cyan Worlds influences the gameplay environment and the culture of fans in Myst Online: Uru Live. The game has gone through two commercial releases and in both cases it was cancelled after a short time. Fans have attempted to salvage the game by producing their own server software and content creation tools. Recently, Cyan released their own source code and development tools to the fan community, giving fans an official channel for creating new content. This work builds off of Pearce's (2009b) study of the culture of Uru players and emergent play, but adds the dimension of considering the culture of developers themselves. A primary goal of this study was to determine how the culture of a game developer like Cyan shapes the constraints of the designed "play ecosystem" (Pearce 2009b: 7), and how it shapes the processes by which fans can salvage aspects of the game to create new content. One finding is that the design of Uru's gameplay environment is rooted in the cultural practices, personal philosophical goals and individual personality traits of its developers. Fans were able to assert ownership over the Uru story-world and the means of production of new content by proactively applying technical and problem-solving skills--the same sorts of skills that players must apply to solving puzzles in Myst games. This fan action, coupled with Cyan's goal of making an open-ended world, has helped to propel the initiative to provide open-source tools for creating new content. When fans produce new content, they draw significantly from an existing shared cultural repertoire of cues and conventions. These conventions are supported both by the software affordances of the development environment and by cultural precedent--they are readily adapted to Myst-like narratives and are easily "read" by experienced players.

互動敘事為敘事創作開啟了許多新的可能性，不論是在各種多媒體敘事創作平台上或是提供更擬真、更深刻的說故事體驗，是傳統敘事所無法提供的。透過日新月異的傳播工具，要在各種平台上創作出這類多媒體互動敘事，對於各種敘事創作者來說是一項相當大的挑戰，也引發了許多相關議題的探討：要如何開發出好用的創作工具，不但是可以降低創作技術門檻，同時也提升創造力。如何設計出一個創作模型是能夠讓故事建構者（包含原創作者、中介創作者、體驗者等本系統目標使用者）對於故事內容、結構以及像長度、複雜度、主軸、文類等故事特性有更多的控制權。 為了探討這議題，本研究提出一個多媒體敘事創作以及互動敘事腳本產生的框架，結合 3D 戲劇平台建立一個具有創作環境，以故事建構者設定的條件與敘事理論為基礎的故事篩選與腳本產生機制，及3D虛擬模擬環境的互動敘事系統。在創作與故事產生方面，故事建構者可以針對各種條件的篩選（像是故事主軸、長度、敘事架構、時間順序等等）由同一組故事片段產生各種敘事上的可能性。本研究設計一個演算法，有效重組既有的故事片段以產生符合作者所有條件設定的互動敘事腳本。 這種機制的另一個特色就是所產生的互動敘事腳本與敘事平台是獨立的，不受到特定平台的技術門檻、創作格式所侷限。為展現此腳本產生系統在各種敘事表現形式上的彈性，在本研究的系統實作中，可以同時產生故事的文字形式並在3D敘事系統 The Theater 上以即時的動畫、攝影機規劃與簡易互動呈現結果。最後，此研究設計一個質化前導實驗，以了解使用者面對具互動、動畫與個人化的敘事內容時，會有甚麼看法與反應。 此次研究的貢獻為設計一個建構在3D虛擬環境上的互動敘事創作的架構，並提供適當的故事腳本產生機制，讓創作者的故事片段擁有重複利用價值。此外，透過故事內容的篩選過程，我們能提供故事建構者在故事結構與內容上有高度的控制，讓產生出來的敘事腳本符合故事建構者所設定的條件、具有良好的敘事理論基礎，並即時在3D虛擬環境中以角色動畫演出。以這次建立互動敘事平台的經驗以及於使用者測試中所得到的回饋，本研究也對於敘事創作介面與輔助工具提供一些設計原則，並提出一些互動敘事系統未來可再延展的議題。 / Interactive storytelling opens a world of possibilities for narrative creation on multimedia platforms, allowing a more compelling and immersive experience compared to traditional narratives. With the emergence of new storytelling technologies, the authoring of such narratives in complex virtual environments becomes an issue critical in the domain of multimedia storytelling platforms: How can we reduce the authoring effort as well as enhance creativity for interactive narratives? How can we design a flexible framework to allow creators of the story (including authors and experiencers at various stages of the interactive story) to have control over the story content and structure based on characteristics such as length, complexity, plot line, and genre? In order to address these issues, we propose the design of an interactive storytelling platform with models for authoring, story generating based on narrative theory and constraints set by story creators, and simulation in virtual environments. In the platform the creators of the story can specify characteristics (such as plot, length, narrative structure, time sequence, and etc.) on story fragments in order to generate variations of interactive stories. An algorithm we devise will filter and recombine story fragments from these characteristics, generating a high-level interactive script that satisfies all authorial and structural constraints. This mechanism provides sufficient abstraction from the technical implementation in that it is platform independent, and can be highly expressive in various forms of discourse. To implement the results of the story generation and demonstrate the abstraction from the virtual environment, we simulate the generated interactive narrative both in text form and in the 3D animation environment of The Theater. The Theater platform is complete with autonomous character animation, simple interaction methods, and automatic camera planning. Finally, we carry out a qualitative pilot study to understand how users would perceive and react to the animated, interactive, and personalized narrative content. Through this implementation, our contributions are to design a flexible framework for authoring interactive narratives for 3D environments, and also provide story generating tools that allow easy reuse and recombining of existing story fragments. Moreover, the filtering and selection process provides high-level control over the story content and structure, thus enforcing the authorial control as well as ensuring the generated stories have a basis in narrative theory. From the experience of implementing this platform and feedback obtained from the user experiment, we hope to suggest design principles for authoring tools and interfaces of interactive narratives.

This research strives to characterize the means by which video game players experience and understand the space of the game city during the course of play. Three-dimensional video game cities are neither static environments nor stationary views; rather, they are experienced through movement, action, and play. Our experiences of new places are not developed at a glance. Instead, they are cultivated through use over time. This work utilizes games that take place in constructed versions of New York City as a case study. By focusing on the ways players navigate spaces, we can understand how they construct spatial awareness and how this space is transformed into a meaningful place of play. In order to come to this understanding, this study asks a series of questions: How are these spaces arranged? How does the player move through the space and how does the game teach spatial navigation? What actions are performed in the space and how is gameplay adapted for the city environment? And how do of narrative environments contribute to a player's identification with the space? These questions are examined within a framework of urban, cultural, and game studies. I examine techniques that are employed by video game city designers to help players navigate space and make it meaningful. Additionally, this research poses areas for future expansion and experimentation with game cities.

Η παρούσα έρευνα εντάσσεται στο πεδίο της διερεύνησης των περιβαλλόντων Διαδικτυακών Παιχνιδιών Μεγάλου Πλήθους Παικτών (ΔΠΜΠΠ) σε σχέση με το μαθησιακό δυναμικό τους. Προτείνεται ένα πλαίσιο διερεύνησης της μάθησης σε ΔΠΜΠΠ, στο οποίο συνδυάζεται η γνωστική, η συναισθηματική και η κοινωνική διάσταση της μάθησης και ένα εννοιολογικό μοντέλο που συμπεριλαμβάνει χαρακτηριστικά του παίκτη, της ομάδας, της δραστηριότητας, του σχεδιασμένου και του κοινωνικού περιβάλλοντος, και των αλληλεπιδράσεων μεταξύ των παικτών. Επιπλέον, χαρτογραφείται βάσει αυτού του πλαισίου, η περιοχή των ΔΠΜΠΠ σε σχέση με παράγοντες που αφορούν άμεσα ή έμμεσα την ανάπτυξη διαδικασιών μάθησης. Ακολουθήθηκε Μικτή Μεθοδολογία Έρευνας, με το συνδυασμό ποιοτικών και ποσοτικών δεδομένων, έτσι ώστε να επιτευχθεί η σφαιρικότερη κατανόηση των φαινομένων που αναδύονται. Τα δεδομένα συγκεντρώθηκαν μέσω συμμετοχικής παρατήρησης σε περιβάλλοντα ΔΠΜΠΠ (σημειώσεις πεδίου, βίντεο, εικόνες), μέσω παρατήρησης σε σχετικούς διαδικτυακούς τόπους και fora (συζητήσεις παικτών, οδηγούς παιχνιδιού), από βίντεο καταγραφής παιχνιδιού εθελοντών παικτών, ατομικές και ομαδικές συνεντεύξεις με παίκτες ΔΠΜΠΠ και ερωτηματολόγια. Από την ανάλυση των δεδομένων (ποιοτική, στατιστική) αναδύθηκε ένα σύνολο φαινομένων και παραγόντων που αφορούν δημογραφικά στοιχεία των παικτών, τα κίνητρα παιχνιδιού, τον προσδιορισμό και την ανάδειξη της εμπειρίας, τις δεξιότητες που ασκούνται, τις διαδικασίες και πηγές μάθησης, τις αλληλεπιδράσεις των παικτών, πρακτικές και διαδικασίες που αναπτύσσονται στις ομάδες των παικτών και γενικότερα στην κοινότητα των παικτών, και χαρακτηριστικά σχεδιασμού όπως ο εικονικός χαρακτήρας, οι λειτουργίες υποστήριξης αλληλεπιδράσεων και επικοινωνίας, οι οργανωμένες δραστηριότητες και οι λειτουργίες υποστήριξης της μάθησης. Η επιβεβαιωτική ανάλυση με χρήση μοντέλων δομικών εξισώσεων (structural equation modeling) που πραγματοποιήθηκε στα ποσοτικά δεδομένα της έρευνας επιβεβαίωσε άμεσες και έμμεσες σχέσεις παραγόντων όπως οι κοινωνικές πρακτικές μάθησης, η κοινωνική διάσταση και το μέγεθος της ομάδας, τα εργαλεία υποστήριξης της επικοινωνίας, και η ηλικία και οι προτιμήσεις των παικτών, με την αντίληψη ανάπτυξης δεξιοτήτων μέσω του παιχνιδιού. Η μάθηση φαίνεται να αποτελεί αποτέλεσμα τόσο των σχεδιαστικών επιλογών όσο και των πρακτικών των παικτών που παρατηρούνται σε αυτά. Κίνητρα που σχετίζονται τόσο με το σχεδιασμό του περιβάλλοντος όσο και με τις αλληλεπιδράσεις και σχέσεις μεταξύ των παικτών ενισχύουν τη συμμετοχή, την εμπλοκή και την εκμάθηση γνώσεων και δεξιοτήτων που αφορούν την εξέλιξη στο περιβάλλον. Παράλληλα οι παίκτες δημιουργούν αυθόρμητα ομάδες και κοινότητες μάθησης του παιχνιδιού και συνεργατικής επίτευξης των δραστηριοτήτων. Η κατανόηση των πρακτικών και των διαδικασιών που αναπτύσσονται στο πλαίσιο του παιχνιδιού και η σχέση τους με τις σχεδιαστικές επιλογές του περιβάλλοντος μπορούν να παράσχουν πολύτιμα στοιχεία τόσο για τη συνεργασία των ατόμων σε κατανεμημένες ομάδες μέσω διαδικτυακών εικονικών περιβαλλόντων, όσο και για την ανάπτυξη αποτελεσματικών συνεργατικών μαθησιακών περιβαλλόντων με ή χωρίς την υποστήριξη υπολογιστή. / This study is situated within the research field of learning in Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) and aims at mapping the field. Through this study, a research framework for the study of learning in MMOGs is proposed. The framework combines the cognitive, the emotional, and the social aspects of learning, and also a conceptual model including features of the players, the groups, the tasks, the designed and the social environment, and the interactions among the players. Furthermore, phenomena and factors directly or indirectly relevant to the support of learning in MMOGs are mapped, based on this framework. A mixed method research approach was employed. The main research methodologies and tools employed were virtual ethnography and questionnaires, for the qualitative and the quantitative approaches respectively. Data were collected through participant observation in different MMOGs, observation in relevant websites and fora, videos of volunteers expert players, individual and group interviews with MMOG players, and questionnaires. Through the combination of qualitative and quantitative data it was possible to investigate and understand the different perspectives of the phenomena emerging. Through the data analysis, a complex set of phenomena and factors emerged, relevant to demographic data of the players, motivations for play, the definition and the emergence of expertise, the skills employed, the learning practices, the interactions of the players, the practices and process in the groups and the community of players, and features of the environment design such as the virtual characters, tools for the support of interactions and communication, the tasks and quests, and functionalities for the support of learning. Confirmatory analysis of the quantitative data through structural equation modeling confirmed the direct and indirect relations of factors such as the social practices for learning, the social aspect and the size of the group, the tools for communication support, and the age and preferences of the players, with the perceptions of skill development through the game. Learning in MMOGs seems to emerge from the combination of both design decisions as well as the practices of the players. Motives relevant to the design of the environment and the interactions among the players engage the players in the acquisition of game-related skills and progress in the environment. Players spontaneously develop groups and communities for learning the environment and collaboratively accomplishing tasks. Understanding of the practices and processes emerging within the framework of the game, and their relations to the design of the environment can provide valuable insights of the way people interact and collaborate in distributed online teams, and also for the development of effective collaborative learning environments with or without the support of computers.