HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
The content of the Virtual Museum has been designed so that you can obtain all the information you need without browser plug-ins. The text pages relating to the 3D model can be accessed from the map of the site. The sound commentary is also given in written form.
In order to browse all the material on the Virtual Museum pages you have to use plug-ins. Consult the Plug-in checklist to see whether these should be loaded on to your computer.
The presentation of the Govinius plot includes a 3D VRML 2.0 model, which you will need the Cosmo Player 2.0 plug-in to view. Viewing the virtual model is also improved by a graphics card with a 3D accelerator.
To listen to the sound commentary you will need the Real Player plug-in and your computer will need to have the necessary sound reproduction capability.
The Virtual Museum has been optimised for a 1024x768 display resolution and a minimum of 32,768 colours (16 bit). The computer should have a Pentium processor or equivalent and at least 16 MB RAM. The operating system must be Windows 95 or Windows NT.
Full compatibility is not guaranteed with browsers other than Netscape
Navigator 4.x or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x.
If a check list does not appear below, confirm that your browser settings support JavaScript. The status of your browser's plug-ins will appear as follows:
The left half of the screen shows a map of the Govinius site marked with link points. By clicking these points, text pages will be shown on the right half of the screen.
A 3D model of the site can be viewed by using the row of buttons along the top. The model is displayed on top of the map. The following section of the guidelines explains the use of the 3D model. The text pages can be opened by clicking the silhouette figures seen in the 3D model.
The 3D model can be closed by clicking the 2D button in the row of buttons along the top.
The text pages, which include the fire inspector story and information about the archaeological excavations, are shown on the right side of the screen. The fire inspector story links are marked with yellow balls and the archaeological excavation links with green balls.
The sound commentary for the fire inspector story is loaded by clicking the narrative link at the end of the text. You can use the row of buttons to return to the Virtual Museum starting page.
The 3D model shown on the left side of the screen consists of three parts. The uppermost part is a 3D image, the middle part is a control panel and the bottom part has a space for text-based instructions.
The left part of the bottom edge of the picture shows the Virtual Museum logo, which is opened by clicking the action buttons. The first of the buttons brings a silhouette of the Council of State Building on to the screen. The second button removes the fire inspector and archaeologist figures from the picture.
The control panel buttons can be used to adjust the way you move. The text space at the bottom gives simple guidelines as you move through the 3D world.
You can move through the 3D world in three different ways. You can move freely by moving the mouse cursor in the direction you want to go while pressing the left mouse button at the same time. The further you move the cursor, the faster you move.
By clicking a yellow or green control point, you move directly to the next figure.
You can open the Viewpoint list on the left side of the control panel. The list shows the location of all the silhouette figures in the model. You can move to the appropriate silhouette figure in the model by choosing it from the list.
The 3D model also allows the site to be examined from a bird's eye view. By clicking the Slide button in the centre of the control panel you can move vertically. When you have moved to the height you want, you can move horizontally once more by clicking the adjacent Go button. If you want to look downwards, click the Tilt button on the control panel and move the mouse cursor downwards on the screen.
In the virtual world you may experience unforeseen problems. You may get stuck in one place or find yourself completely outside the modelled area. You have several options to overcome these difficulties. You can move to a new location using the Viewpoint list on the control panel. You can also click the Undo button on the right edge of control panel; this will cancel your last action.
Only the basic principles of using the Cosmo Player have been explained in the Virtual Museum guidelines. On the right edge of the control panel you will find a small button which will take you to Cosmo Player's own in-depth instruction pages.
The Virtual Museum application is under continuous development and we would be grateful for any comments you may have. You can click the Feedback button at the top of the screen at any time.