Realizing 3D Visual Programming Environments within a Virtual Environment

Abstract

In the visual programming community, many interesting graphical metaphors have been reported upon for representing computer programs graphically. Most of them have a 2D or 2.5D appearance on the screen in order to reflect the inherent multi-dimensionality of the programming constructs being represented. By going into a three-dimensional representation, this reflection can go a stepfurther. With ever increasing3D graphics rendering capabilities on todays computers, it moreover becomes feasible to extend the dimensionality of the program (and data structure) depiction. We follow this approach by realizing 3D graphical programming techniques within CAEL, our interactive Computer Animation Environment Language. The paper elucidates how several concepts, traditionally found within the Virtual Environments area, can be utilized in the realization of three-dimensional Programming Environments.