Multi-Media Software for the Development of 3-D Spatial Visualization Ability

本计画的主要目的是在PC/Windows平台上开发多媒体软体模组，着重于发展三维空间视觉化技巧。 这个项目建立在以前的一个NSF项目上，在这个项目中，PI编写了一本名为“3-D空间可视化介绍”的教科书，并附带了一本计算机实验室手册。 待开发的软件既可作为发展三维空间技能的独立练习，也可作为课本的补充。 这本书主要是为大一工程专业的学生写的，也适合一般的大学新生和/或高中生。 然而，原始项目的计算机实验室手册是为使用I-DEAS软件和Unix工作站编写的。 因此，这是不可能的，为这一文本开发的计算机组件可以使用的大多数高中和那些大学没有基于Unix的工作站或访问I-DEAS软件。 独立的多媒体软件模块的开发并不是最初项目的一部分。 这个项目代表了一个重要的软件开发工作--它不仅仅是将现有的软件从一个平台转换到另一个平台。 为个人计算机开发独立的软件模块将能够更广泛地传播这门课程的计算机部分，这是许多教师要求的。 这个项目的第二个目的是开发一个练习册，学生们在使用软件时会写在里面。 该工作簿将包含用于绘制对象和回答问题的空间，因为他们通过软件模块工作。 Prentice-Hall已同意协助散发这些材料。 如有可能，将在万维网上提供作为该项目直接成果而开发的软件。

The main purpose of this project is to develop multimedia software modules for a PC/Windows platform which focus on the development of 3-D spatial visualization skills. This project builds on a previous NSF project in which the PIs wrote a textbook titled "Introduction to 3-D Spatial Visualization" with an accompanying computer lab manual. The software to be developed could be used either as stand-alone exercises in the development of 3-D spatial skills or as a supplement to the text. The text, which was written primarily for freshman engineering students, is also appropriate for college freshmen in general and/or for high school students. The computer lab manual from the original project, however, is written for use with I-DEAS software and Unix baxed workstations. Consequently, it is unlikely that the computer component developed for this text could be used by most high schools and by those colleges without Unix based workstations or access to I-DEAS software. The development of stand-alone, multimedia software modules was not part of the original project. This project represents a significant software development effort -- it is not merely the conversion of existing software from one platform to another. Development of stand-alone software modules for the PC will enable larger dissemination of the computer component of this course and has been requested by many teachers. A secondary purpose of this project is to develop a workbook that students will write in as they are using the software. The workbook will contain spaces for sketching objects and answering questions as they work through the software modules. Prentice-Hall has agreed to assist in the dissemination of these materials. If possible, the software that is developed as a direct result of this project will be made available on the World Wide Web.