Introduction
Welcome to the BOW website, BOW is a educational Virtual World based on ActiveWorlds technology build for the TheU competition. The name BOW comes from the name of a earlier educational Virtual World project, the BOWorld. The BOWorld was build for the BOW Social Science department of the Tilburg University in the Netherlands. Since the objectives of this project where almost the same as the objectives for the competition we decided to build another world and name it BOW.
What is the use of BOW?
BOW can be used for various forms of distance learning at university level. It can be used to let the students of a (distance-) university communicate with other students from their own university or other universities worldwide! But it can also be customized for the use of teaching courses like Social Sciences, Geography, Math, Language-studies, Arts, Music and almost every university study you can image! Since the world is based on ActiveWorlds technologies it can be used as 3D version of the good 'ol webpages by using special codes to link it to the HTML pages, so students can learn and have fun in-world at the same time! Another great feature that the ActiveWorlds software allows you is the use of Telnet links within the world! We used it to make a virtual library with a couple of terminals from which students can launch a Telnet connection with the library database of a real university library (at the Tilburg University), and another terminal allows students to access a MUD (Multi User Dimension/Multi User Dungeon) of a university in Athens (so now you have a Virtual World in a Virtual World <G>).
Is the building of a Virtual University expensive?
Just one word: NO ! Circle of Fire Inc., the suppliers of the ActiveWorld server and client software, doesn't ask very much for their accounts! The only other thing you will need is someone with a ActiveWorlds Citizen Number (a couple of free Citizen Numbers come with each world-account you get) to build the world, and your own system to host it on or someone who hosts it for you.
Remember that the Twinkle Clan Builders can build a complete, ready to use, Virtual Environment for you for a *very* low price! Please contact our CEO if you are interested in having us build your world. Information is also supplied via that address. Mail to: Dirk-Jan "Twinkle" de Bruin .
These are the prices that Circle of Fire asks for their world accounts at the moment (5 Feb. 98)(these are the Commercial Class account, which I think you should use for building a Virtual University, since a University is a Organization and doesn't fall under the Personal Class accounts:
Type |
Simultaneous
|
Size |
Price |
Free
Registered
|
| C2 | 32 | 160,000 square meters | $320 | 2 |
| C3 | 32 | 360,000 square meters | $720 | 3 |
| C4 | 32 | 640,000 square meters | $1280 | 4 |
| C5 | 32 | 1,000,000 square meters | $2000 | 5 |
| C6 | 32 | 1,500,000 square meters | $2880 | 6 |
| C7 | 32 | 2,000,000 square meters | $3930 | 7 |
| C8 | 32 | 3,000,000 square meters | $5120 | 8 |
| C9 | 32 | 4,000,000 square meters | $6480 | 9 |
| CC | Unlimited | Any size | Call | Call |
Add $500 for each 32 simultaneous user increase over the listed configurations. (eg. To increase a C5 to 128 simultaneous users add $1500 to the purchase price)
For more information about ordering your world with Circle of Fire Inc. please go to http://www.activeworlds.com/servers.html .
For more information about having your world build by the Twinkle Clan Builders, please mail to Dirk-Jan "Twinkle" de Bruin , if you mention the TheU competition in the message you will get a special discount!
How can you enter BOW (and other Worlds in the AW Universe)
Now you have read about BOW, you might want to see it with your own eyes, follow the following manual and make sure you got the right system and you will be there in instant!
The minimum system you need for the ActiveWorlds Client Software is:
| processor | Pentium |
| operating system | Windows 95/98/NT |
| memory | 16 megs (24 megs or more will give improved performance) |
| disk space | 50 megs |
| display | 256 color (16 bit color recommended) |
If your system specifications are good enough to run ActiveWorlds then you can download the ActiveWorlds Client (free) from Circle of Fire ActiveWorlds site or Tucows . You can also download the ActiveWorlds client by clicking HERE <add link to AW file>.
The ActiveWorlds Client is best experienced with:
- A fast computer with MMX <G>.
- Microsoft Intenet Explorer (A MUST HAVE! This enables the AW Client to load webpages right into the AW Interface)!
- A good Soundcard (with Wavetable, for better MIDI sound).
- Shutterglasses (one with Pseudoviewing, since AW isn't fully shutterglass optimized, nor supports shutterglasses. For the use of shutterglasses, please refer to the manual of the set you have bought. I would recommend MiroMEDIA 3D fanatix, because I use those :-).
- An ActiveWorlds Citizen Number (just about $20 per year, orders yours now with Circle of Fire Inc!). More info about this later on the page.
Note: All these are just extras that may enhance your experience :-)!
After you launched the ActiveWorlds Client you will get the following Splash-Screen:
If your Citizen Number and set your default identity ActiveWorlds will now continue and go enter your "Home" as the Citizen you made your default identity. If you do *not* have a Citizen Number or haven't set your default identity then you will be prompted with the following login screen:
Enter your username and password, and press OK, you will then enter your "Home" (standard your "Home" is set for the "AWGate" world at Ground Zero) with this identity. If you never want to be prompted with this login screen again, you can enter your username and password and Click on the Selection Box marked "Make this my default identity" (you can always change your default identity later by Selecting "Citizen" -> "Change To" from the menu").
If you don't have a Citizen Number (yet) click on the Command Box marked "Tourist", you now enter your "Home" as Tourist, this means you will have less feature, more about this later.
Ones you enter the world you will see the ActiveWorlds console, this is your window to the AW Universe, it will look like this:
To enter BOW you can click on name "BOW" in the World list (on the left) or just go to menu "Teleport" and select "To...". After you selected "To...", from the "Teleport", the following menu will appear:
Type "BOW" in the World Input Box. You can leave the Coordinates Input Box blank if you want to go the Ground Zero (0n 0w). Now Click on Ok and you will we Teleported to the BOW world within seconds!
If you want to make the BOW world the standard world you start with go to the "Teleport" Menu and select "Make This My Home". Now BOW will be the first world you enter every time you access the AW Universe.
If you want to add BOW to your Favorite Places/World List, again go to the "Teleport" Menu and select the Menu Item called "Remember...". The following window will appear:
Type in any name you like, I can advice you to pick something that reminds best you of the place you want to put in your favorites. After you Clicked on "OK" the name you gave the reminder is in your favorites list that can be found in the 'Teleport" menu. When you click on it you will automatically be teleported that the place you let the AW Client remember.
These are the buttons you have to know when moving with the Keyboard:
The UP arrow or '8' on the Number Pad makes your Avatar (your online representative) Move Forward.
The DOWN arrow or '2' on the Number Pad makes your Avatar Move Backward.
The LEFT arrow or '4' on the Number Pad makes your Avatar Turn Left.
The RIGHT arrow or '6' on the Number Pad makes your Avatar Turn Right.
5' On the Number Pad Stops All Movement.
'Enter' Sends your current Text.
'+' On the Number Pad makes your Avatar Fly Up.
'-' On the Number Pad makes your Avatar Fly Down.
Hold 'CTRL' while Moving to make this Movement go Faster. This also works in combination with Flying. This also works in combination with 'SHIFT'.
Hold 'SHIFT' while Moving to go through Objects if they block you. This also works in combination with Flying. This also works in combination with 'CTRL'. While holding down 'SHIFT' you won't trigger Actions like Bump Warps.
Hold 'SHIFT' and while Turning Left or Right to Slide Sideward to the Left or Right (known as "Strife" in various 3D games)(e.a. SHIFT + RIGHT arrow makes you Slide Sideward to the right).
This is what you have to know when Moving with the Mouse.
First thing you have to do when you want to Move with the Mouse is to press the Mouse Mode Button displayed above. The movement rules of the Mouse are quite easy:
Pushing the Mouse Forward moves your Avatar Forward.
Moving the Mouse to the Left makes your Avatar Turn Left.
Moving the Mouse to the Right makes your Avatar Turn Right.
Pulling the Mouse Back moves your Avatar Backward.
Clicking the Left Mouse Button on your Mouse bring the Pointer back and takes you out of the Mouse Mode.
- You will be able to Build in various Worlds in the AW Universe that allows building! Your property can't be destroyed by other Citizens if you have your own Citizen Number!
- You can Send Telegrams to other Citizens!
- You can locate your friends and Join them wherever they are (the owner of the Avatar you want to join or locate has to allow this feature, since Circle of Fire Inc. allows Citizens to access the Universe in Privacy to)!
- You can keep a Contact list of all the Citizens you visit in world! This way you can always keep in touch with them!
- You will be allowed to use *all* Avatars in all worlds (except for the Special1, 2 and 3 Avatars, since they can only be used my special Citizens).
All this for just US $19,95 per YEAR!
To Register your Citizen Number you can access the AW Universe as Tourist and click on the "Register Now" button. Or you can go to the "Citizen" menu and select "Immigrate". Fill out the info asked, and wait until the Credit Card check is finished. If everything went without problems you now have your own Registered Citizen Number! Congrats! To see what Citizen Number you have you can go to Menu "Help" -> "About". Your Citizen Number will now be displayed.
If you used to have a Citizen Number, but haven't Registered a new one yet, go to: https://www.anacom.com/order/cof .
For more information about Registration I would advice you to visit http://www.activeworlds.com/register.html .
Copyright 98 by Dirk-Jan "Twinkle" de Bruin. All rights reserved. Twinkle, Twinkle Clan and BOW are intellectual properties of Dirk-Jan "Twinkle" de Bruin. Active Worlds is a registered trademark of Circle of Fire Inc. All other brands and names on this page are properties of their respectful owners.