The Collaboration menu allows users to connect to each other over a network to send messages and share data with one another within the Virtual Environment.

There are four main collaboration options (from left to right): Shares, Voice, Messages, and Groups.

Collaboration Groups allow you to confine communications with only a select group of people on the Collaboration network.

To join a group, click on the desired group name on the groups page.

Users within the same group can send and receive messages, send and receive shares, communicate to each other over voice communications and broadcast activities to one another.

To create a new group, click on the button with a square on it.

A popup window will appear asking for you to enter the name of the new group to add. Enter the desired name into the text field and click OK.

Your new group will now be listed on the Groups page and any other user on the Collaboration network may join it.

The messages page allows you to send and receive messages and shared data from other users on the Collaboration Network that are within the same group.

To send a message, click on the text field and type in the message you wish to send. Then press the Enter key to send it.

Messages and shared data that is received will be listed automatically on the Messages page when they arrive.

Additionally, if the Messages page is not open when the message or share arrives, the Collaboration Icon and the Messages Icon will flash red.

To change your username, click on the username in the upper right corner of the Messages page. A new popup window will show asking for a new username. Enter the new username in the text field and click OK. Collaboration will automatically disconnect and reconnect with the new username, this process may take a few moments.

The Shares Page gives you many different options for sending arbitrary data to other users on the Collaboration Network.

To send a share to users within your group, click on the action you wish to send to other users from the Share list. Some Share actions require you to enter additional data. If this is the case, an additional popup window will appear asking you to enter the additional data.

To receive a share, open the Messages Page. Look for the comment marked in red by another user and click on it. If done correctly, you will perform whatever action is being shared by the user who sent the share.

Broadcasting is a feature of the ARDI-VE Collaboration system which allows you to perform a live stream of your actions and activities from yourself to anyone else receiving your broadcast. This can be used to show other users specific aspects of the Virtual Environment you deem important, including but not limited to:

• Locations in the Environment
• Specific Assets in the Environment
• Asset Variables of Interest
• Sub-camera and Sub-camera layouts

All of this information will be streamed live to anyone who has selected to receive your broadcast.

To begin broadcasting, open the Shares Page and click on the Share Action labeled Broadcast to Anyone. You will begin broadcasting immediately, as indicated at the top of the screen. Anyone who is in the same group as you will receive the broadcast share in the Messages Page and be able to click on it to begin receiving your broadcast.

To receive a broadcast check the Messages Page for the broadcast share and click on it. If done correctly you will see an indication at the top of the screen showing that you are receiving a broadcast. Your ARDI-VE application will now begin to follow the instructions of the broadcaster, mimicking all of the actions that the broadcaster performs.

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