In this paper, we present ‘Virtual Observation’ (VO) a software tool for contextual observation and assessment of user’s directly from within the virtual reality (VR) simulation framework. Unlike other recording systems, the VO system described in this paper focuses on recording and reconstructing VR user’s positional, rotational and input data to recreate the same experience the user had with a VR simulation. Different from animation-based approaches, VO records user inputs and reconstructs the simulation from them and the user positional data. Moreover, the system allows the broadcast of this information to a remote machine enabling remote live observation of the simulation. Datasets recorded by the system can be shared by exporting them as XML files or, optionally, into a standalone online application, such as browser WebGL, allowing researchers, developers and educators to share and review a VR user simulation through a free-moving camera using a web browser. In this paper, the consistency of the data generated from the software by the client, server and reconstructed datasets acquired during real-time live observations was evaluated. We conclude that this Virtual Observation software offers detailed reconstruction of low-level information and visual information of user actions during simulations for both live and offline observations. We envision that our system will be of benefit for researchers, developers and educators that work with VR applications.

在本文中，我们提出了“虚拟观察”（VO）软件工具，用于直接从虚拟现实（VR）模拟框架中进行上下文观察和用户评估。与其他记录系统不同，本文所述的VO系统着重于记录和重建VR用户的位置，旋转和输入数据，以重现用户在VR模拟中的相同体验。与基于动画的方法不同，VO记录用户输入并根据它们和用户位置数据重建模拟。而且，该系统允许将该信息广播到远程机器，从而可以远程实时观察模拟。可以通过将系统记录的数据集导出为XML文件或（可选）将其导出到独立的在线应用程序（例如浏览器WebGL，允许研究人员，开发人员和教育工作者使用网络浏览器通过自由移动的相机共享和查看VR用户模拟。在本文中，评估了由客户端，服务器和实时实时观测过程中获取的重建数据集从软件生成的数据的一致性。我们得出的结论是，该虚拟观察软件可以为实时和脱机观察提供模拟过程中用户操作的低级信息和视觉信息的详细重建。我们设想，我们的系统将对使用VR应用程序的研究人员，开发人员和教育工作者有所帮助。服务器和实时实时观察过程中获取的重建的数据集进行了评估。我们得出的结论是，该虚拟观察软件可以为实时和脱机观察提供模拟过程中用户操作的低级信息和视觉信息的详细重建。我们设想，我们的系统将对使用VR应用程序的研究人员，开发人员和教育工作者有所帮助。服务器和实时实时观察过程中获取的重建的数据集进行了评估。我们得出的结论是，该虚拟观察软件可以为实时和脱机观察提供模拟过程中用户操作的低级信息和视觉信息的详细重建。我们设想，我们的系统将对使用VR应用程序的研究人员，开发人员和教育工作者有所帮助。