Requirements for Virtual Reality

One way to define a system is to list the requirements.

Functional requirements:

• Environments are three dimensional
• Environments have identities
• Users have identities
• User identities are shared between environments
• Identities are governed by trusted parties
• Shared media is governed by trusted parties
• Access rights for entering and manipulating objects and spaces exist
• Access rights are governed by environments
• Separate environments can be linked to each other
• Avatars and subset of objects can move between environments
• Objects can exist only once in one environment at a time
• Rendered presentation of the environment is visually appealing
• Newtonian physics or similar elementary physics exist
• Some of the objects can be moved around and manipulated
• Users are presented by avatars
• Users see avatars of other users move and act in near real time
• Users can communicate by avatar emotes, text and voice
• Users can interact with the environment through their avatars
• Functionalities are presented in the environment by objects
• User interfaces to functionalities are presented in 2 dimensions
• Users can add new content and functionality by uploading media and scripts

Nonfunctional requirements:

• User experiences smooth movement and animation
• User can switch between identities and environments easily
• Communication protocols are standardized
• Media formats are standardized
• Functionality script languages, scene object model and API’s are standardized
• Communication channels can be encrypted if needed