Spatial reading parameters in virtual enviroments and virtual museums

In this study on virtual space it was investigated that how rapid development in computer and communication technologies affects the concept of space. It was observed that the fact changing with the concept of virtual space realizes in legibility of space. In order to be able to explain this change, the concept of spatial reading and the parameters creating it in a physical enviroment were primarily studied, and it was tried to determine through a comparison how they were examined in virtual environments by means of virtual museum samples. For this purposes, the spatial reading concept and the parameters creating it in physical environments were explained in the first stages of the study. In addition, the visual modelling and simulation techniques used in forming of virtual spaces near reality were also studied to make a comparison in that way. In the second stage of the study, it was decided to make an investigation by virtual museum samples which may accessible over the internet by limiting the field of study because of the virtual environments involving in a very large area. The concepts of museum and virtual museum were primarily studied, and the classification of virtual museums was determined in order to be able to give such a decision. Then the parameters necessary for realization of spatial reading in virtual museumIV environments were identifıed.The discussion of these parameters was involved in a large scale within the text of thesis. İn the third and last stage, a field study was organised for the assessment by users of the parameters determined in virtual environments. The conclusion was drawned by the evaluation made by users for this study. Science Code : 601 01 00 Key Words : space, virtual space, virtual museum, spatial perception, spatial reading, parameters Page Number :150 Adviser : Prof. Dr. Oya PAKDİL & Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin TUNA