Collaboration and dialogue in Virtual reality

“Virtual reality” adds a new dimension to problem based teaching (PBL) in the building professions, where a realistic and lifelike presence in a building will enable students to assess and discuss how the various solutions interact in relation to each other. Combined with “Building Information Models” (BIM), “Virtual Reality” provides an entirely new opportunity to innovate and optimize the construction in its early stages. There are several studies where virtual simulation tools based on predefined tutorials are tested in relation to their ability to create collaborative processes. This study addressing the problem from a new angle by the virtual universe created through the students' own iterative design of a building. The “Virtual reality” system's narrative tale arises spontaneously through the dialogue. The result of this study shows that “Virtual Reality”, as a tool, creates a number of changes in the dialogue conditions and a number of significant points which from start should be thought into the structure of the system. The use of “Virtual Reality” requires a very precise framing in relation to the system's ability to facilitate a collaborative process. The analysis is identifying several clear opportunities in relation to incorporate gamification mechanisms known from e.g. computer games software.