Using Simulation and Virtual Reality for Distance Education

This paper describes the construction of virtual reality simulations for distance education through the Internet. This is accomplished by means of an object oriented continuous simulation language, called OOCSMP, and a Java generating compiler for this language called C-OOL. This compiler is also able to create VRML worlds. The behaviour of the VRML world is specified in the OOCSMP models. Change of simulation parameters is possible at run time by means of a Java interface, generated by the compiler. An example of the simulation of the inner Solar System is presented.