Alternative representations of virtual content in a virtual universe

1. A method for providing an alternative representation of virtual content in a virtual universe, comprising the computer implemented steps of:

displaying a set of virtual universe alternative representations to a user of a virtual universe, the virtual universe including a computer-based virtual environment that a plurality of users access and interact with using avatars;

receiving input from the user corresponding to a set of desired virtual universe alternative representation characteristics;

defining a set of virtual content of the virtual universe in terms of a virtual reality modeling language, wherein the virtual content definitions comprise programming data necessary for executing objects, texts, and scripts within the virtual universe;

accessing, in response to the user entering a region of the virtual universe, visual capacity information stored in a user profile associated with the user within a user database;

determining a visual capacity of a user of the virtual universe based on the input from the user and the visual capacity information;

providing, by a server array, an alternative representation of a virtual content of the virtual universe renderable to the user by modifying the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe based on the visual capacity of the user of the virtual universe,—wherein the modifying further includes:

annotating the definition of the scripts associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to eliminate visual lighting effects from objects;

annotating the definition of the scripts associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to modify the color of objects; and

annotating the definition of the objects associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to provide simplified geometric representations of the objects.

2. The method according to claim 1 , the computer implemented step of providing comprising modifying a definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.

3. The method according to claim 1 , the providing comprising comparing the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe to a set of rendering rules to automatically provide an alternative representation of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.

4. The method according to claim 2 ,

the modifying comprising annotating the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, and

the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe comprising programming data associated with a plurality of objects each comprising a set of texts and a set of scripts.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

determining a second visual capacity of a second user of the virtual universe based on the input and the visual capacity information from the second user; and

providing, by the server array, a second alternative representation of the virtual content of the virtual universe renderable to the second user by modifying the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe based on the visual capacity of the second user, wherein an image in the second alternative representation of the virtual universe viewed by the second user is altered to appear different to the second user than the image in the virtual universe viewed than an identical viewpoint by the user appears to the user according to the alternative representation.

6. The method according to claim 1 , the alternative representation of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe comprising at least one of the following: a simplified geometric representation of at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, an alternative color representation for at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, or a modified visual lighting effect for at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.

7. A computer system for providing an alternative representation of virtual content in a virtual universe, comprising:

at least one processing unit;

memory operably associated with the at least one processing unit; and

an alternative representation tool storable in memory and executable by the at least one processing unit, the alternative representation tool performing a method, comprising:

displaying a set of virtual universe alternative representations to a user of a virtual universe, the virtual universe including a computer-based virtual environment that a plurality of users access and interact with using avatars;

receiving input from the user corresponding to a set of desired virtual universe alternative representation characteristics;

defining a set of virtual content of the virtual universe in terms of a virtual reality modeling language, wherein the virtual content definitions comprise programming data necessary for executing objects, texts, and scripts within the virtual universe;

accessing, in response to the user entering a region of the virtual universe, visual capacity information stored in a user profile associated with the user within a user database;

determining a visual capacity of a user of the virtual universe based on the input from the user and the visual capacity information;

providing, by a server array, an alternative representation of a virtual content of the virtual universe renderable to the user by modifying the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe based on the visual capacity of the user of the virtual universe,—wherein the modifying further includes:

annotating the definition of the scripts associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to eliminate visual lighting effects from objects;

annotating the definition of the scripts associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to modify the color of objects; and

annotating the definition of the objects associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to provide simplified geometric representations of the objects.

8. The alternative representation tool according to claim 7 , the method further comprising modifying a definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.

9. The alternative representation tool according to claim 7 , the method further comprising comparing the virtual content rendered in the virtual content to a set of rendering rules to automatically provide an alternative representation of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.

10. The alternative representation tool according to claim 8 , the method further comprising annotating the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe comprising programming data associated with a plurality of objects each comprising a set of texts and a set of scripts.

11. The alternative representation tool according to claim 10 , the method further comprising:

determining a second visual capacity of a second user of the virtual universe based on the input and the visual capacity information from the second user; and

providing, by the server array, a second alternative representation of the virtual content of the virtual universe renderable to the second user by modifying the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe based on the visual capacity of the second user, wherein an image in the second alternative representation of the virtual universe viewed by the second user is altered to appear different to the second user than the image in the virtual universe viewed than an identical viewpoint by the user appears to the user according to the alternative representation.

12. The alternative representation tool according to claim 7 , the alternative representation of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe comprising at least one of the following: a simplified geometric representation of at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, an alternative color representation for at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, or a modified visual lighting effect for at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.

13. A computer-readable storage device storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to provide an alternative representation of virtual content in a virtual universe, the computer instructions comprising:

displaying a set of virtual universe alternative representations to a user of a virtual universe, the virtual universe including a computer-based virtual environment that a plurality of users access and interact with using avatars;

receiving input from the user corresponding to a set of desired virtual universe alternative representation characteristics;

defining a set of virtual content of the virtual universe in terms of a virtual reality modeling language, wherein the virtual content definitions comprise programming data necessary for executing objects, texts, and scripts within the virtual universe;

accessing, in response to the user entering a region of the virtual universe, visual capacity information stored in a user profile associated with the user within a user database;

determining a visual capacity of a user of the virtual universe based on the input from the user and the visual capacity information;

providing, by a server array, an alternative representation of a virtual content of the virtual universe renderable to the user by modifying the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe based on the visual capacity of the user of the virtual universe,—wherein the modifying further includes:

annotating the definition of the scripts associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to eliminate visual lighting effects from objects;

annotating the definition of the scripts associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to modify the color of objects; and

annotating the definition of the objects associated with the virtual content with metadata that identifies how to provide simplified geometric representations of the objects.

14. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 13 , the providing comprising instructions for modifying a definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.

15. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 13 , the providing comprising instructions for comparing the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe to a set of rendering rules to automatically provide an alternative representation of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.

16. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 14 , the instructions for modifying a definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe further comprising instructions for annotating the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, and the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe comprising programming data associated with a plurality of objects each comprising a set of texts and a set of scripts.

17. The computer readable storage device according to claim 16 , the computer instructions further comprising:

determining a second visual capacity of a second user of the virtual universe based on the input and the visual capacity information from the second user; and

providing, by the server array, a second alternative representation of the virtual content of the virtual universe renderable to the second user by modifying the definition of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe with metadata that identifies how to modify the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe based on the visual capacity of the second user, wherein an image in the second alternative representation of the virtual universe viewed by the second user is altered to appear different to the second user than the image in the virtual universe viewed than an identical viewpoint by the user appears to the user according to the alternative representation.

18. The computer readable storage device according to claim 13 , the alternative representation of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe comprising at least one of the following: a simplified geometric representation of at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, an alternative color representation for at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe, or a modified visual lighting effect for at least a portion of the virtual content renderable in the virtual universe.