The proposed language is based on two levels: one that allows to de¯ne,
using the state machine, how the collaborative metaphor are organized (in
a virtual environment a collaborative metaphor de¯ne how several objects,
both avatars and objects, interact each other). Each collaborative metaphor is
represented as a state of a state machine. It is possible to de¯ne the condition
of input and output of each state and, in another detail level, it is possible to
change the point of view describing how the single object participate to the
metaphor. This representation, easy to understand from the user involved in
the design, it is useful to provide a clear and complete idea of the collaborative
metaphor of the e-learning environment to design (Figure 1).
using the state machine, how the collaborative metaphor are organized (in
a virtual environment a collaborative metaphor de¯ne how several objects,
both avatars and objects, interact each other). Each collaborative metaphor is
represented as a state of a state machine. It is possible to de¯ne the condition
of input and output of each state and, in another detail level, it is possible to
change the point of view describing how the single object participate to the
metaphor. This representation, easy to understand from the user involved in
the design, it is useful to provide a clear and complete idea of the collaborative
metaphor of the e-learning environment to design (Figure 1).