Immersive visual programming system

A method for programming and executing a computer program in an immersive visual programming environment, said method comprising the steps of:

• assembling data objects and algorithmic components selected from a set of pre-fabricated virtual components to construct the computer program;
• compiling the computer program while providing visual and audio clues to a user in response to a detected compiler error, said clues indicating a location and nature of the detected compiler error;
• executing the computer program by initiating sequential flow of said data objects through said algorithmic components wherein said flow of said data objects and interaction among respective ones of said data objects is visually displayed to the user, said flow of said data objects being indicated by a visible execution pointer that moves through said algorithmic components during execution of the computer program to indicate an instruction that is currently being performed;
• and
• providing one of said visual and audio clues to the user during the execution of the computer program to indicate a location and nature of a detected run-time error.

A method for programming and executing a computer program in an immersive visual programming environment, said method comprising the steps of:

• assembling data objects and algorithmic components selected from a set of pre-fabricated virtual components to construct the computer program, said data objects each comprising a closed surface possessing a set of user-defined attributes defining interactions of the respective closed surface with other data objects within the immersive visual programming environment, said assembling step being performed by grasping and placing said pre-fabricated virtual components within the immersive visual programming environment using a data glove that provides tactile feedback in dependence upon the placement of said pre-fabricated virtual components;
• compiling the computer program while providing one of visual and audio clues to the user in response to a detected compiler error, said clues indicating a location and nature of the detected compiler error;
• executing the computer program by initiating sequential flow of said data objects through said algorithmic components wherein said flow of said data objects and interaction among respective ones of said data objects is visually displayed to the user, said flow of said data objects being indicated by a visible execution pointer that moves through said algorithmic components to indicate an instruction that is currently being performed;
• and
• providing one of said visual and audio clues to the user during the execution of the computer program to indicate a location and nature of a detected run-time error.

A computer programming system for creating and executing a computer program in an immersive visual programming environment, said system comprising:

• means for assembling data objects and algorithmic components selected from a set of pre-fabricated virtual components to construct the computer program, said data objects each comprising a closed surface possessing a set of user-defined attributes defining interactions of the respective closed surface with other data objects within the immersive visual programming environment, said pre-fabricated virtual components being grasped and placed within the immersive visual programming environment using a data glove that provides tactile feedback in dependence upon the placement of said pre-fabricated virtual components;
• means for compiling the computer program while providing one of visual and audio clues to the user in response to a detected compiler error, said clues indicating a location and nature of the detected compiler error;
• means for executing the computer program by initiating sequential flow of said data objects through said algorithmic components wherein said flow of said data objects and interaction among respective ones of said data objects is visually displayed to the user, said flow of said data objects being indicated by a visible execution pointer that moves through said algorithmic components to indicate an instruction that is currently being performed;
• and
• means for providing one of said visual and audio clues to the user during the execution of the computer program to indicate a location and nature of a detected run-time error.