What Is Bridge
Bridge is a cloud-based multi-service HUD. It allows you to access web-based services from within virtual environments (such as Second Life, Sansar, In-World, OpenSim, etc.) and MMOs (such as World of Warcraft) by connecting these accounts through a Google account. You can also install custom apps (we call them 'plugins') to interact with specific environments.What Is VMA
VMA, or Venue Management Assistant, is a collection of tools built by Core Hound Systems to be used with your Bridge device and from the web. These tools include:- In-game HUD accessed through your Bridge device.
- In-game object that manages permissions and execute remote commands.
- (Venues) Web-based tools that help you monitor and analyze your parcel’s traffic.
- (Performers) Web-based tools that help you monitor and analyze your performances.
- A permissions system that lets you assign managers and staff to your parcel(s).
In-Game HUD
The in-game HUD (see below) has two main screens (with the option for more in the future based on user feedback). The first screen shows information about the parcel you on which you are standing (click ‘Parcel Name’ to select a different parcel) and the guests that are present on your parcel at the time the page was loaded. To keep up with the current guests you will need to refresh the page from time to time (done by clicking the swirling arrow at the top left). From here, you can interact with guests by:- Greeting them - shouts a greeting that includes their name and the sim’s name that instructs them to contact you if they have any questions.
- Address their behavior by: sending them Home; Kicking them (a.k.a. eject from land); or Ban them from the parcel.
- Set your camera to focus on them (results are inconsistent in crowded sims or while the target is ‘sitting’ - includes the use of a ‘dance ball’).
- Set their rating - default for all users is a three, but can be adjusted between one and five. The meanings of these numbers are up to you to decide, this feature is intended to share general impressions between staff members. (By convention, a low rating suggests that the user is ‘to be watched’ while higher ratings suggests the guest frequents the parcel and is well respected or otherwise a VIP.)
- By clicking the ‘blank’ button next to the quick greet you can pull up a guests details including: their UUID, if they are AFK, their language, rez date, coordinates, and a wealth of script, server, and stream data based on their attachments.
The second screen (see above, right) is actually a subscreen of the first; it manages the streams on the selected parcel. By clicking the word ‘Stream’ in the orange region you expand that region to reveal a list of streams that you can assign to the parcel. Hovering over a stream name will show that stream’s url while click the stream will set that stream to the designated parcel. There is also an input field in which you can manually enter a new stream.
In-Game Object
The in-game object is a modifiable, single prim object that directs commands from the HUD. It is also vital for the collection of data on the parcel, such as the guest data that is sent to the HUD. Future upgrades to this object include a feature that allows users issue commands from their mobile device or desktop computer, such as ban an offending guest or change streams.VMA’s Web-Based Tools
The web-based tools are arguably the most important feature of the VMA system. With these tools you can analyze the data collected by the in-game object. With the use of these tools you can:- [Venues] Control who has access to tools on your parcel by assigning them the roles of ‘Owner’, ‘Manager’ or ‘Staff’.
- [Performers] Assign one or more managers that can both see your performance data and update your performance locations (parcels).
- Review your parcel’s performance, down to the minute. Data collection requires:
- [Venues] In-game object.
- [Performers] Wearing a Bridge device during performances.
- [Venues] Select periods of time (such as a specific performer’s set or all of your non-performance hours) or [Performers] select a location and period of time and see who your guests are; how long they stay; your highest, lowest, and average number of guests during the period; average duration of stay, etc.
- See all guests during a given period of time and review their behavior such as fluctuations in script count, script time, AFK status, stream and server cost, and avatar complexity.
- View our ‘behavior logs’. The behavior logs record information every time a HUD user attempts to ban a guest. Once a guest is banned using the HUD the user that banned them can go to the behavior page to add details of the incident. This information is available to all VMA users. Note: In future updates there will be an option to submit warning data about a guest without banning them.)
Profile & Permissions
All profiles include five ‘Titles’: Location Owner; Location Manager; Location Staff; Service Provider; and Service Manager. These five titles cover the range of roles that you may fill and define your permissions.
Location Owner
A location owner is the actual owner of a parcel or the acting owner of a parcel. The designation is ‘in name only’ as this title has no in-world impact on who actually owns the parcel.Owners have separate sections for each parcel they own. Owners can add/remove owners, managers, and staff from a parcel as well as add new parcels that they own.
Owners can use the VMA HUD and view a parcel’s recorded data. [Requires in-game Wadjet]
Location Manager
A location manager can add/remove staff, use the VMA HUD and view a parcel’s recorded data.Location Staff
Staff cannot add/remove anyone or see a parcel’s recorded data. They can use the VMA HUD in that parcel.Service Provider
Service Providers are people that perform some kind of service independent of parcel permissions. This includes musicians, party coordinators, and photographers.Service Providers can designate a list of parcels for which they can view data gathered by their Bridge device. Both the Bridge device must be attached to their HUD and the avatar must be on the parcel to collect the data.
Service Providers can assign one or more managers to help manager their parcel list and view the data that Bridge collects during performances.
Service Manager
Service Managers can add/remove parcels from a Service Provider’s monitored parcel list. They can also view the data collected in the same way the Service Provider can.Review Collected Data
Collected data can be reviewed from our web-interface. Simply select the parcel from which you wish to review data and input the date and time you wish to review.
The results will look like the above: a graph showing the minute-by-minute data; a chart with a breakdown of statistical information; and a list of all of your recorded guests.
Hovering over the graph will highlight the minute hovered over and will show the time and the number of guests present. Clicking a minute will filter the list of recorded guests to those that were present at that time. Double-clicking any minute will remove the filter.
The chart shows some general stats. Avatar Minutes is the total number of minutes that all avatars spent on your parcel in the selected period. For example, if you review a two hour period and the for the entire period there were only two guests, one that stayed for 95 minutes and another that stayed for 10 minutes then your Avatar Minutes would be 105. Calculated Minutes refers to the total number of minutes reviewed. Lowest/Highest number of guests refers to the fewest guests tracked during a minute and the highest number of guests tracked during a minute, respectively while Average No. Guests averages the guest count in every minute reviewed.
The guest list consists of all guests that were recorded and the total number of minutes that they were in attendance. Clicking on a guest will reveal a wealth of data about the guest. For example, you can see when they were present, if they were AFK for a period of time, or if their scripts spiked for whatever reason. Future updates will include data on their preferred language (if any), coordinate paths, and more.
Hovering over the graph will highlight the minute hovered over and will show the time and the number of guests present. Clicking a minute will filter the list of recorded guests to those that were present at that time. Double-clicking any minute will remove the filter.
The chart shows some general stats. Avatar Minutes is the total number of minutes that all avatars spent on your parcel in the selected period. For example, if you review a two hour period and the for the entire period there were only two guests, one that stayed for 95 minutes and another that stayed for 10 minutes then your Avatar Minutes would be 105. Calculated Minutes refers to the total number of minutes reviewed. Lowest/Highest number of guests refers to the fewest guests tracked during a minute and the highest number of guests tracked during a minute, respectively while Average No. Guests averages the guest count in every minute reviewed.
The guest list consists of all guests that were recorded and the total number of minutes that they were in attendance. Clicking on a guest will reveal a wealth of data about the guest. For example, you can see when they were present, if they were AFK for a period of time, or if their scripts spiked for whatever reason. Future updates will include data on their preferred language (if any), coordinate paths, and more.