3D

Virtual Worlds And The 3-D Web

A lot of attention has been given to virtual worlds and the 3-D Web. Let's take a moment and look under the hood at what all the 'buzz' is about.

A virtual world is an interactive simulated environment accessed by multiple users through an online interface (often known as an Avatar).

Virtual worlds are also called "digital worlds," "simulated worlds" and "MMOG's." There are many different types of virtual worlds, however there are six features all of them have in common:
1. Shared Space: the world allows many users to participate at once.
2. Graphical User Interface: the world depicts space visually, ranging in style from 2-D "cartoon" imagery to more immersive 3-D environments.
3. Immediacy: interaction takes place in real time.
4. Interactivity: the world allows users to alter, develop, build, or submit customized content.
5. Persistence: the world's existence continues regardless of whether individual users are logged in.
6. Socialization/Community: the world allows and encourages the formation of in-world social groups like teams, guilds, clubs, cliques, housemates, neighborhoods, etc.
(source: Virtual Worlds Review http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/whatis.shtml; Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_world)

There are a handful of virtual worlds including Second Life, Worlds of Warcraft, and There.com

Virtual world Second Life, owned by California based Linden Labs differs from other alternatives, in that content is user created, with Linden Labs supplying the underlying infrastructure. This model has led to a rich, creative environment, miniature economy (using Linden $$$), and impressive experiment in respect to the manifestation of virtual worlds. Media attention has generated significant subscriber growth. With such growth has come major scalability issues.

Many are coming to the conclusion that virtual worlds and the 3-D web will need to be an open standards, open platform environment whereby similar to the web, infrastructure will become diffused rather than as is now the case--centralized.

Now is the time to familiarize yourself, your business, your organization with Virtual Worlds and the 3-D web. In the future such technology will play a significant role in how we work, communicate, and socialize.

Virtual World, Social Networking, General Technology
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Virtual World Images

So what does a virtual world look like?
These images were taken in the virtual world Second Life. Content is user created.

Surfing in Second Life

Catch A Wave!

Virtual Capitol Hill Opens On Second Life

A privately commissioned virtual Capitol Hill build on Second Life, featuring a U.S. House of Representatives Chamber, outdoor issue specific gathering places, and one would assume a lot more to come, has opened.

Longtime noted cyber writer Declan McCullagh reports on the launch.

I ran into TROI Timtam, lead landscape designer, who was good enough to share a few project build insights, and even pose for a site photo.

As follows are photos I took of the effort at January 7, 2007.


View of Capitol Dome, and U.S. House of Representatives Chamber.	Issue specific outdoor gathering areas.	A park type area complete with both a Donkey and Elephant decoration. TROI Timtam poses for a photo.