A step towards commercial virtual worlds - Virtual Walt Disney World Added To Google Earth

Max Marmer — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:35:15 -0700

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Big commercial companies will continue to develop increasingly complex virtual environments to sell their products. Looks like Disney is already down that path. This kind of technology won't replace the physical world for a long time but it is a first step.

But some observers are suggesting that, in creating such a detailed online planning tool, Disney may be opening the door to virtual trips that take the place of the real thing. For instance, Andrew Smith of the Dallas Morning News wrote semi-seriously that, with the price of both air fare and gas rising so fast, "I think parents with gullible children should consider 'taking their kids to Disney World' by sitting them down in front of a monitor."

Andrew Frank a research director on the project said, "we're still "quite a ways from substituting a virtual vacation for a physical one."

He added that, while ads might become part of such an immersive online experience, companies will "have to make sure the experience doesn't end up feeling totally commercialized." Nevertheless, Frank said, 3-D may become an even more ubiquitous part of any real-estate-based promotion than it is now.

Computer & Information Science

Source

http://www.toptechnews.com/news/Virtual-Disney-World-in-Google-Earth/story.xhtml?story_id=012001D14AAO

Routine Virtual Meetings in Second Life

Jean-Claude Bradley — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:57:51 -0700

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Kate Sellar from the American Chemical Society's Helium blog writes (1,2)

Mark your calenders!

Join us in the presentation area of ACS Island as sci-fi author, microbiology professor and ACS Resident Scientist Joan L. Slonczewski (Andra Renard in SL), discusses concepts of science and hard-core science fiction. Joan is the author of several science fiction novels including A Door Into Ocean. One of her short stories, Microbe, can be accessed for free online.

Prior to Joan’s talk, I will be on Second Nature to hear Prof. Mark Brake and Rev. Neil Hook of Glamorgan University give their talk, How Science Drive Fiction and Fiction Drives Science. This talk is taking place one hour before at 9 am SLT. See Joanna Scott’s blog for more details.

There exists a group of scientists and people interested in science who transit seamlessly from meetings in the real world to those in virtual worlds.

What makes this a clear signal is that, although still only a very small proportion of scientists are involved, the groups have reached critical numbers to routinely support meetings such as these.(3) The purpose of these meetings is to share information about science topics, not demonstrate the capabilities of Second Life.

Just like with the world wide web, early adopters explored Second Life for the novelty. The next wave of people followed when there was usable content. I think that for the purposes of many types of meetings and poster sessions, Second Life is currently among the better tools, compared with telephone conference calls or chat rooms. The "avatar effect" of personalizing virtual interactions is real for many people.

There are still obstacles to the widespread adoption of the technology. Computers with inadequate video cards still are a main cause of a poor first experience with Second Life. However, most standard laptops purchased in the past 2 years are adequate.

Future of chemistry

Source

1) http://acsisland.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/science-and-science-fiction-talk-428-10-am-slt/
2) Disclosure: I was involved with work on ACS island
3) http://network.nature.com/blogs/user/joannascott

virtual meetings

A step towards commercial virtual worlds - Virtual Walt Disney World Added To Google Earth

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Routine Virtual Meetings in Second Life

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