New ProtoSphere Update: Some Great Stuff
Check out this video showing some great new features, I like those slick new improvements of the interface and the environment. The action bar is great!
It’s even more user friendly than before. Check out this preview video.
Two papers that I believe provide some answers how the 3-D environment can be successful.
Links are below.
http://news.discovery.com/human/walking-rooms-forget-111123.html
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=re-%20place-ing%20space&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dourish.com%2Fpublications%2F1996%2Fcscw96-place.pdf&ei=_uXTTrCMDc2bOv79kekC&usg=AFQjCNEGSJVCFKimLv284HEo56hvGJK9OA
I also see value in not focusing on in-world. I believe there is more value in focusing on space & time and the value that a 3-D world can provide when you can’t be in a specific place or can’t be in a specific place at a specific time. I can make sense of the latter than trying to be introduced into a whole new world right away. I’d like to think that in the movie Avatar when the main actor gets used to his new body that he is still self aware of his physical body. He has an opportunity to adapt. I see this adaption happening when I attend a meeting and see a virtual meeting room that not only pictures the people not being able to be there in person but everyone represented as an online avatar. This bridges the gap that the second paper “Re-Place-ing Space: The Roles of Place and Space in
Collaborative Systems” addresses. In other words the 3-D worlds represent everyone, whether the person signs in virtually from a Starbucks coffee shop or if they are attending the meeting in person. Now everyone in the meeting can see a virtual place on screen (or on their desktop) where everybody is displayed.
Having said what I believe I know its incredibly hard to implement without either tagging people on their clothes with a device (company badge would be appropriate) or using their GPS phone. There are a lot of logistics like even how do I know where Jane is sitting in room if I am logged on remotely and how does this communication/sync between all devices. Nonetheless, it does provide a true reality+online environment that works for everyone. So its not about in-world but all-worlds.
-Mike