Virtual 3D-Worlds of 2008 and the Future

Several 3D-Worlds already exist and they are turning into increasingly realistic spaces.

Gary Hayes video ‘The Social Virtual World’s A Stage’ impressively demonstrates how popular,  ubiquitous and progressive many of these virtual spaces already are, and gives us an apprehension how cyberspace will look like in a few years. (© Personalizemedia 2008)

The virtual worlds portrayed in Gary Hayes video:
Second Life, HiPiHi, Kaneva, Twinity, ActiveWorlds, LagunaBeach vMTV. There.com, Habbo, Google Lively, FootballSuperstars, Weblin, AmazingWorlds, CyWorld, Whyville, Gaia Online, RocketOn, Club Penguin, YoVille, Webkinz, BarbieGirls, Prototerra, IMVU, Spore, vSide, Tale in the Desert, SpineWorld, Stardoll, The Manor, There.com, ExitReality, Vastpark, Qwaq, PS3Home, GoSupermodel, Grockit, Croquet, Metaplace, Coke Studios, Dreamville, Dubit, Mokitown, Moove, Muse, The Palace, Playdo, Sora City, Voodoo Chat, TowerChat, Traveler, Virtual Ibiza

Internet’s current major evolution: 3D Web leads to the establishment of virtual worlds.
Web3D is the basis for these virtual worlds, in which people are represented visually by avatars that can move in space, communicate with others, and interact with objects and information – making the digital world more and more similar to the real world. Some virtual worlds are demonstrating the precursor to smooth natural motion and photo-realistic rendering of objects, avatars and landscapes. Others focus more on the social networking aspects and provide intimacy with your friends in more artificial environments.

How will virtual worlds of the future look like?
Virtual 3D-worlds of the future will be all-encompassing, often photo-realistic, digital playgrounds. People will spend a lot of time in virtual space, using high quality, 3D, immersive, computer generated environments to socialise and do business in. Age, race, gender and the other inescapable ‘realities’ of life will be overcome by the ever increasing creative freedom possible in more and more highly advanced virtual worlds. We will be able to continuously immerse (and possibly lose…) ourselves in a fantastic always-on matrix of digital information.

What will we be able to do in the cyberspace of the future?
Pretty soon, avatars (the virtual representations of yourself in the cyberspace) will mirror your physical movements as Philip Rosedale, creator of Second Life, points out:

Cameras are being built into all the latest laptops and that technology is becoming pretty ubiquitous. So, one thing that will happen within the next year or two is that whenever you turn on the camera on your computer, we will be able to watch your body, head, and hands and we can match your avatar’s movements to yours.

So if you’re in front of any camera-enabled computer, looking from left to right, nodding your head, or gesturing – we’ll be able to reach out, look at what you’re doing and make your avatar move the same way. That’s going to be an amazing improvement in the interface.

Later on, avatars will look, react, and behave even more like real persons. Imagine a degree of realism when technology gives you a life-size 3D image which is linked to your nervous system: It will for example allow you to shake hands, which will Moneygram emplacements feel like being in the other person’s office. The matrix will become real!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>