Lightning speed super fast internet already around the corner to be introduced by late 2009, current 2D environment is all set to go 3D. The environment is close to Centra with single and up to 32 individuals can reside and interact as avatars of their choice. Developing interactive 3D models and environments for virtual worlds have been the focus for most of the virtual design platforms.
Most popular among the 3D environments is Second Life. It may be referred by some as a game, howbeit, of itself, Second Life actually is not a game. It can be used for most of the real worlds like education, marketing, entertainment, conferences, meetings, social gatherings and business networking. On the top is the picture of a classroom in a virtual 3D environment.
Almost every computer related product today is ‘easy to use’, ‘intuitive’ and ‘designed to one’s needs or expectations’. With the advent of virtual environments, augmented reality, ubiquitous computing, and other ‘off-the desktop technologies. 3D user interface design is now becoming a critical area for developers, students and researchers to understand.
Sources: picture www.darcynorman.net and other internet sources, the content provided here is purely non-commercial for educational and research purposes.
Second Life® and logo are copyrights of Linden Research Inc.
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2 comments:
Second Life - what a good topic, but what a freakish environment. I first encountered Second Life last February at the PETE & C conference. It HAUNTED me (and I am not exaggerating) for days. It's just so surreal and kind of scary and certainly mind blowing with all of the possible applications... But, good topic for sure! Will be highly curious about the development of educational uses in Second Life because more and more will happen I'm sure...
I just read about digital avatars in an opinion piece in The Chronicle of Higher Ed. The title of the article "Why Digital Avatars Make the Best Teachers" (April 4, 2008) caught my eye. I guess at one time the avatars were very primitive, but at Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab, they can build an avatar that looks just like you, gestures like you, etc. (They have even used them in police line-ups.) That sounds a bit creepy. The main purpose of using the avatar is to provide that face-to-face contact that is missing in on-line courses. By providing virtual "one-on-one" instruction, students are able to learn more than students in a traditional classroom.
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