Comments on: Google’s Virtual World, Redux

By: Our World in 3D… « Digital Worlds - Interactive Media and Game Design

Our World in 3D… « Digital Worlds - Interactive Media and Game Design — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:46:04 +0000

[...] that it may not be too long before it may take on the role of a virtual world. Avi Bar-Zeev again (Google’s Virtual World, Redux): “GE already is a virtual world. It’s a virtual earth. It has all of the features of a [...]

By: blog.merge.nl » Blog archief » Virtuele werelden: het internet van de toekomst?

Sat, 19 May 2007 12:51:52 +0000

[...] zijn ook geruchten dat Google aan iets werkt. Google heeft natuurlijk Google Earth en Sketchup. Het is niet moeilijk om dan avatars in de [...]

By: Guy R.

Guy R. — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:32:08 +0000

Avi, I agree. There is little benefit for GE to move toward a participative environment, active or otherwise. But, my main point still holds. The world is dynamic and full of life, and so I wait impatiently for the day Google (or someone else) can model the dynamic nature of this great earth.

By: avi

avi — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 03:03:58 +0000

Guy, I think those are all good ideas. But (except for the last few) I don’t see them changing the fundamental paradigm of GE — they’re all about adding more detail and more ways to visualize information. The key difference between GE and SL (not to knock either) is SL has active participation.

In general, greater visual detail can improve presence and immersion, but not necessarily as much as reflectivity from participation (i.e., your actions in-world can have a real effect).

By: Guy R.

Guy R. — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:08:17 +0000

You present some interesting thoughts but you may be missing the point regarding avatars and GE. It’s not SL’s compelling social experience nor to a lesser degree, is it compelling interactive-ness that can benefit GE. It’s the dynamic and immersive experience that can boost GE to the next level.

Image cars and trucks on the “real” virtual world in Google Earth. Now, I could travel my “go to work” path and see the traffic congestion. Hmm.. I may even decide to stay home that day!

Imagine viewing New York City streets and seeing a line of theater goers outside of a Broadway play. Well, that must be popular…I think I will go purchase tickets.

Image viewing a football or soccer game from GE, I might even pay for that experience. Assuming I liked the teams of course.

Image going on a walking tour of a tropical rain forest in real time with a real tour group. Or how about going on safari in the Serengeti. How about climbing Everest with an expert team.

The point, GE is primitive now but the future is limitless.

By: Metaverse Territories » links for 2007-01-27

Metaverse Territories » links for 2007-01-27 — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:45:49 +0000

[...] Google’s Virtual World, Redux: Brownian Emotion » a short list of some good (and bad) applications of this strictly potential technology. (tags: googleearth google metaverse virtual world virtualworlds space space-place) [...]