Monday, August 28, 2017

2017 IMA: BIZ: Virtual worlds: upscale, downscale. The market diverges

Virtual worlds: upscale, downscale. 
The market diverges
Advancing technology  



  • Upscale: stereo view, head mounted displays
  • Downscale virtual worlds in a web page running in a browser
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  • (More after the break, scroll down!)
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Metaverse events, current and upcoming

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Upscale virtual worlds

  • Upscale means more expensive and "better" in some sense.  
  • The new virtual worlds are designed for 3D stereo with a head-mounted display.
  • The prices I see on head-mounted displays range from about $400 to $800.
  • You could probably get a computer adequate for virtual worlds for about $800.
  • For a computer and headset for the upscale worlds, you would probably pay about $1,600
  • Double the cost--definitely upscale.
  • Sansar (in open beta)
  • High Fidelity
  • Virtual reality headset

Downscale virtual worlds

  • Going into virtual worlds is free.  You can't get more downscale than that in money.
  • So downscale means less expensive equipment and less cost in time and effort.
  • That means web-worlds.  Virtual worlds in a browser. 
  • No more effort than going to any other web page.  
  • Maybe an extra minute on the time cost because web-worlds can be slow to load.  
  • These run in a lap-top, Chromebook, iPad, or tablet.

Prospects for stereo in a head-mounted display

  • Stereo immersion may be attractive to gamers, but I outgrew games long ago.
  • I usually have my browser open and I use it every few minutes.
  • I may write on my blog, check my email, look something up on Wikipedia, etc.
  • Skype is always running.  And sometimes people call me.  
  • Put that all together and I doubt I could wear the thing 10 minutes at a stretch.
  • I probably will not buy one.
  • The history of  Stereoscopy and 3D film does not show popular uptake.
  • I think this will be a niche market.
  • You can use the desktop view in these brave new worlds.
  • But then you will need to find some other reason why they are "better."

Prospects for web-worlds 

  • Web-worlds run on almost any new device that runs a browser.
  • People can visit and evaluate with no preparation and no registration.
  • Examples are Cybalounge-nonprofit and IMA join page.  
  • Note that web-worlds can be used as gateways to virtual worlds.
  • I think this tech can develop for mass market use, at least for marketing.
  • Articles about web-worlds in this blog

Nowscale worlds

  • Second Life and OpenSimulator seem adequate for current use.
  • Upgrades have become rare in both places.  
  • The major weakness of OpenSimulator was an inadequate physics engine.
  • That issue seems to have been resolved in OS 0.9.x.
  • The major weakness of Second Life is the high cost versus OpenSimulator.
  • Users may be resolving that issue by shifting to OpenSimulator.
  • Many current users seem to feel no urgency to change to a "better" system.
  • Users of current virtual worlds may be interested in web-worlds as an gateway.
  • They can meet and talk to people in a virtual world on a web page.
  • That may interest some people in coming into the "real" virtual worlds.
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License

  • Original text in this blog is CC By: unless specified public domain
  • Use as you please with attribution: link to the original.
  • All images without attribution in this blog are CC0: public domain.
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News and Notes

HG links-- depending on your interests 

Communities in the virtual worlds

Radio in the virtual worlds

Metaverse beginner help

The Hypergrid WIP Show

  • The Hypergrid WIP is a one hour "show & tell" of works in progress. 
  • Everyone is invited.  Building, scripting, entertainment-- whatever you are working on.
  • Selby may capture video of presentations in voice, for posting on YouTube.
  • The WIP show normally meets on 2 Sundays a month at 12 pm California time.
  • The show meets at the Pandora location on the second Sunday 
  • But will not meet in the summer.
  • And at Cookie II on the fourth Sunday.  
  • To keep up with the WIP meetings, join the Kitely group, Work in progress.
  • We can go to your place if there is time.

Next WIP meeting

    • Sunday September 25, noon SLT (California) time
    • Cookie II location (fourth Sunday of the month)
    • HG address below: paste into the World Map next to Find. Click Find, TP
    • grid.kitely.com:8002:Cookie II 
    • In Kitely, put Cookie II into the find bar of the world map. 
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    • Suspended for Summer: Pandora Location: (second Sunday of the month)
    • Pandora allows presenters to run high threat OSSL functions.
    • world.narasnook.com:8900
    • Put the line above in your World Map next to Find.  Click Find. TP
    • At Narasnook, use World Map to search for Pandora

            Previous Articles from the WIP show 

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