3DSee WebSite

I have commented before about the difficulty of modelling 3D environments with typical virtual environment toolsets offered by Second Life et al. Another approach is the use of image-based modelling methods using computer vision techniques to generate 3D models from CCD imagery. This means that a business analyst can create a model of an enterprise from camera imagery, a technology well within reach of non-IT people.

At ACID, a QUT research centre, a colleague of mine, Dr David McKinnon, has developed just such a system, which is available as a web service - www.3dsee.net.

Well worth a visit.

Ross

MPEG-V Standard

Metaverse1 has put forward a proposal for an MPEG-V data standard for Virtual Worlds. I view SL and other virtual worlds as visualisation front-ends for application domains - in my case Business Process Management. It can only benefit these applications if interoperability standards are implemented, enabling the easy incorporation of information from other sources, and thus the easy creation of virtual world applications. Second Life is quite well setup for such service oriented computing via HTTP request from scripts, but it could be better. So hopefully this standard will catch on soon.

Ross

Second Life Adventures of Clik and Mofo

This is a teaser for some of the work we are performing at QUT to integrate Second Life with other software. The avatars are controlled by web services, and deliver the lecture themselves.

Ross