Lurous Productions Blog

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality has several definitions. However, in relation to the products we may discuss, virtual reality means a fully editable world or collection of worlds. In this sense, there are very few programs that fit it. Even so, we will only discuss two products. One, Second Life, because it is the largest. The other, Active Worlds, because it is the oldest.

The history of Virtual Reality goes back to Worlds, Inc. In the early 90′s, Ron Britvich, a programmer working with Peregrine Systems, created a program named WebWorld. It would become the idea behind the product “Knowledge Adventure Worlds,” a product that was marketed from a merged team including the founder of Peregrine Systems, a developer from Knowledge Adventure and another developer from Kinetic Effects, Inc. [1] Knowledge Adventure Worlds was renamed Worlds, Inc soon before the release of the product. In 1995, Worlds launched AlphaWorld and Active Worlds was born. Since then, Active Worlds has not changed very much. While it has slightly improved in graphics quality, the browser itself remains much the same. However, it still has a marginal following behind it and is one of the few products of its kind that have remained for so long.

The largest Virtual Reality that exists today is Second Life. It was released in 2003 and remains the most popular Virtual Reality to date. The actual product is slightly different from Active Worlds in that it has a major focus on socializing rather than open-ended creative construction. While you can still construct buildings in Second Life, it is far more expensive and much less easy. Second Life also does not support multiple worlds like Active Worlds does. What Second Life does well; however, is its superior file sharing system, as well as its unique in-game model development platform.

What ideas are they based upon?

Both virtual realities are focused on the idea that socializing in a 3D environment is more stimulating than in a 2D environment (like Facebook or any given forum.) In that respect, I think virtual reality improves the sharing of creativity while it also limits the social aspect. Socializing in any virtual reality is more difficult than in Facebook or in any other 2D platform. This is because a 2D platform represents an infinite, boundless plane for socializing. That means that any set of people anywhere can talk without having to worry about if they are close enough. This, I think, is the flaw in socializing with a Virtual Reality. Without the ability to find and talk to people without needing to be near them is the reason that 2D platforms are far superior social platforms.

Beyond that, both Active Worlds and Second Life attempt to portray themselves as a method of business premises or an environment friendly to eCommerce. They are neither of these things. In fact, they are both a terrible way to run an eCommerce business or, for that matter, run a business from at all. Even if the only two options for a business and an eCommerce were that you can have a website or you can use a Virtual Reality, a website would be far better. For one, you do not need the special client that is required to even view the content you want the consumer to have. Secondly, you, again, portray the content in a world where space does matter. That way, you can never portray the data as efficiently as you can on a website. In the instance of business meetings in Virtual Reality, like mentioned, you would need the client. On top of this, there are a lot of more specialized methods of sending corporate data than a 3D world. Companies would go for these rather than the limited applications of Virtual Realities. Therefore, in this context, Virtual Reality is not a very good method for running an eCommerce business or presenting critical business data.

What is Virtual Reality good for then?

Virtual Reality has a specific purpose, it can be used for socializing (however, no Virtual Realities currently are efficient enough), it is definitely not for eCommerce Businesses and it should never be used as a replacement to the internet. What it is, is a good platform for creativity, and if done right, a wonderful platform for making very editable and distributable 3D games.

Where does “Andromeda Media Universe” come into this?

Andromeda Media Universe claims that they are a the future in Virtual Reality. They are a group of people who are self-proclaimed experts in their field. Even if you look past their vainglory, they make very few good points. They incorrectly target the social aspect without thought on how people socialize. However, they do acknowledge that both Active Worlds and Second Life have deep problems. Why are they mentioned? Because they are the closest so far to discover that the real secret of Virtual Reality is that it has very little use in the current form. It needs something other than socializing to draw people to it and something other than socializing to keep people there. Facebook can succeed because it is a perfect social platform. Virtual Reality is an irreparable social platform and will never be as efficient as a 2D platform.

No one yet has done it correctly. Perhaps it is because it cannot be done?

Tags: active worlds, andromeda media universe, reflection, second life, virtual reality