[wsfii-discuss] we're forgetting 3d

[Michael Lenczner]

This issue is getting much more attention finally.  Check out the
recent conference Metaverse Roardmap:

http://metaverseroadmap.org/

Basically they're trying to make sure that the Metaverse doesn't end
up sucking because no one paid attention to the public-good side of
it.

and Ethan Zuckerman reporting from it talking about OpenCroquet:

"One of the questions that appears to be on everyone's mind at this
gathering, though not always articulated, is the question of whether
open standards will emerge to allow interaction and compatibility
between immersive web spaces. It's pretty central to most visions of
an integrated, central metaverse… but I haven't seen a lot of
conversations about whether Second Life, for instance, will release an
API…

Watching a demo last night (in the hotel bar) of Open Croquet, the
obvious question sprang to my mind: why isn't the Immersive Web world
flocking towards this platform? "

On 10/18/05, Mamading Ceesay <mamading at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 18/10/05, Michael Lenczner <mlenczner at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I would really appreciate any comments/thoughts any of you might have
> > on this.  As I said, I'm not 100% convinced that I'm right about this
> > - but you all are probably some of the best people in world to ask.
> >
>
> You already know about Croquet.  Looking at the newspage (
> http://croquetproject.org/Newsroom/newsroom.html ) and the lead
> architect's blog  ( http://croqueteer.blogspot.com/ ) it appears that
> ongoing work is happening with it but support particularly in the form
> of funding is required.
>
> One key issue with Croquet which is probably stopping it from being
> more widely known and supported by free software developers is that
> the license for the underlying Squeak software is insufficiently free
> to allow inclusion in key Linux distributions such as Debian and
> Ubuntu.  Getting that license fixed will be difficult and requires
> getting the likes of Apple and Disney to change the license.  A blog
> post touching on this topic is at
> http://www.eschoolnews.com/eti/2005/09/001173.php
>
> An alternative open source immersive (but no 3d yet) peer to peer
> environment is Solipsis which can be found at
> http://solipsis.netofpeers.net/wiki2/index.php/Main_Page
> It doesn't have the same sort of brain trust working on it as Croquet
> does, OTOH it is not encumbered by the same sort of licensing issues
> faced by Croquet.
>
> Recommendations: support efforts to fix the Squeak License and support
> Solipsis by participating in its community as users and developers.
> If the Solipsis community gets big enough, sooner or later someone
> will add 3d capabilities to it.
> One interesting possibility is to build both a WorldForge client and
> server into the Solipsis node.
>
> --
> Mamading Ceesay
>
> "Isn't a state that keeps files on innocent persons a police state?"
> -- David Mery - Innocent In London http://gizmonaut.net/bits/suspect.html
>  Radio Interview with David Mery
> http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/09/6963.php
>
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