vTech - Operating Virtual Plateforms

Crossing Worlds and Other VR Applications
One problem with the upraise of many non-game virtual worlds is how they are going to interconnect in the future. Will we be able to "walk" between virtual worlds and maintain our avatar look, objects, scripts, etc. All these worlds are built as different platforms: based on different code with different proprietary properties and tools. Thus, making this a very tough problem. The only solution would seem to standardize the key features used in these environments. How much of that is possible, I wonder? Different open-source initiatives with the client (and if SL server goes open source smoothly) may push to make Second Life the main platform to work in (for a bit). That doesn't mean it'll be friendly with other VR worlds. It just makes it the big one. But as the demand for these spaces and virtual applications continues, will this be the best road to take? Will these closed virtual environments even survive?

A Better Virtual Environment Platform?
To create a standard for virtual products, applications and spaces, I think a great potential is deeper in the code. I believe that if we had an operating system that was built for a broader audience to use virtual reality and augmented reality, in a decentralized way, we could begin moving forward with some standards and tools across many applications. That would mean creating an operating system which 1) worked in an augmented/3d reality environment itself (especially via headset) and 2) provided libraries, programing languages and data elements to provide development with the environment. At that point, developers could build off of these basic building blocks to create applications that could share resources (such as 3D building tools, chat programs, avatar properties). How servers use them may still differ but there is much more potential and incentive for interconnecting these things. Why? One reason is because if augmented reality catches on, we'll want to bring our virtual products into real spaces as well as virtual spaces. We'll also want more control over our virtual spaces and applications. And that should be made easy for developers to accomplish. Also, if other developers can create their own applications that work well with virtual spaces, you'll see more tools, more worlds, more development in the same world sphere, able to talk to each other. It will become decentralized, competitive and offer more value to business and eduction to develop solutions for customized needs. Right now in Second Life, all you get is what Linden Labs can and want to give you, based in this tightly built space.

If you had this ideal operating system, you would open up many more possibilities. For example: One program might allow you to directly connect users in your own augmented desktop environment. Maybe avatars could even appear in your augments space for you to chat and share documents outside of a sim. Complex data can be visualized using new adapted applications that can work within a virtual space or on your desktop. And these things would be developed by multiple companies working for specific communities and industries but not tied down even to the physics of a closed world like Second Life.

As augmented reality applications becomes more prominent for a wider audience, so will the need to connect the workings of those systems as well. So why not advance our operating system as the platform to get us there? Otherwise, this system-within-a-system concept will slow things down. We can't wait on the Lindens to develop all the tools everyone is demanding.

Maybe I have this wrong. Maybe if Linden Labs fully opens their server code, these things will slowly work out. Maybe a better virtual world environment will be developed to incorporate better tools. But we can certainly imagine a 3d virtual operating system down the road...and that means way more than what Second Life could offer. Until then, there's a lot of new virtual worlds sprouting and recreating the wheel. Look to see new, more advanced hardware help make these changes come to light.