Aircraft tracking specialists fboweb.com and virtual world development company Daden Ltd have created a real-time immersive method for tracking aviation data.

In the video posted by flightglobal.com, small aircrafts, loaded with data, fly around a 2D google map placed in Second Life. Each plane shows it’s “flight number, location and altitude in real-time as it mirrors the actual aircraft (5 minute delay).”

In a quote posted by Flight Global, ‘David Burden, managing director of Daden Ltd, said: “This is an example of the power of Second Life, and virtual worlds in general, in providing a shared visualisation system….offering possibilities for both the consumer and for business operations and scientific research. Being able to walk around data, and view it with others, can bring out insight and analysis that would be impossible in 2D systems, or PC-based 3D systems.”

Check out the video:

Last week, Linden Labs hosted the first Architecture Working Group, whose “…aim is to build the technology and standards for such a vision by developing them through the direct involvement of Linden Lab, external developers, and the community.”

In a Linden Labs blog post, they wrote: “We imagine a future where Second Life is able grow beyond the borders of Linden Lab. We see regions running on open source, alternative simulators. We see web services that allow people to build mash-ups of Second Life and the Web. We see organizations being able to integrate their members and their members’ avatars.”

This is a very interesting future, or at least proposition, for Second Life and the evolution of virtual worlds, and we must keep a close watch on what Linden Labs will be doing to stay ahead of the virtual world game (so to speak). I commend Linden Labs in keeping open ties with the great SL community. Check out the post here.

The Times released their archives for free on the web! I came up with some interesting searches under “world wide wait”, a coinage that is attributed to them on the Internet and I believe has some relevance to where virtual worlds are today. I am also on the trial “free” plan for HighBeam Research, that gives unlimited browsing for free provided you cancel your credit card after a week.

Herewith some interesting quotations:

The problem is that for most Internet visitors, flipping through the pages of the World Wide Web is about as exciting as turning pages of a book or magazine once every 30 seconds or so. (Even some people with fast modems call it the World Wide Wait.) Some pages are fascinating, others are dreary, but nothing really happens on the pages. Browsing is a passive activity once the reader lands on a page.

Imagine, instead, a Web where each page is active and interactive, instead of static. A simple graphic image becomes an animation. A photograph becomes a video clip. Stock quotes and sports scores are updated on screen as the user watches.

-By PETER H. LEWIS, The New York Times,
Published: October 17, 1995

Sloth, the transgression of the slow moving and the unproductive, notorious as one of the Seven Deadly Sins, is alive on the Internet.

I like to read magazine articles while waiting for my next Internet event: 30 or 60 seconds to load a Web page or a minute to access a large news group. Any process that’s easily interruptable qualifies as an Interleavable Internet Activity (IIA). When the most recent command is done, I rouse myself and click on my next selection. Then it’s back to my alternate world for 15 seconds, 45 seconds or two minutes. A few seconds here, a minute there — they all add up.

-”Welcome to the World Wide Wait”, William Casey, The Washington Post, June 12, 1995

READ about the Internet, and thrill to the notion of a world wired at the speed of light, with all the information anyone could want just a mouse-click away. But actually use the cursed thing, and a more prosaic picture quickly emerges. Delay, break-downs and glacial transmissions are part of everyday Internet life. New users are amazed: surely this tepid data trickle is not the fabled “information superhighway”? Veterans shake their head wearily: the Internet has always been swamped, and as long at it doubles in size each year, it seems likely always to remain so.

True? That question-whether the Internet can grow out of stumbling adolescence and become as delay-free and reliable as the telephone network- ultimately comes down to one of economics.

-The Economist (US), October 19, 1996

Charl and Adonis, principal avatars at combinedstory caught a live performance of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in SL. Here’s to forward looking arts organizations!

Here are some facts about the performance. Please refer to our flickr set for more photos.

• The program consisted of work by Kenneth Hesketh, John McCabe, Ravel, and Rachmaninov
• The RLPO purchased two islands to accommodate 40 or more avatars
• The avatars received tickets from a lottery on their web site relating to Second Life
• There was no real-time performer animation but rather video piped into Second Life from their live concert
• The audio/video feed was serviceable
• There has been significant buzz about this concert in Second Life related press, blogs, and web sites (my friends were jealous of the tickets)
• The capacity was close to full
• The RLPO created a virtual rendition of their concert hall
• The RLPO created a group to limit guests
• Avatars were attired in formal wear and respected traditional concert etiquette
• Their director of marketing of the RLPO was present and had an avatar
• The event manager was Texas Arizona (waiting to confirm design shop that produced it)
• The CEO of Linden Lab, the company that makes Second Life was present and had an avatar along with other senior members of the company (as best as we could identify!)

Earlier this week, as Reuters noted, HBO acquired the rights to a series of machinima produced in Second Life.

As reported by Reuters, “‘My Second Life: The video diaries of Molotov Alta’ purports to tell the story of a man who ‘disappeared from his California home’ and began issuing video dispatches from Second Life. The popular virtual world, which has its own currency and a growing economy, has drawn millions of users who create alter egos called avatars and interact with people from around the world.”

The pilot episode, which has been around for quite sometime prior to the acquisition, will be supplemented with 7 episodes called “My Second Life” which will take a look into different subcultures “from Furries to Cyberpunks to Neo-Luddites to Sex Slaves to the King of the Hobos.”

The video was available on YouTube earlier today, however, it seems as per this acquisition, the video has been deemed private. Youtube writes: “This is a private video. If you have been sent this video, please make sure you accept the sender’s friend request.”

Stay tuned for its release.

Linden Labs is rolling out an age verification program called “Identity Verification (IDV).”

Linden Labs states “Identity verification provides an additional layer of trust for in-world businesses and Residents. It also helps ensure that minors can not gain access to inappropriate content in Second Life or have access to restricted content in-world.”

As Reuters points out, this will allow “Linden to tie a real-world legal jurisdiction to an avatar, allowing the company to selectively enforce local laws.”

Identity Verification is voluntary, but allows estate owners to mark land as restricted to a certain age group. However, if an avatar is interested in entering an adult area, they will eventually, according to Linden labs, be restricted from entering adult-flagged land unless their account is verified.

WWF recently opened up shop in Second Life in order to help educate people about environmental problems and offer a few simulation to aid with this mission. The amphitheater, which is still under construction, will offer a venue for events on wildlife conservation efforts.

This island is well done and serves the purpose of offering information, however, I would have liked to see some more animated animals, while offering some sort of immersive and engaging experiences.

Nonetheless, it is definitely worth a look!

What is the future of medicine?

UK’s National Physical Laboratory and Imperial College London have created SecondHealth: a virtual hospital in Second Life built to offer a glimpse into the future of medicine and clinics in London.

The UgoTrade Blog reported that Dave Taylor, who is leading the SecondHealth initiative, “introduced Second Health by explaining that most of today’s most pressing social concerns, like healthcare, have underlying technical considerations. And, that the mass media does not always lend itself to the nuances of technical issues. Through a series of recent newspaper headlines he demonstrated how traditional media is unable to communicate the complex issues facing healthcare today.”

According the SecondHealth, “This is an experimental, innovative and efficient means of communicating complex healthcare messages as well as illustrating what healthcare of the future could look like.”

Take a look at this machinima piece they put together:

Here is a link to the Second Life Marketing Conference taking place in New York on September 24th-26th.

Note Bene: This is not our conference but we may be slated to speak there. Please contact us for a discount.

A new group recently appeared on YouTube in order to promote and showcase artwork in SL.

The group description states: “Art and culture are thriving in Second Life. Much of the time a simple photo isn’t enough to capture the kinetic and performance elements of this virtual art.”

This group is an excellent opportunity to present much of the incredible work in Second Life, which is mostly not seen or simply not captured by the still imagery that makes up much of the collective view of Second Life. This group will hopefully give people a new window into SL.

Check out the group by clicking here.