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<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><tt>Hi Mister Blue,</tt><tt><br>
</tt><tt><br>
</tt><tt>You ask a great question.</tt><tt><br>
</tt><tt>Here are some of the things I would like to see in a
future virtual world viewer:</tt><tt><br>
</tt><tt><br>
</tt><tt>#1 - Open source -- goes without saying</tt><tt><br>
</tt><tt><br>
#2 - Multi-platform -- it should run on the Web, standalone, and
tablets</tt><tt>. JavaScript maybe? Or something that compiles
to it.<br>
</tt><tt><br>
#3 - VR-enabled -- it should be ready to run on the Oculus and
other VR displays and inputs</tt><tt><br>
</tt><tt><br>
#4 - Modular with a small core -- the core viewer should be as
simple as possible, possibly just a non-interactive *viewer*
without avatars, and all features (such as avatars, chat, build,
etc) should be added as plugable, optional modules</tt><tt> with
corresponding server-side support. In fact, the viewer-side
modules should be downloaded from the server-side as people
visit the server </tt><tt><tt>(a la JavaScript on the Web) </tt>--
that's the maximum flexibility, as it allows for all kinds of
additional features and differentiation. Voice chat is an
important feature for many, but should also be optional. <br>
</tt><tt><br>
#5 - </tt><tt>Modern graphics -- I don't really know what this
entails, but it would be nice to have environments and avatars
like those in Call of Duty. This may be at odds with #2.<br>
<br>
I'm not sure if this requires a whole new server side or if we
can use OpenSim for a while. People have added WebSockets
support, and that's ripe for being improved.<br>
<br>
If you start this project, I hope I have time to help! I would
like that very much.<br>
<br>
<br>
</tt><tt><br>
</tt><tt>On 8/4/2014 6:08 PM, Mister Blue wrote:</tt><tt><br>
</tt></div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAJ=JWqwXxAVFbX+PwX34U0_EP7FhiYOe-=Xwc06EM8vme6FtkA@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr"><tt>I've been seriously thinking about creating a
new viewer project. But with Maria's survey[1] and all the
different virtual world announcements happening and the lively
OpenSimulator vs Unity discussion on the opensim-user list,
I'd like to open up the discussion to the OpenSimulator
development community[2].</tt>
<div>
<tt><br>
</tt></div>
<div><tt>LL is making a new world and viewer (closed and
proprietary as far as I know). HighFidelity is making a new
world and viewer (open source with commercial 'grid
services'). Unity 5 will have a multi-platform web viewer
and a new multi-user backend (pricing not announced). There
are various wonderful open source virtual world projects
(realXtend, Virtual World Framework, ...) as well as many
emerging technologies (xml3d, html5, asm.js). There are
several forks of OpenSimulator (Aurora, ArribaSim, ...) that
have made many enhancements to the base system. Add to that
several successful virtual worlds build on OpenSimulator
(inWorldz, Anvination, Kitely, ...) as well as a few
packaged distributions of OpenSimulator (Diva, ...). Add to
that the many SL/OpenSim third party viewers based on the LL
viewer. And that's just in our sphere. There is much more
happening in the gaming and education and training
communities.</tt></div>
<div><tt><br>
</tt></div>
<div><tt>So, what could a new viewer add to the mix? Whatever a
new view does, it approaches the question of what
OpenSimulator should be three years from now.</tt></div>
<div><tt><br>
</tt></div>
<div><tt>For me, there are two basic choices[3]: evolutionary
change or revolutionary change.</tt></div>
<div><tt><br>
</tt></div>
<div><tt>Evolutionary change says to build on existing
OpenSimulator. Make due with the existing LLLP (Linden Lab
Legacy Protocol) and improve vehicles, make installation and
use easier and add an easier to use and improve viewer.</tt></div>
<div><tt><br>
</tt></div>
<div><tt>Revolutionary change would be striking off on a new
virtual world architecture. It could have LLLP support but
only for downward compatibility and to keep that community
and content. But other questions arise: How would one build
a viewer/virtual world where a HiFi avatar could stand next
to a SL avatar? How could content be delivered to a viewer
so it is displayable but is not in the original, copyable
form? How to leverage the distribution and power of 'the
cloud'[4]? How could one make hypergridable grids across the
many virtual worlds?</tt></div>
<div><tt><br>
</tt></div>
<div><tt>What do you think? Evolution or revolution?</tt></div>
<div><tt><br>
</tt></div>
<div><tt>-- mb</tt></div>
<div>
<div>
<div><tt><br>
</tt></div>
<div><tt>[1] </tt><tt><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2014/08/survey-better-vehicles-search-most-wanted-in-opensim/"
target="_blank">http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2014/08/survey-better-vehicles-search-most-wanted-in-opensim/</a></tt></div>
</div>
<div><tt>[2] I see this expanding to other forums eventually.</tt></div>
</div>
<div><tt>[3] With a lot of gray area in between</tt></div>
<div><tt>[4] I'm always amazed by Google Maps -- it displays the
map with traffic overlays and I can zoom in and out with
almost immediate response. Why can't a virtual world viewer
do that?</tt></div>
</div>
<tt><br>
</tt>
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<tt><br>
</tt>
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</blockquote>
<tt><br>
</tt>
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